Abbotsford, B.C., man pleads guilty to trafficking in black bear paws

“Trees don’t matter – we have bigger problems to worry about.”

This is what I read on Facebook after someone posted about the importance of voting for municipal candidates who care about Winnipeg’s trees.

I think everyone can agree that our city has many challenges. But I think what is missing in the narrative about this election is that voting with nature in mind isn’t important just because we love our neighbourhood elm tree or enjoy birdwatching.

Nature — in this case, I am referring to trees, birds and climate change — does not exist in a vacuum. Voting for candidates who value our urban canopy, want to have a bird-friendly city and seek to reduce the impacts of climate change is a key way of solving some of those “bigger problems.” According to a recent Abacus Data poll, Winnipeg has been given a failing grade by residents on transit, street maintenance and parks. Not only this, but one half of Winnipeggers think their city is going in the wrong direction.

In 2017 I sat in a legislative committee room and asked a simple question about the bill that would take Power Smart out of Manitoba Hydro and turn it into a brand-new Crown corporation:

“What problem does this solve?”

I never got an answer. Not long after, I was sitting as an independent.

Nine years later, we have the answer. It didn’t solve much.

United in grief

Re: Grass fire not seen as threat before catastrophe, military says (Oct. 19)

We are all Canadians. Coming from a large military family, including my own daughter, I feel that when such a disaster occurs, we all feel as if our own have fallen. God bless the Canadian Armed Forces, and the first responders, at this terrible time.

Diane R. Unger