Have your say

Hydro in perspective

Re: $700 for Hydro meeting (June 21). Manitoba Hydro spends $223 million on consultations for its new generating stations? That's more than is being spent to build the new stadium. It's about the same as what would be collected if provincial sales tax was increased by one per cent.

It could wipe out half of the provincial deficit. And all of this just to talk. There is not one watt of new power from this supposed investment. Add this to the $1 billion-plus being wasted on Bipole III and it's clear that something is dreadfully wrong.

GUY WHITEHILL

Winnipeg

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To pay or bribe so-called interested parties to attend public meetings regarding Hydro development is a blatant waste of public money and borders on covert action.

Surely there is enough tangible interest within the affected communities to see concerned residents turnout in credible numbers. If this is not happening, what is the point of holding these costly gatherings? Perhaps Manitoba Hydro should consider a different approach.

TERRY MEINDL

Teulon

Glad it's over

Re: A fan feels betrayed (June 20). I for one am happy the stadium-construction saga is finally over. I don't care when it is finished, as long as it is done properly.

I would wager that the majority of the most vociferous complainers don't even attend games. I would also wager that most true fans who do attend the games are merely glad to hear that it is settled. To them I say, let's cheer loudly at Canad Inns this year, and look forward to cheering even louder from our seats at our new football home next June.

RODNEY PAQUIN

Winnipeg

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I live on the west side of Pembina Highway just off Bison Drive and have been watching with awe and great anticipation the building of the new stadium.

It has added excitement to our neighbourhood and I am sure that the restaurants on Pembina are all doing a little happy dance as well.

This will truly be a magnificent building! I love the design. I think that the opening of it should be just as grand and certainly not rushed.

CATHY D'ANDREA

Winnipeg

Gossip and speculation

Scott Malabar's remarks in his June 21 letter, Civil servants must serve, give the impression that he spends too much time in coffee shops picking up gossip. He picks a number (95 per cent) out of the blue to suggest that most civil servants have no idea of service. He speculates on employees' reasons for seeking a job in the civil service.

I applied for my job with the federal government in my field of education, not just a "job." I received further training as well as training in communication. One of the more pleasurable aspects of my career was dealing with the public, media and users in industry, agriculture and aviation.

As for sick leave, it was 10 years before I used my first day, and the total number of days I took can be counted on my fingers once.

GERALD MACHNEE

Lockport

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I am a former dean at Red River College. I started with the province in 1965. My wages were less than they would have been in the public school system, even though I was more qualified than most. There was no overtime and as time proved later on, one could get laid off.

We had Filmon Fridays and unused sick days lapsed at retirement. I was held responsible for the purchase of a pencil sharpener my staff had bought.

In the mid-'80s, our employer embraced individualized learning. Ten or so staff of the three colleges in Manitoba travelled to Nebraska to learn first-hand. At the host college, we slept in the well-worn students' dorms and received less than $20 a day for meals. I do believe we served our province and earned our keep. I am surprised to read the article $700 for Hydro meeting in the same issue. It's not the civil servants who drain the public purse.

PETER ELVERS

Winnipeg

An obvious difference

The Conservative government does not seem to differentiate between immigrants and refugees. We invite immigrants to our country because it will contribute to our economy, and the immigrants come because they hope to improve their lives. We expect them to pull their weight and they expect fair reward for their skills and labour.

But refugees are not normal immigrants any more than rescued shipwreck survivors are normal passengers on the ship that rescues them. Restoring the health of a refugee is part of the idea of rescuing him in the first place (unless, of course, the Conservatives don't believe in that idea).

Jason Kenney reminds me of some puffed-up passenger on the S.S. American pointing at steerage survivors from the Titanic and saying: "Hey, why should they get to sit on the deck with dry blankets and sip hot chocolate while I have to wait till 11:30 for the dining room to open."

GORDON CAMERON

Winnipeg

Subsidized parking

In response to Manny Jacob's June 20 letter, Lots are welcome, I take issue with his assertion that "each parked car represents a significant expense for the motorist."

Hundreds, if not thousands, of parking spots are filled by downtown-commuting provincial civil servants who don't use their cars for work and who pay a subsidized rate of $50 a month. The full freight is $150.

ROWENA FISHER

Winnipeg

Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition June 25, 2012 A12