Letters, April 14

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 14/04/2025 (348 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Life imitates art

Alex Passey, Judy Waytiuk, Peter Denton, Erna Buffie, John R. Wiens … frequent Free Press contributing correspondents all so eloquently documenting the needs for caring for one another and our beautiful planet, understanding each other and our differences, accepting of those who aren’t “exactly like us” and simply exhibiting basic human decency.

Every one of them states what should be obvious to any rational human being. Every one of them also warns of the consequences of ignoring what lies on the horizon for humanity.

Sadly, I must humbly argue that the dystopian futures envisaged in George Orwell’s Nineteen Eighty-Four, Margaret Atwood’s The Handmaid’s Tale and George Lucas’ movie THX 1138 are here now, albeit not fully developed.

One merely has to look at how, around the world, wealth and power are being consolidated in the hands of the very few who espouse fascist, totalitarian and authoritarian control over everything they can. The people under their yoke have subscribed to their evil, either because they have been totally brainwashed into believing their lot will improve if only they submit to the propagandized version of a “better future,” or because they know that dissidence and resistance will not be tolerated and will engender terrible consequences.

Even the wealthy elites who are drawn into this dystopia salivating at the additional wealth they will receive are not immune to being “purged from the system” once their usefulness has passed. “Accidental” falls from balconies, sudden disappearances, banishment from the “operation control rooms” … you get the picture. Even leaders who have been set up as “useful idiots” to act as placeholders for the underlying evil can and will be sidelined.

All of the regulations, checks and balances, constitutional and legal hurdles to consolidating total control are eroded, avoided or basically ignored in creating the preferred regime. Institutions such as colleges, universities and research centres are defunded and disenfranchised until their relevance and ability to question the “truth” are gutted. The “unwashed masses” are fed a diet of flimflam to maintain their ignorance from mega-corporate social media on down to emasculated print and visual outlets.

“Just shut up and keep buying!” and “unlimited growth at any cost creates wealth” are the mantras we hear almost daily. And, in the end, anything that doesn’t conform to cisgendered, (usually white) male dominance is eradicated little by little.

So folks, read the books again, see the movie again. The future is here.

Stewart Fay

Winnipeg

Can’t just drop canola

Re: “Crop rotation” (Letters, April 10)

Robert Moskal says in his letter that to get around Chinese tariffs on canola, farmers should just grow other crops like more cereal crops. Unfortunately producers have to practise crop rotation utilizing various crops to help prevent disease, maximize fertilizer production and uptake and to maximize yields.

To achieve those goals, canola has to be included in the crop rotations that growers implement. Sadly it’s not as simple as growing more crops other than canola.

Ken McLean

Starbuck

Finding a balance

Re: Seeking common ground (April 4)

Seeking common ground is another thoughtful and comprehensive article by Julia-Simone Rutgers.

I wholeheartedly agree that locally led conservation initiatives that work with local communities and stakeholders are the best way forward. Regional voices must be heard to ensure that the solutions created are both effective and inclusive of the people who live, work and play in these areas.

That’s why a conservation initiative led by three First Nations in Manitoba’s Interlake region — Fisher River Cree Nation, Kinonjeoshtegon First Nation, and Peguis First Nation — has taken a community-first approach. They’ve hosted open houses, are meeting with local community leaders and stakeholders, and are building momentum with residents from Winnipeg who have deep ties to the region through family, recreation and cultural traditions.

CPAWS Manitoba, of which I am executive director, is proud to support the leadership of these First Nations through the Interlake Conservation Areas Initiative. We provide technical expertise and assist with project management, but the vision and direction are fully led by Indigenous leadership. It’s part of our commitment to reconciliation. Our entire CPAWS Manitoba team lives in the province, and many of us are either from the Interlake or spend significant time there throughout the year. As Manitobans, we focus our efforts on what matters most to the communities and landscapes we call home.

The First Nations’ goal is to design a broadly supported, regionally tailored proposal to preserve the region’s natural beauty while supporting sustainable economic development. Protecting wetlands, forests and rivers helps maintain clean air and water, supports biodiversity, and strengthens the health of Lake Winnipeg by filtering excess nutrients before they reach the lake. These ecosystems also help prevent floods, provide important habitat for wildlife, and store carbon, contributing to a healthier environment for future generations.

This effort supports regionally developed watershed management plans for both the Fisher River and the Icelandic River/Washow Bay Creek areas. These plans clearly identify the preservation of natural areas as a priority.

This initiative does not mean shutting out industry or economic development, as there is a balance to be found between conservation and resource extraction. It’s about finding a way that respects the land and sustains livelihoods. In a time when many parts of southern Canada have lost the opportunity to strike that balance, Manitoba’s Interlake still has a chance to get it right — and we should seize it.

Ron Thiessen

Winnipeg

Misplaced priorities

Re: Building a better city isn’t rocket science (Think Tank, April 10)

Erna Buffie offers another well-reasoned piece on misplaced priorities at Winnipeg City Hall. She mentions that the city’s parks department has insufficient capital budget resources to add much-needed green space.

She is correct save for one minor thing. Winnipeg does not have a dedicated parks department. Former mayor Susan Thompson ended over 100 years of a dedicated parks and recreation department in her restructuring of civic government in 1997. Today, outdoor parks compete with street maintenance needs as part of the Public Works department, almost 30 years later, we have significantly reduced parks and recreation services as a result.

Buffie’s piece also mentions library service reductions. Here too, the former library department was disbanded by the Thompson regime and folded into the Community Services department. Winnipeg is Canada’s only large city without dedicated parks and library departments, a colossal example of misplaced priorities.

Paul Moist

Winnipeg