Letters, Feb. 13

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 13/02/2024 (940 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Correction: A Think Tank piece in the Feb. 12 edition of the Free Press, More to enviromental rules than most realize, contained inaccurate information about the Sio Silica project, indicating that Sio Silica was associated with plans for a solar panel glass manufacturing project in Selkirk. In fact, the Selkirk solar panel project involves silica sand mined by Canadian Premium Sand Inc, a different silica producer using a different mining process than Sio Silica.

Counterpoints on sand project

Re: In defence of mining (Letters, Feb. 10):

While I understand MaryAnn Mihychuk’s perspective on behalf of the mining industry, that viewpoint should not preclude the issues of risks and consequences of the Sio Silica sand project.

Mihychuk states “Rigorous environmental impact assessments, conducted by independent qualified experts, identify, and mitigate potential risks”. But Mihychuk and her industry ignore the experimental and non-proven nature of the process, the catastrophic consequences of a contaminated aquifer, the absence of a comprehensive assessment of risk and mitigation plans, and the far-reaching environmental and financial impacts of a failure to the province, industry, farms, municipalities, residences and others dependent on clean, potable water from this aquifer.

The current environmental and risk assessments appear insufficient to make a rational decision on this project, and the “damn the torpedoes, full speed ahead” suggested by Mihychuk is not responsible based on current published information.

We have repeatedly seen multiple catastrophic failures of quality control processes in many industries, including the industry Mihychuk’s organization represents, and we need to be extremely cautious lest we destroy an irreplaceable environmental resource.

Gerry Shuster

Selkirk

Schools right to ban phones

Congratulations to Laidlaw School, College Beliveau and West Kildonan Collegiate for their forward thinking with restricting access to cellphones during class time. Hopefully this will become standard practice across the province in the future.

There is no logical reason a student needs to have their cellphones at their desks, unless it is being used for research or accessing the internet. With cell phones left at the entrance to their class, students can still have easy access whenever needed and can reclaim their phones between classes.

The suggestion students simply need more education with respect to appropriate cellphone use is naive at best.

I am sure every teacher has politely implored their students numerous times to turn off their phones and/or remove their earbuds in order to listen and pay attention to ongoing lessons to no avail. Many young people as well as some adults have become addicted to being “connected” at all times of the day and night resulting in bullying and mental distress.

Technology is here to stay, but we must maintain the ability to interact with each other on a personal level for humanity to survive.

Alice French

Winnipeg

Keep supporting Ukraine

Re: NATO leader says that Trump puts allies at risk by saying Russia can ‘do whatever the hell they want.’ (Feb. 11)

The adage that ´those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it’ may apply here.

A century ago, Hitler was arrested, convicted of treason and sentenced to five years in prison for his role in a failed coup attempt. While in prison, he wrote Mein Kampf describing his racist, antisemitic fascist ideology.

After early release from prison, he began implementing his fascist agenda, leading to the formation of the Nazi Regime resulting in the invasion of Poland, the Holocaust and the Second World War. While Canada joined Britain in declaring war on Germany in 1939, the U.S. was reluctant to join its allies until being attacked by Japan in 1941. The Second World War was characterized by an alliance of liberal democratic countries, primarily in Europe and North America, and the Soviet Union against fascist and authoritarian Axis states Germany, Italy and Japan.

After the defeat of Nazi Germany and its Axis allies in 1945, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) helped ensure peace in Europe and elsewhere, despite the eventual Cold War with the Soviet Union.

Putin’s unprovoked invasion of neighbouring Ukraine has been described as the most critical threat to peace in Europe and beyond, since the end of the First World War. While it is Russia that has invaded Ukraine, it has been allies of Ukraine (not currently a NATO member), particularly the U.S., that has prevented Putin from capturing most of Ukraine and perhaps moving to annex other European countries, some that were part of the former Soviet Union.

Putin may expect a weakening of support for Ukraine to allow him to fulfil his agenda.

Canada must continue its support for Ukraine and encourage NATO allies such as the U.S. to remain steadfast in their support. Countries such as Sweden and Finland, previously reluctant to join NATO, should be fast-tracked into NATO. Trump’s rhetoric only serves to weaken the support for Ukraine and the efficacy of NATO in maintaining peace in Europe and elsewhere in the world.

Many Republicans and other Americans have expressed intending to vote for Trump for U.S. president, even if he is convicted of crimes including his role in the Jan. 6 insurrection and other efforts to subvert the will of the electorate — a chilling reminder of previous historical events.

Richard Dilay

Winnipeg

Immaturity on the ice

Re: Leafs’ Morgan Rielly to have in-person hearing with NHL Department of Safety (Feb. 11)

The sports world is abuzz with what to do about Morgan Rielley’s egregious assault on Ottawa’s Ridly Greig. A vicious cross-check to the head all for the horrible act of slapping the puck into the net as opposed to a respectful tap-in.

The talking heads, including the Leaf’s coach, have been spewing drivel about “a lack of respect” as justification for Rielly’s temper tantrum. A temper tantrum that was basically assault.

What would happen to us if we felt our waiter disrespected us because we didn’t leave a big enough tip? If we took, say, an umbrella, and brutally cross-checked him to the head? It would be significantly more than being banned from the restaurant for three days and a lecture about respect. Hockey is a beautiful game and what Rielly did was a childish, malicious act that has no place in the game.

I am a big sports fan. I’ve played, I’ve coached and I watch. I record and watch every CFL game, every Jets game throughout the season. I love the intensity and I am in awe of the players’ skill sets.

But what I can’t fathom is the number of times these entitled millionaires can’t handle their emotions.

A player has a bad shift and comes off the ice and smashes a $200 stick because he’s frustrated. Poor little buttercup. How many folks working minimum wage could use a $200 stipend just because? As an aside, how about a process where every time a player has a childish meltdown and smashes their stick, they write a check to the local minor hockey association? If they repeat it, we calculate the sum on an exponential scale?

Sadly, Rielly’s punishment won’t have any substantive consequences. A few games’ suspension will be but a blip on his $7.5 million-plus yearly salary; however, this wayward thinking that the issue was about ‘disrespecting the opponent’ has to be taken out of the conversation. We need to clearly identify that this rich young kid could not handle his emotions.

Mom needs to metaphorically ‘grab him by the ear’ and take him home for a life lesson.

Gary Hook

Winnipeg