Letters, July 26

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This article was published 26/07/2022 (1481 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Liberals also duck debate

Re: In ducking debate, Poilievre speaks volumes about his integrity (Opinion, July 22)

I am disappointed in the decision of Conservative Party of Canada leadership candidate Pierre Poilievre, as I have my ballot and further debate would assist me in making my selections one to six.

Columnist Tom Brodbeck fails to point out, however, that Liberal candidates also have played this game. Prior to the Feb. 14, 1980, federal election, a media consortium had proposed a debate between the party leaders, Pierre Trudeau, Joe Clark and Ed Broadbent. Trudeau declined to participate and the debate was cancelled.

At the time, Trudeau had a significant lead in the polls and it was obvious he did not want to say anything to risk that lead.

I find it very convenient that Brodbeck would jump on a Conservative candidate and forget that a Liberal politician did the same thing.

Kurt Clyde

Winnipeg

By electing Pierre Poilievre, a wannabe Trump, the Conservative Party of Canada will give the competition an early Christmas gift.

Barry Elkin

Winnipeg

Bilingualism is just facade

Re: Senator still stirring pot (Letters, July 22)

Letter writer Terry Meindl says it goes without saying that in order to form government the leader of the party, who would be prime minister, must be fluent in both French and English.

What difference does it make if the PM can fluently speak French, a language they will never have to use in the actual governing of Canada? We are a bilingual country in name only, by an act of law made to appease the only province that does not actually embrace bilingualism.

James Roberts

Winnipeg

Pet owners misguided

Re: Stampede out of step with public opinion (Opinion, July 22)

I agree with animal advocates, including the Humane Society, that the use of animals for entertainment shouldn’t cause harm or great stress for the animals, and that it represents “sanctioned cruelty.” But I’ll point out that sanctioned cruelty is taking place in many other ways not involving a rodeo.

One only has to recall the recent fire at a pet store in Steinbach that took the lives of hundreds of captive animals waiting for their chance to be held captive and alone in some misguided animal lover’s home.

Our society has a real problem with selfishness and ownership. We are slowly rectifying our view, though some think we have some right to imprison animals for our own enjoyment and profit, and would continue the charade that captivity benefits these creatures. So when your heart goes out to the actions at rodeos, remember all the sanctioned cruelty that occurs each and every day to pets who have no power and no say in their lives.

Rick Hisco

Winnipeg

Risky to give mayor more power

Re: Mayor’s chair power shift would suit Winnipeg (Opinion, July 22)

Another case to be made for not giving more power to our mayor. Can you imagine another mayor in the future along the likes of former mayor Sam Katz? Our city would be in even more sad a state than it is already.

Gary McGimpsey

Winnipeg

Letter writer Kim Trethart fears the “greenwashing” of Winnipeg if Glen Murray becomes mayor. Investments, businesses and jobs will “flee.”

Whether Murray is elected or not, there had better be a greenwashing of some sort or we can stick with endless suburbs, shopping centres and freeways and pine for the cheap gas needed to facilitate them. Then the only “fleeing” will be the young people and new businesses praying for a greener future.

Gordon Kidder

Winnipeg

Regulatory costs inaccurate

Re: Tory government betting on wrong numbers (Opinion, July 15)

Dan Lett’s column incorrectly states that “…information shows categorically while annual costs have fluctuated — from a low of $561,000 to a high of $14 million — the average annual cost of a PUB (Public Utilities Board) rate application is less than $2.7 million.”

This is wrong. If you look at all costs associated with 10 recent regulatory filings by Manitoba Hydro, the average cost per proceeding comes out to approximately $10 million. This includes paying for intervenors and their legal counsel, paying for PUB advisors, paying for expert witnesses for all parties, and Manitoba Hydro employee costs. I will note this also includes some annual PUB costs not associated with a specific hearing.

As the director of corporate communications for Manitoba Hydro, I would invite Lett and our customers to visit our website at www.hydro.mb.ca/regulatory_affairs/ to view an accurate summary and breakdown of costs associated with regulatory requirements with the PUB, all of which are passed on to our customers.

Scott Powell

Winnipeg

Education plan frustrating

Re: Failure to consult endangers education plan (Editorial, July 23)

Your editorial and your reporting on this government’s failure to consult with those on the front lines on implementing significant new curriculum review systems once again underscores the disappointment and frustration of many for the Brian Pallister/Heather Stefanson way of doing things.

Your perspective is right on target with what should have happened. An inept understanding on how to successfully manage change is a well-worn refrain from their sad song of serial fiascoes. Given a track record of what has gone wrong in Manitoba regarding education, health care and climate action, nothing less can be expected from a crew that only knows how to play the wrong chords.

Roland Stankevicius

Winnipeg

Hire Trotz as consultant

Now that the Jets have finally signed a full coaching staff, maybe it’s time to turn back to Barry Trotz. Last year the Jets started to talk about hiring a hockey consultant, like the Toronto Maple Leafs and many other teams have done. Trotz would be the perfect choice.

He doesn’t want to be a full-time coach, and he wants to get into the management end of the job. He also wants to spend time with his family, and this type of position would let him spend less time on the road, and would ultimately lead to multiple positions, from head coach if it was needed and he wanted it, to possibly general manager and even president.

Hockey consultant is a position the Jets have been talking about creating for some time now. Act now, while the fire is hot!

Paul Schick

Winnipeg

Publisher appreciated

Re: One last story — actually, two — before I go (Opinion, July 23)

Congratulations on your retirement, Bob Cox, and thank you for leading the Free Press for so many years. I have appreciated the changes to the front page, the obituary page and the many stories from award-winning columnists. The support to send reporters and photographers to countries to give us the human stories, the stories that made me think, laugh and cry, are what makes the Winnipeg Free Press so important to me. I am happy to get the e-edition, but the print version is how I enjoy my morning coffee every day.

Many thanks to your whole team, right down to my Free Press carrier, for a world-class paper.

Donna Cameron

Winnipeg

Thanks so much to retiring publisher Bob Cox, who has led the Free Press so well during challenging times with integrity and ability. He is a vital advocate for Canadian newspapers, and his efforts through the years as a journalist, editor and publisher are much appreciated.

Gerri Thorsteinson

Winnipeg