Letters, April 10

Opinion

Welcome news

Re: Showtime in Selkirk (April 9)

Your article on the resurrection of the historic Garry Theatre by the City of Selkirk is welcome news for community-minded Manitobans. Rather than allow its destruction, Selkirk has wisely invested in its heritage, based on widespread community support.

They have a business plan, “prioritizing local economic growth”, which also, “dovetails with Selkirk’s broader downtown development plan.” (Note: If you haven’t visited their waterfront, go look!) To be sustainable, their business plan forecasts “thousands of dollars circulating locally each year”, and the community has responded with hundreds of volunteers proud to help. It doesn’t hurt that Selkirk and other communities has also hosted many movie shoots, such as New in Town, all which annually contribute millions to our economy.

The Manitou Opera House is another example of a communities’ successful heritage investment and it is busy almost every day of the year. Selkirk, Manitou, and other heritage-minded communities are to be congratulated for their foresight.

Dan Furlan

Winnipeg

Enough is enough

Re: Union demands better security after ER nurses attacked (April 9)

I read with concern this article about an ER nurse who was violently assaulted by a patient at the Grace Hospital.

What kind of patient assaults a nurse in an ER? The article indicated that nurses have “raised concerns in the past about violence or aggression by people who are intoxicated or in a mental health crisis.”

It is time to quit making excuses for these aggressive patients. Are they so drunk or disturbed that they cannot control themselves or is it the case that they know they can escalate a situation with impunity and get what they want?

Put the resources in place that communicate unequivocally to patients that abuse and violence towards medical staff will not be tolerated.

Mac Horsburgh

Winnipeg

Crop rotation

So China has imposed stiff tariffs on Canadian canola. If this is a problem for Canadian canola farmers, why can’t they just switch and plant a different grain crop? Wheat, rye, oats and barley come to mind. Sure, canola crops put more cash into the farmers’ pockets, but it may be time to get off of the canola gravy train.

Canola is now a very problematic crop, so stop the complaining and solve the problem by just planting something else until things change.

Robert J. Moskal

Winnipeg

Flying the flag

Re: Patriotic pride, anger on display (April 7)

So very often, during our travels, you will see tattered flags that do not deserve the indignity of being hoisted and flown. This shows a lack of respect for our nation’s symbol.

Flags are a representation of honour and pride for Canada and Canadians. Flags should always be treated with respect and displayed in a dignified manner.

I also would encourage all those who enjoy the privilege of displaying our national and provincial flags to do so with reverence and an attitude of pride. Proper etiquette and protocol must be foremost at all times.

The flag is a symbol of national unity and how we treat our symbol is a reflection of ourselves.

Perhaps, Manitoba’s official designated military envoy assistance would be helpful in this matter.

Any national and provincial flags that are faded, torn, or tattered away by the wind can be dropped off at the Canadian Legion for appropriate disposal.

John Fefchak

Virden

High price of patriotism

Re: Buying Canadian is best move (Think Tank, April 9)

I agree about buying Canadian but unfortunately I am in the same boat as many Canadians are in right now. Not enough money to pay the higher prices of Canadian goods.

So I buy whatever is cheaper and most of the time it is U.S. goods or other country’s products. I can’t afford to throw away the little money I have to make a point. If Canadian companies were truly concerned about Canada and the tariffs they would lower their prices to below or at least equal prices of other countries products even if it means they do not make as much money for a few months, but I think they feel they can make more money right now by hoping the people who can afford to pay their higher prices will do so to make a point about the tariffs and sticking it to the U.S.

If Canadian products were equal or cheaper than U.S. and the quality was just as good I would buy Canadian but unfortunately most are not, so I have to buy what’s cheapest.

Ron Robert

Winnipeg

Post-truth consequences

Re: Why don’t They, The People, seem to care?; No room for misinformation on drug policy; Strategies and second chances (April 8)

In his column Dan Lett laments that many U.S. citizens don’t seem to care about the preservation of democracy. The same day’s editorial laments about the “reckless misinformation Poilievre continues to spread…”

Further in a piece by Malak Abas we are told that the campaign manager for Conservative candidate in St Boniface-St Vital, Shola Agboola, “told the Free Press he did not plan to hold media interviews.” I guess so journalists don’t seek clarification to Poilievre’s reckless misinformation.

This all aligns to my recent experience. Turns out my very smart, well meaning, and very generous conservative friends in the U.S. believe the reckless misinformation they consume. It’s not that they don’t care about the preservation of democracy, they are being convinced by Fox News that their democracy is being protected and that their country is on the right course.

This is the consequence of a post-truth world bred by reckless misinformation and fostered by agents of propaganda. Consume your media with care. It may be detrimental to the health of your society.

Jeffrey Frank

Winnipeg

Free our foreign policy

As part of our ongoing break with the United States, we need to finally free ourselves from the chains of foreign policy by American dictate.

We have been led down a treacherous path in which we have sacrificed productive and mutually beneficial relationships with key economic partners (namely China). Bolstering trade with the largest, most productive economy in the world could make up for the the American tariff shortfalls. There is an entire industry focused on convincing people that China is the boogeyman, but in reality the boogeyman is our hostile and belligerent neighbour to the south (whether Democrat- or Republican-led).

Let’s learn to dispel antiquated myths, put an end to doing America’s bidding, and actually move forward in a constructive way as a nation.

Evan Marnoch

Winnipeg

Wish upon a star

I’m noticing that with all the events that are happening south of us that the United States, under President Donald Trump, is fast becoming the Divided States.

Let’s hope there’s a bright shining star waiting for us after Trump is gone to make it right again.

Rick Gallant

Morden

Working collaboratively

Re: Politics should extend beyond self-interest (Think Tank, April 7)

Kudos to John Wiens for appealing to politicians to use a “conscience of sacrifice,” and put an end to the increasingly divisive, vindictive, and disrespectful politics we’re faced with. As a candidate in this federal election, and previously three times provincially, I for one believe deep down that there’s hope for a better way.

For example, the provincial Green Party for which I was recently re-elected president resoundingly passed a motion calling for “truth in politics.” Our motion advocates for much greater oversight and indeed penalties for politicians employing mis- and dis-information during their campaigns and in their work as elected representatives.

We have massive challenges ahead of us, most notably the climate emergency and the new reality of our international relationships. To address these, we simply must work together, collaboratively and collegially.

Dennis Bayomi

Winnipeg