Predators out of control

Predators out of control

Re: Predator control methods antiquated, cruel (March 30). The Manitoba Cattle Producers Association does not promote the "indiscriminate killing of wildlife," as stated by John Youngman. The MCPA also does not condone the indiscriminate killing of livestock and domestic animals.

Cattle producers are among the most compassionate stewards of their land and livestock; they value and promote a healthy ecosystem. It is their responsibility, as stewards of their livestock and pets, and as caregivers to their families, to offer protection to those that are not bred or intended to survive in the wild.

The recommendations made to producers are already in practice. It is common for producers to "calve closer to home," but problem predators are becoming bolder. They come right onto farmyards where mothers are calving. On the issue of cruelty -- nothing is perhaps more cruel than the ripping away of a baby calf from its mother. Perhaps if the heinous process of attack and death inflicted by a wolf was broken down in print as witnessed first-hand by countless producers, the plea for support in the form of a removal program would be more fully understood.

A mother wolf teaching her young to kill is the natural order of things, but when wolf mothers teach their young to kill livestock, they will kill one animal and then make large bites or tears to other livestock to weaken them, leaving the animal in a great amount of pain and suffering. They will return for the weakened animals another day.

The MCPA has been seeking support and is willing to work in any capacity to develop a program suitable for problem predator removal. The cyanide resolution came forward out of desperation on the part of producers, but let it not be cited as the actual issue. The presence of problem predators is escalating; they are attacking livestock at an alarming rate and they remain a real danger to domestic animals/pets and humans.A harmonious ecosystem on the rural landscape must be achieved again.

Audrey Treichel

Manitoba Cattle Producers Association

Stadium strikes nerve

We had a big discussion at work regarding the state of our arenas and the thought of a new stadium being built with huge government money became a sore spot in our discussion.

We believe that the money allocated to this stadium deal should be reallocated to fund the building of multiplexes in Winnipeg. This should be a priority over a stadium deal. I'm sure many of us in our travels around Canada have seen the multiplexes being utilized by many smaller communities than Winnipeg. These are great facilities offering many different uses without the cost of a yearly membership.

David Gillis

Winnipeg

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All the anti-stadium arguments are becoming tiresome because, according to their logic, it would somehow be more economical to pump $50 million into renovating the existing structure every decade. Had we followed that logic for the past 75 years or longer, the Bombers would still be using Osborne Stadium, the Moose would call the Winnipeg Amphitheater home, and the Goldeyes would have to be satisfied with Wesley Park. In addition, the Winnipeg Symphony could share the Winnipeg Auditorium with the pro-wrestling circuit and the senior men's basketball league.

When the cost of repairing an old car exceeds its resale value, it's time to scrap it. Likewise with sporting facilities. A new stadium is overdue, so just build it and when it's complete, the city will have baseball, football and hockey venues that will compare favourably with those of any other city this size in North America. Then in 2050 and beyond we can start worrying about their replacements.

Edward Katz

Winnipeg

James pardon hurts

Regarding the Graham James pardon. For those of us who have been sexually abused, this shows that society and the legal system have not yet gained a better grasp of the devastation such offences play in the lives of victims.

While there is a role for pardons within our legal system, for me this ruling only intensifies the years of mental and spiritual anguish such an offence can cause. Fifty-two years ago (age 12) when I tried to talk about what had happened to me I was met with silence. Today victims are hardly better off. We are met with the cavalier nonchalance of a court system and an indifferent parole board that sees such crimes as little different than a minor theft, when, in fact, it is the theft of a significant part of a person's life. With this pardon we are stepping aside to let the theft continue.

KEN REDDIG

Pinawa

Free weekends dangerous?

City council's announcement of two giveaway weekends this summer will come as good news to many Winnipeggers. We are, after all, very much bargain hunters.

Others, bargain hunters or not, will be disappointed that there are now two weekends in the summer where walking or biking around their neighbourhood becomes a treacherous endeavour.

It's odd how respectful visitors to garage sales are in terms of their driving habits (not idling and watching for youngsters, cyclists and pedestrians), whereas the free weekend last autumn made Winnipeg's residential streets look more like Portage Avenue on cruise night. Perhaps excessive vehicle traffic could be limited to morning hours or street residents could be allowed to mount city barriers after a certain time of the day.

Ed Vorst

Winnipeg

Apology not enough

The RCMP has offered an apology to the mother of Robert Dziekanski, plus some monetary compensation without accepting any blame. Is this enough?

Someone has to accept responsibility for the death of this innocent Polish citizen. I am sure the world has its eyes focused on what Justice Thomas Braidwood will say.

The least the public will expect is that criminal charges of second-degree murder, or at least manslaughter, will be laid against the RCMP officers involved in this horrific crime. There has to be a ban on the wanton use of the Taser.

LOU SPAKOWSKI

Winnipeg

A breath of fresh air

Roslyn Kunin's article (Bring balance to distorted view of tar sands, April 3) was a refreshing breath of reality in sharp contrast to the truly distorted view that seems to get most of the media's attention.

She presented her case with facts and reasoned arguments, and provided an insight into the issue of the oil sands to which few people have probably been exposed. For this, I expect that she will be attacked as a shill of Big Oil, and declared a global-warming denier and an anti-science American-style conservative.

Clearly, so-called environmentalists want nothing to do with reasoned argument, logic, or open debate, but simply demand that their loud voices be the only ones heard.

TOM McAULEY

Winnipeg

Great brainwashing

Wow, let me see if I have got this right. According to Paul Burgoyne (Focus on real child abuse, April 6) the physical, mental and spiritual pain suffered by the victims of sexual abuse, perpetrated by the clergy and covered up by the Catholic church, is far less than that of an aborted fetus.

Unbelievable. What a great job of brainwashing that institution continues to inflict on society.

TIM MAGAS

Winnipeg

Save our arenas

Re: City arenas skate on thin ice (April 6). As a school trustee in St. James, I feel our city-owned arenas are an important asset to our community. This is yet another example of our infrastructure deficit, with a 13-year tax freeze only adding to the problem.

School divisions have a working relationship with the city-operated arenas. Privatization is not a solution to the necessary repairs and upgrades, nor is pawning off city council's responsibility to independent organizations to operate these facilities. Let us hope that the few city councillors with a progressive vision find a solution to our publicly owned and operated arenas.

ROXANE DELBRIDGE

Winnipeg

Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition April 8, 2010 A11