Letters, Aug. 11

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 11/08/2023 (1146 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Step up on lake care

Why is Manitoba’s government refusing to do what’s needed to protect Lake Winnipeg?

Science has demonstrated that to reduce algal blooms on the lake, we need to focus on phosphorus reduction. For almost two decades, Winnipeg’s north end sewage treatment plant has been emitting far more phosphorus than it should. The longer we wait to achieve phosphorus compliance at this facility, the more expensive the solution becomes — and the sicker Lake Winnipeg gets.

There is only one taxpayer. This taxpayer wants a clean lake and would rather not waste millions of dollars when we don’t have to.

With a provincial election coming up, I hope all parties are prepared to explain to voters how they plan to work with the city and the federal government to implement an economically feasible solution to achieve phosphorus compliance as soon as possible.

Sandra Hasenack

Winnipeg

 

Upgrade homes along with streets

Re: Hydro fairy tales and lullabies (Think Tank, Aug. 9)

“There is another way,” as Dudley Thomson writes, to enlighten conservatives who see only dollar signs, for example when digging up streets and updating sewers. District-based energy systems, e.g.: neighbourhood ground source heat exchangers that can provide cheap heating and cooling for entire neighborhoods.

It is often impossible to install ground-based heat pump systems in existing individual houses and businesses. But, if the street is already being dug up, heat exchanger systems can easily be added.

While conservatives seem committed to building obsolete housing, could we convince them to install heat exchanger coils and/or groundwater wells as part of street/sewer upgrades? Then residents and businesses on that street have the option to hook up to affordable summer cooling and cheap carbon-free winter heating with an HVAC upgrade.

It’s a win-win for everybody: politicians, contractors, HVAC techs, home and business owners, as well as taxpayers getting an efficient effective carbon-free upgrade which will power our economy into the distant future. Can we get it done?

Gregory Teleglow

Steinbach

 

Reasons for blacktop

Re: Spend more, get more (Letters, Aug. 5)

This is in response to Jan Weedon’s letter bemoaning the use of blacktop (i.e. asphalt) rather than concrete for the repaving of the walkways at Assiniboine Park. The assumption was the city chose to use asphalt because it’s cheaper than concrete.

While asphalt does have the best cost/lifespan ratio of all walkway materials, there are a number of other good reasons for choosing it and it is in fact the preferred choice for walkways and bike paths the world over. Asphalt sets quickly, and can be easily and cheaply repaired, so a large crack doesn’t mean the path needs to be redone.

Asphalt is safer than concrete. Some types are resilient to freezing and collecting snow. Also, concrete is very taxing on the lower limbs of joggers.

While I have some sympathy for dogs walking on asphalt on a hot day, perhaps they could walk on the grass adjacent to the pathway.

Grace Lackman

Winnipeg

 

Appalling posts

Re: Facebook posts lead to tennis executive’s resignation (Aug. 4)

As a former competitive tennis player, I was appalled to read that the president of Tennis Manitoba had posted a picture conflating Nazi and Pride support. Such actions go a long way to explaining why recently a swastika was used to deface a Pride crosswalk in Lundar.

As was pointed out in the article these kinds of comments “embolden people to commit hate-motivated crimes.” What is also disturbing is that the people who believe these anti-LGBTTQ+ posts are not likely to read how Tennis Manitoba and others have refuted these comments.

Sadly it seems that people who want to believe hate-filled rhetoric are of the opinion that our newspapers are “too mainstream” and do not represent their views.

If David Scrapneck really thinks he made a “mistake” in what he posted, I call upon him to stand up and be counted in repudiating these harmful and offensive posts.

Mac Horsburgh

Winnipeg

 

Crucial care

Re: Spiritual care director program seeks to fill crucial need (Aug. 8)

Thank you to John Longhurst for highlighting the need and value for spiritual care practitioners in healthcare, and the inherent need for education.

CASC/ACSS uses an experiential model of learning, a building block within the M.A. in spiritual care that both CMU and Providence offer; incorporating practicums within the WRHA and Shared Health.

We are thankful for the partnerships with these educational institutions, ensuring the development of practitioners who are trained to respond to diverse perspectives and beliefs, with respect, inclusion and cultural humility.

Caring for the human spirit in times of suffering and life changes requires the highest educational standards and competencies.

Lynn Granke

President, Canadian Association for Spiritual Care/Association canadienne de soins spirituels

Winnipeg

 

Lack of attention

Re: Provincial government progress tracker goes offline (Aug. 4)

I doubt (Heather) Stefanson took it down in March so it could be worked on.

My theory is that after three years of inactivity, as there was no progress to report, the page went dormant and no one from her party even noticed until the opposition brought it to their attention.

Brian Spencler

Winnipeg

 

Political pandering

Re: PC government makes almost $95M worth of spending commitments on day before pre-election blackout (Aug. 3)

Of course, just hours before the pre-election blackout on new policy and funding announcements, the Manitoba PCs promise further millions upon millions of dollars for myriad social programs, all needed and all ignored during the PCs’ austerity rampage.

Mere weeks before an election, they promise, cynically, what they had previously denied or cut, all in order to be seen as the party possessing the remedy to their own evisceration, starvation and mismanagement of essential social programming and accessibility, including the disastrously mismanaged health care ministry by Audrey Gordon.

The second phase of these august announcements has certainly already been prepared: if re-elected, they will declare the need for post-election austerity measures because the MB economy “is not growing as we had hoped”. “Coulda, woulda, shoulda,” Heather Stefanson’s modus operandi and mantra will be witnessed yet again.

Then poof! Cuts, massive under-budget spending and platitudinous sound-bites pleading governmental poverty.

This is nothing more than political pandering and political ploy, empty promises and duplicitous rhetoric from a party desperate to stay in power.

Kenneth Meadwell

Winnipeg