Have your say

Traps remain inhumane

Re: Freed lynx benefited from lucky breaks (March 8). We are thrilled to learn that a once-trapped lynx received a second chance in the wild. Sadly, though, this article describes leghold traps as being "humane." The public needs to know there is no such thing as a humane trap.

While this lynx may have got lucky, more than 700,000 animals suffer and die each year in steel traps for the fur trade.

Just recently in Vancouver, a coyote was found dragging a so-called padded leghold trap. His teeth were broken from biting at the trap and the bones in his wrist were also broken. His paw was twisted in a full 360-degree rotation and was only hanging on by a few tendons. This animal was trying to literally wring off his trapped limb.

Due to the extent of his injuries, the animal had to be euthanized by a local wildlife rehabilitation centre.

Whatever the style or model, all legholds are designed with the same purpose, to restrain a wild animal who is fighting for its life. They will do whatever it takes to escape.

LESLEY FOX

Association for the Protection of Fur-Bearing Animals

Vancouver

Surviving the sidewalks

Re: Thanks to Gordon Sinclair Jr. for his March 8 column, Downtown sidewalks are in terrible condition, and it's the city's fault.

For more than 25 years, I have walked to work and back in the downtown area. Now I'm in my 60s and have just come through one of the worst years of sidewalk plowing I've ever experienced.

At the end of January, they finally sent a snowplow down my sidewalk. All it did was stir up the loose snow, making it even more difficult to navigate the sidewalk. And don't get me started on sanding the sidewalks so they are safe to walk.

I can't remember the last time there was actual sand put on the sidewalks I walk.

WENDY ELLIOTT

Winnipeg

It's under advisement

Re: Supreme Court backs Métis (March 9). A humble suggestion for an editorial cartoon: An image of a smiling Manitoba Metis Federation head David Chartrand dressed as Buzz Lightyear holding the Supreme Court decision in one hand and a Métis flag in the other.

The accompanying caption reads, "To infinity and beyond!"

ARTHUR ELLIS

Winnipeg

I would like to give a big thank-you to the Supreme Court for setting Canadian taxpayers up for another huge payout to people simply because they have aboriginal blood to some degree in their veins.

When are the rest of us going to stand up and say enough of handing billions of dollars annually to everybody with a Canadian aboriginal background?

CAL PAUL

Winnipeg

He's off the suds, almost

Thank you to the beer companies for raising the price of a simple 12-pack of beer to almost $24 ('Sticker shock' on suds as beer prices leap up, March 8). This is the straw that broke the camel's back.

I need to tighten my budget, not to mention lose a couple of pounds off the old belly. No more beer for me (at least in Canada).

I will have to wait for my yearly trip down south to enjoy my US$4.99 12-pack of Bud.

GLENN STEFANEC

Winnipeg

Provincial wires crossed

So the province has $100 million to spend on our parks (Province to perk up its parks, March 9). That's great.

But wait. WiFi-equipped parks in the Whiteshell? This from the same government that can't help people in the southeast get decent cellphone service.

As I recall, it was a private-industry matter, even as firefighters' and bus drivers' lack of service put people's lives at risk. But now they can help cottagers. Well, this demonstrates where their priorities lie.

CLAUDETTE MOIR

Giroux

Police pollute process

Re: Police vetting for police board hit (March 8). I totally agree with Louise Sinbandumne that when the Winnipeg police did a comprehensive security clearance of the individuals appointed to the Manitoba Police Commission, the process became polluted.

JAIME CARRASCO

Winnipeg

Prioritizing freedoms

In his March 7 letter, Cheap communist tricks, Tom Sherbrook says that I have never seen a free citizen of Cuba. He is correct. I have never seen a free citizen of Canada, by his definition, either.

The United Nations Charter does not call for absolute freedom. This would result in anarchy, where no one is free. The charter calls for certain freedoms, such as freedom of religion and freedom from want. The Cuban government has prioritized these freedoms and decided that freedom to exploit one's fellow citizens by buying and selling houses and essential goods for profit is a low one.

Freedom from sickness and freedom from starvation have much higher priority. Freedom to castigate the government because people cannot become rich from trading money and valuables also has a low priority. The Cubans of my acquaintance all seem to agree that freedom to speak one's mind is a dubious asset on an empty stomach.

BILL ROLLS

Emerson

Messing with tradition

Aside from my family, I wonder how many other people woke up an hour too late Sunday morning because of our failure to set our clocks ahead one hour before going to bed.

You usually put this reminder on the front page of Saturday's paper. But this year you placed it halfway down on Page 2.

I think a lot of people hope that you will return to your traditional front-page location for future information about clock changes.

And with regard to Your Weekend Weather, yes, Uncle Doug, I may be projecting, but perhaps most of us are either creatures of habit, or perhaps not that bright, or both.

RICHARD GROVER

Winnipeg

Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition March 12, 2013 A8