Letters

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 26/12/2014 (4216 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Ambitious for Manitoba?

I have been reading with interest Dan Lett’s series of articles on the machinations within the NDP, those declaring for the leadership race, and the reactions of the other parties with an election on the horizon. The word that seems to appear most often is “ambition.”

Am I so naive for wanting someone to lead this province whose deep down, honest, first and foremost desire is to truly make life better for the people of Manitoba? Sigh, I guess I’ll just wait for Santa to come and hope for the best.

Jamie Oliviero

Lorette

 

Expanding Canadian research

Re: David Robinson’s The business of science (Dec. 22). Robinson’s column drew many false assumptions. Our government is building upon Canada’s strong scientific foundation and tradition — Canada leads the G-7 countries in terms of research and development investment at universities, colleges and research institutes.

The Canada First Research Excellence Fund will provide investment to world-leading research programs through an open and competitive peer-review process; it will not distinguish whether a proposed project is a basic or applied research project. Subject areas ranging from the environment to robotics will be considered.

The fund will encourage research partnerships that can include other Canadian or international universities, colleges and/or research institutes, other levels of government and not for profit organizations and foundations.

Ed Holder

Minister of State (science and technology)

Ottawa

 

New use for vacant buildings

There is much in the news this time of year about food and clothing collections for homeless Winnipeggers. All of this is truly wonderful, but one word still remains: homeless. Recently, a town in Texas took over a vacant building which had been a Walmart. They refurbished the building and turned it into a public library, combined with a cafe, used bookstore, study/homework area, computer terminals, reading areas, etc.

We have, in Winnipeg, buildings that had been Zellers, Safeway and so on. Is it possible to refurbish these buildings to create studio and one- or two-bedroom suites, with a nursing station, social worker’s office, a small grocery store, coffee and reading area, small laundromat and other amenities to create safe and comfortable communities, all accessible for those with disabilities as well as able-bodied residents?

The mayor has talked about the need for more low-income rooming houses. These have never been seen as ideal, safe homes. Perhaps this idea might be worth considering. And who knows, there is even a large department store downtown that might come into the picture.

Judy Herscovitch

Winnipeg

 

Start talking poverty

Is Theresa Oswald serious about protecting alleged gains in health and education, and about stopping Brian Pallister from governing only for the affluent (All about beating Tories: Oswald, Dec. 22)?

If so, she should soon comment on Manitoba’s child-poverty rate being the highest of any province, and on the fact that it has been getting worse since her government’s initiation of the All Aboard poverty-reduction strategy, while the rate for all of Canada is improving.

Sid Frankel

Winnipeg

 

Chipping at democracy

It is an outrage that property rights are being disregarded in the way the Selinger government is treating Manitoba farmers in construction of Bipole III.

The NDP is refusing to negotiate with farmers, to sit down and listen to the concerns they have in regards to their livelihood.

If the Selinger government continues to go through with this type of behaviour it will set a dangerous precedent for future expropriations of any kind. Next time, it could be your house taken away. You will get a letter in the mail one day informing you that the government has taken control of your home, and you will have nothing to say about it.

We need to stand up to this type of bullying to preserve the democracy this country is built on.

Thorsten Stanze

Rosenort

 

Defining political opponents

In making his announcement to run for the leadership of the NDP, Steve Ashton has shown us exactly what is wrong with politicians today (Ashton seeks the NDP crown, Dec. 23).

According to Ashton, “the real enemy is Brian Pallister and the Conservatives.”

Ashton needs to understand that the use of the word “enemy” should be reserved for the likes of al-Qaida and Islamic State, and not elected members of the opposition.

Joseph Pollock

Winnipeg