Letters, April 22

The people’s will

Re: A good time to refine fossil fuel contingency plan (April 21)

I agree with Dan Lett that more and new energy sources are required in Canada. However politicians are encouraging increased consumption of oil and gas by removing taxes and promoting pipelines. Environmentally friendly wind and solar projects are not popular and are not pursued.

To be fair, the prime minister is catering to Alberta and our premier is jumping on the bandwagon. Who is looking out for the environment? Where is the Green Party? Where is the NDP? Oh yeah!

Our glaciers are melting, our forests are burning , floods are destroying homes on a regular basis. And our political will is to throw gasoline on the fire.

Make no mistake. The politicians are only reacting to the will of the people.

Allan Jakilazek

Winnipeg

Upgrading Churchill’s airport

Re: Port earns support of slim majority (April 21)

With the renewed interest in the port of Churchill consideration should be given to upgrading the infracture of its airport. Churchill’s airport has a 10,000-foot runway built to accommodate refuelling jets during the Cold War. There is a polar route between North America and Asia or Europe that is hours shorter than the traditional routes.

This route is not used because there always has to be an airport within a certain distance from routes that can accommodate these large planes in an emergency. Churchill’s runway can accommodate the largest aircraft and, if upgraded, might make the polar route between North America and the rest of the world viable.

Canada and Manitoba should not be expected to spend the money required for an upgrade when there would be no return from the passing airplanes. The benefit would be to Canada and Manitoba would be the realization of the goal of making Winnipeg a North American transportation hub.

The sooner you can get the cargo out of an airplane and onto truck or rail, the cheaper its transportation. At a minimum a feasibility study should be funded.

Stan Tataryn

Winnipeg

Motorists’ perspective

Re: In praise of a deliberately slower lane (Think Tank, April 20)

Erna Buffie’s column suggests lowering the residential speed limit to 30 km/h would allow drivers to feel “calmer and safer” while “checking out the street.” She correctly acknowledges that it’s easy to go from 30 to 40 km/h “in the blink of an eye.” However, one could argue that motorists can feel stressed and distracted by having to constantly monitor their speedometer to maintain a slow 30 km/h journey, in order to avoid costly photo-radar traps.

City council’s 40 km/h limit for residential roads is a reasonable choice. As another option, Edmonton has built 160 kilometres of shared, off-road, bike/pedestrian pathways providing safe, efficient travel for all. Wellington Crescent could serve as a prototype for this approach in Winnipeg, rather than forcing cars onto an overcrowded Academy Road every spring.

Wayne Manishen

Winnipeg

Saving what we have

Re: Manitoba puts up $4 million to protect Seal River watershed (April 17)

Northern Manitoba holds one of the last great intact landscapes on Earth, and right now Manitobans have a rare opportunity to help protect it.

Indigenous leaders and the governments of Manitoba and Canada have collaboratively developed a proposal to safeguard the Seal River watershed through a network of protected areas.

Spanning more than 50,000 square kilometres, the Seal River watershed remains untouched by industrial development. Its rivers, wetlands, and forests support abundant wildlife, store significant carbon, and send clean water into Hudson Bay for beluga whales and polar bears. Protecting a place of this scale would help secure these benefits for generations.

In reference to the proposal, Premier Wab Kinew has wisely shared “We don’t own the land, the land owns us.” He went on to say, “This is how you balance economic development. By ensuring that you’re also looking after the land and water.”

The proposal combines several forms of protection. Four First Nations hope to designate the watershed as an Indigenous Protected Area, supported by provincial and national park designations. Together, these measures would safeguard the land while sustaining Dene and Cree cultural connections and creating opportunities for local economic activities.

The vision includes welcoming visitors. Local First Nations are eager to share the watershed with people who want to experience its beauty through activities like paddling, cultural teachings, and licensed hunting, while ensuring the land and wildlife remain healthy and respected.

This proposal has been shaped through years of collaboration and public input. More than 22,000 Manitobans have already expressed support for protecting the watershed, and the survey conducted during the feasibility study showed strong public backing.

Manitobans now have the opportunity to share their views on the proposal through the Engage MB process at engagemb.ca.

It’s a chance to support a vision that protects nature, upholds regional values, and enhances accessibility for those who wish to experience this magnificent landscape and local cultures.

Large intact landscapes like the Seal River watershed are increasingly rare. Protecting them is an investment in our shared future, for wildlife, for climate stability, and for generations to come.

Ron Thiessen

Winnipeg

PCs protecting landlords

Re: Tories delay contentious rent-focused bill (April 16)

The Progressive Conservatives’ recent designation of Bill 13, which included amendments to the Residential Tenancies Act, is disappointing yet unsurprising. Under Obby Khan’s leadership, the party has framed the bill as something tenants neither want nor need, ignoring widespread support for protections against unfair and unpredictable rent hikes.

In Gabrielle Piché’s article, Public Service Delivery Minister Mintu Sandhu, who introduced Bill 13, responded to the PCs’ decision to delay the bill by saying, “I only have to laugh,” adding that public feedback clearly shows Manitobans see the proposed changes as “a good step in the right direction.”

By delaying Bill 13, the PCs have made one thing clear: they are willing to protect landlords’ profits at the expense of tenants’ affordability. Fortunately, the NDP still has the opportunity to implement the regulatory changes proposed in Bill 13. These reforms would expand rent control protections to more units and limit the size of rent increases approved through above-guideline applications.

If Premier Wab Kinew and Sandhu fail to move forward with these changes, tenants and advocates who were promised stronger rent control during the 2023 election campaign will have little reason to find any of this amusing.

Jace Kettner

Winnipeg