Letters, July 28

Fraudster-in-chief to blame

Before criticizing Prime Minister Carney for his handling of the Gordie Howe Bridge issue, it’s worth considering a few things.

First, Canada has been the victim of an unprecedented, mob-style shakedown by the United States, fronted by their fraudster-in-chief. They used a page from Trump’s business playbook — waited until the work was complete and then stiffed us. There aren’t many palatable options available. Ironically, the bridge crosses the longest unprotected border in the world.

Second, we’re in the midst of the CUSMA negotiations. The numbers here are a lot bigger and Carney will be dealing with the same mob boss and his cast of characters. Mr. Carney needs to avoid the temptation to retaliate for the bridge, keep a disciplined approach and his eye on the ball. We should all be supporting these efforts.

Finally, we have never experienced this treatment from our neighbour and we’re in uncharted territory. CUSMA negotiations will depend on tonight’s social media post and tomorrow it all might change. We must be able to adjust our plans accordingly. We need someone who is cool-headed, focused and who takes thoughtful, measured steps. If not Carney, who else could we trust with such a daunting task? Poilievre?

Ernie Gilroy, Winnipeg

Trump spoils everything

Now the Gordie Howe Bridge. A spectacular structure completed by workers dedicated to the betterment of our economies.

Michigan and Ontario came together to build a bridge that would benefit truckers and truck companies and travellers. It should have been a glorious and victorious shared opening celebration. Instead, Trump has again ruined the moment.

It is always “what’s in it for him.” The owner of the existing, outgrown Ambassador Bridge is a Trump donor and will lose revenue to the new Gordie Howe Bridge.

A comparison of the tolls the new bridge will charge shows that the Ambassador Bridge charges twice what the Gordie Howe Bridge.

The owner of the Ambassador Bridge does not have a good reputation in Detroit. He has been relentless in his drive to stall and keep the new bridge from happening.

This type of person — and Trump himself — shows what our politicians have to deal with to get things done.

Ted Wall, Rorketon

The right direction

Re: Pointing fingers and shifting blame (Editorial, July 24)

You rightly point out some troublesome responsibilities put on a landlord to clean away a mess left by a homeless encampment. You also note a quirky regulation that does not allow the city to intervene on a garbage-filled property owned by Manitoba Housing. So yes, the city should find a way to help the landlord and work with the province to change the dysfunctional regulation.

However, in defence of the mayor, he rightly points out that housing, homelessness, mental health and addictions are provincial responsibilities. The province has a $27-billion budget, of which $10.55 billion is dedicated to health, seniors, long-term care, housing, addictions and homelessness.

The city makes up close to 60 per cent of the provincial population and an even bigger percentage of the province’s addicted, poor and homeless. The city has a tax-supported operating budget of $1.5 billion, so can only play a comparably small role in these issues. For the record, the city used to have a social services department, but it was transferred to the province in 1999 to consolidate the provision of those services in the city.

I encourage concerned citizens to write to our elected representatives who are responsible for the services in question. They are the minister of housing, addictions and homelessness, the minister of families, the minister of health, seniors and long-term care, and the premier who, collectively, have direct responsibility and resources to assist those in need in the city.

Sometimes fingers point in the right direction.

Don Budinsky, Winnipeg

Match the plan to the crisis

Re: Hundreds being housed: minister (July 24)

Manitoba’s plan to end homelessness is nowhere near the scale of the crisis. Minister of Housing, Addictions and Homelessness Bernadette Smith recently stated that 8,248 people in Winnipeg are homeless, with 250 housed so far, 350 by 2027, and 700 by the end of a second term. That leaves over 90 per cent still homeless — and the number keeps rising.

As the owner of a non‑profit thrift shop in West Broadway, I see the fallout every day. The current strategy is piecemeal, slow, and failing communities on the front line.

We need a non‑partisan, all‑hands‑on‑deck approach that expands beyond traditional housing — managed encampments, low‑barrier transitional options, real addictions support, and public safety measures for neighbourhoods carrying the burden like West Broadway.

Housing alone won’t fix this. Manitoba needs a plan that matches the crisis — not one that leaves thousands behind.

Susan Lockhart, Winnipeg

How does military spending make us feel?

Edwin Buettner and John Wiens always provide food for thought. I have appreciated and learned from their scholarly wisdom.

Both have recently written about the increase in Canada’s military spending. The question was asked of us, the readers: “What does it mean to be Canadian?”

It’s a provocative question.

How do we reconcile our collective actions when there are threats to our values, culture and, in some cases, to our very existence. This is not just true of Canada but to many other lands, peoples, cultures and to the planet that sustains us all.

How do we coexist with evil? What other responses, besides military, are viable against such threats?

It’s a conversation worth having.

I’m hoping Mr. Buettner and Mr. Wiens might continue to inform the discussion.

Lori Tighe, Winnipeg

Kudos to columnist

Re: Lights, sports and land: a wish list for West Broadway (July 25)

Hurray for Rebecca Chambers! Her wish list for the West Broadway neighbourhood is bang-on.

Lynn Clark, Winnipeg

Farewell to Blizzard

Re: Longtime Assiniboine Park Zoo resident Blizzard the bison dies (July 26)

Thank you for sharing the news of Blizzard’s passing.

I walked the path (near the bison enclosure) many early mornings and was always compelled to say “Salaamelykun” (“Peace be with you’) to him. He would often walk to the wire fence, and we would just look at each other.

This silent encounter, looking into his eyes, always gave me a sense of calm, as if he was telling me all will be fine, and I would whisper “Thank you” with a smile, and continued walking. This became a daily ritual and my healing.

I still do not understand this connection and my grief in losing him.

I had witnessed the final goodbye — the smudging the elder gave to the empty space — and I knew he was gone because I had not seen him for a few days and was worried. I said thank you to the elder and kept walking.

Shahina Siddiqui

Winnipeg