Letters, Sept. 7

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This article was published 07/09/2023 (988 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Don’t blame farmers?

Re: Don’t blame farmers for lake (Letters, Sept. 6)

Debbie Ammmeter Sipley is quite right that the size and location of Lake Winnipeg watershed is problematic. This watershed encompasses four provinces and several factors which are very challenging obstacles for water quality management in the major tributaries flowing into the lake.

However, this is a deflection. The hog industry produces significant methane, nitrogen and phosphates which are problematic environmentally. A major feature of hog farms is the number of hogs per shed, often hundreds per shed. These farms produce a lot of manure.

The fact remains that any industry, recreational, and residential practices in our province fall under our purview. This includes the hog industry.

Downplaying the role of the hog industry and its byproducts is an attempt at deflection.

The environmental impact of the hog industry in Manitoba must remain a focus for the citizens and all levels of our government in our province.

Dick Forbes

Winnipeg

Ashamed of inaction

Re: City staff want Winnipeggers to pay now, compost later (Sept. 1)

After reading the article City staff want Winnipeggers to pay now, compost later, I was truly disappointed and somewhat ashamed of our inaction.

To think that after a two-year pilot compost collection that ended in September 2022, the best they can come up with is to collect an extra $8 a year starting in 2024 to fund a program that would not even start until 2030 is absolutely unbelievable. How is it that most other provinces across the country already have compost collection that has been running for several years and we are still dragging our feet for another seven years?

Could we not look at how other cities are accomplishing their compost collection and look at how our own Winnipeg Compost (an independent company) is handling their collections?

Do we really need to wait until every household has their own large green carts and kitchen pails to begin?

Could we not arrange for each household to have a kitchen collection pail with compostable liners that could be deposited into large community collection bins picked up by a truck on a regular cycle, rather than being picked up from each individual house?

Most homes are unlikely to have huge amounts of compost materials to warrant such a large bin. It would be cheaper than providing every household with their own large cart and would be similar to dropping off your mail at a central mailbox.

I know many people are already doing their own composting but we cannot afford to wait until 2030 to begin this much needed service.

Alice French

Winnipeg

No wizards here

Re: An NDP chicken in every pot — so they say (Editorial, Sept. 6)

The Sept. 6 editorial calls out the NDP for promising a chicken in every pot.

On the front page, the PC party promises to reduce taxes and pay down the deficit.

Anyone with a pedestrian knowledge of budgeting knows that you can’t reduce your income — in this case, taxes — without cutting services.

This fact was made crystal clear by the Progressive Conservative Party of Manitoba. They almost destroyed health care and many other government services because you can’t cut taxes and keep the same level of service without going into debt.

The PCs are big on fiscal prudence, except for election time it appears. You can’t increase the level of service and pay off the debt without raising taxes.

Can we make it clear to the political leaders we are not fools who believe that they are financial wizards that can do what no one else has ever been able to do?

Gilles Nicolas

Winnipeg

More to the story

Re: Male teachers in short supply (Sept. 5)

An article putatively on the profound lack of male teachers too quickly dismissed any concerns about the issue and moved on to other dimensions of identity. Apparently, topics like role models, losing out on potential workers, and diversity of workforce, common in most discussions of such inequities, don’t matter when it is males at a disadvantage.

One study from Australia showed that the decline in male teachers began in the mid 1980s. Prior to that, the per cent who were male was stable with more males in high schools than primary grades, in some years over 50 per cent. Both thereafter declined at the same rate. The current lack of male teachers occurred in just one generation, which cries out for explanation.

And the effect is universal, although most statistics show wide variation in per cent male. In a study of 15-year-olds, for example, boys reporting teaching as an occupational expectation was 30 times higher in the top country than Canada, third from last.

One overlooked aspect of role models is their part in career choice. A comparison of 15-year-olds from 50 countries found that boys were much more likely to report teaching as an occupational expectation if their father was a teacher. A downward spiral ensues; lack of male teachers leads boys to reject teaching as a career, which leads to fewer male teachers and so on.

More speculatively, boys from very disadvantaged backgrounds may lack male role models or be exposed primarily to negative ones. Schools offer an opportunity for all such kids to see more positive examples of male behaviour.

Perhaps there are enough questions for increased attention by researchers and the media?

Jim Clark

Winnipeg

Time for an advocate

Re: Seniors need an independent advocate (Think Tank, Sept. 5)

I read the article and I agree that every older adult deserves respect and dignity throughout their journey.

I have asked candidates who came to my door about having a Seniors Advocate. One candidate agreed about the importance of having someone in that role, another candidate was non-committal.

It’s important to deal with service issues mentioned in the article, such as personal care homes and health care.

I also think it’s important to deal with ageism in the workplace, in marketing and advertising, and in the beauty and fashion industry, even though it was not the focus of the article.

Thank you to Lucille Bruce and Carmen Nedohin for reminding us that ALL Manitobans believe seniors deserve to be respected and have zero tolerance for neglecting their needs.

I hope that Manitoba will be the next province to have a Seniors Advocate sooner rather than later.

Cindy Kelly

Winnipeg

Kudos to Ms. Bruce and Ms. Nedohin for bringing to light how absolutely necessary it is to open an Office of the Seniors Advocate in order to protect and enhance the lives of seniors in Manitoba.

Seniors who have contributed so much over their lifetimes to this province deserve this.

I have noted over the last several months two refusals by the governing Progressive Conservative party to open such an office.

The British Columbia Office could serve as an excellent template for the government of the day to consider. Now is the time to act, in light of the upcoming election.

Please bring this to the attention of the candidates in your constituency. Make your wishes known to them. Please consider this when voting.

Marilynn Slobogian

Winnipeg

Why can’t we search?

Twenty-five years ago, Swiss Air Flight 111 crashed near Peggy’s Cove, Nova Scotia, killing all 229 people onboard.

The search and recovery operation was complex and took four years — and $57 million.

Tell me again why we can’t search the landfills?

Barb Janes

Winnipeg