Letters, Nov. 22

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 22/11/2023 (1034 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Much to love about Lemay

Re: Looming development of urban Lemay Forest sparks preservation drive (Nov. 7)

For those wondering about preserving Lemay Forest in St. Norbert, consider this. Some of the oldest trees were likely alive when Louis Riel and the Métis community were on their way to establishing the province of Manitoba.

This rare forest ecosystem is one of the last natural spaces in the entire city, home of over 50 species of birds, as well as deer, foxes, coyotes, and other wildlife. Indigenous Peoples perform ceremonies there, surrounded by nature. Walkers and neighbourhood schoolchildren enjoy the forest. The low-lying area helps mitigate flooding, captures carbon, adds oxygen to our air and reduces heat. On the negative side, building will tax the maxed out sewer system.

The city promised to add 1,000 acres of parkland. What better way then to start with Lemay Forest?

Shelley Sweeney

Winnipeg

Coach strayed from course

Sorry to see the Bombers lose on Sunday. Heartbreaking for the players. But it has to be said that Mike O’Shea let his instincts as a former player get in the way of his instincts as a coach.

As a player he would have, and likely did, play injured. But as a coach he has the responsibility to field the best team he could. Schoen and Bighill, stars as they are, were in no condition to be on the field Sunday. The Bombers have preached the “next man up” mantra all year long. But when it came to the Grey Cup, O’Shea mysteriously abandoned that and played his injured players. Schoen had not even practised for six weeks!

Not only did he put them in a position to make serious injuries worse, but they were unable to contribute significantly on the field. And he abandoned the players who laboured behind the stars all year to be ready to step up as and when needed. What message did that send to them? Who knows which of those players that did not dress for the game might have stepped up, uninjured and fired up to play in the big game, and made the one or two plays that could have won the game for the Bombers.

Hopefully O’Shea learned something and next time will put on his big boy coach pants and make the right coaching decision.

Rob McConnell

Winnipeg

Change up plastic plan

Our federal courts have just ruled against the ban on single-use plastic bags, straws and cutlery as being unreasonable and unconstitutional and too broad to be listed as toxic substances.

You are not likely to find any individual intentionally eating a plastic garbage bag or bottle. However, I wonder if they have considered the fact that they have likely eaten fish that have ingested small particles of plastics floating in the waters where they swim. Would the citizens of the third world countries where we ship giant volumes of plastic garbage also feel these plastics are not toxic?

My biggest issue with what the government has proposed is that it does not go far enough. Every piece of plastic that is produced should either be recyclable, reusable or compostable.

It is the oil industry who have the most at stake if plastics are banned or restricted. (Plastics are a leftover byproduct of oil processing.) No wonder Danielle Smith is gloating.

Perhaps too many people don’t recall a time without single use plastics but there was a time when you put your garbage in paper bags or even wrapped it in newspaper. Meat was wrapped in heavy paper with a waxy coating and bottles were all made of glass.

I am not suggesting that we step back in time when there were almost no plastics — only produce products that are either reusable, recyclable or compostable. Then we will not be disposing of toxic items in our environment.

Alice French

Winnipeg

Poultry pardons

With former president Donald Trump leading in the polls to possibly be the next U.S. president, one has to wonder what turkeys he will pardon in 2025.

Glen Naylor

Winnipeg

Work to heal

Re: Why Israel matters to Jews (Think Tank, Nov. 21)

While it is important to always be reminded of the scars that afflict the Jewish people, Ben Carr must also know that what happened on Oct. 7 was the scab pulled off the wounds suffered by millions of Palestinians over the past 75 years by the State of Israel. I know that what happens to stateless Palestinians matters to some Jews.

I just wish that Mr. Carr and leaders in the Jewish community would work to stop the gush of blood on our complicit hands and heal these wounds and move from scabs and scars to peace and justice.

William Roberts

Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ont.

Keep the peace

This is my home and family. I feel safe here, free to live as I choose, free to help my fellow citizens, regardless of skin colour or status, free to voice an opinion, free to willingly accept the personal responsibility for my own choices, but not for the actions of others prior to my own birth, and free to be hopeful of a future while contributing to it.

Yes, this is my home and I will stand on guard for it, without reservations, with an acknowledgment that it is worth preserving, warts and all.

As a Canadian, I am willing to welcome you to my home, to share what we have, and what you yourself are willing to bring.

But there are certain conditions that I insist you follow for both our sakes.

The rule of law is important in our home. Do not abuse it.

Our current structures and pillars of society have been in place for generations. Respect them. If there are changes to be made, we can do them together, without anger or division.

Lastly, and this is vitally important.

Leave behind your ancient hatreds, your old ideas of revenge or retribution.

They are not welcome here. Not in our shared home.

Wayne Ritcher

Winnipeg

Diverse development a good thing

Re: Building houses — quickly (Think Tank, Nov. 20)

Kudos to Brent Bellamy for his thought-provoking op-ed. We live in the Riverview community in an in-fill home that we built. During the summer, we walk the community extensively. We see duplexes, fourplexes and apartment blocks on our walks. We see modest homes and we see some that are very high end.

We’re retired and often interact with the folks we meet along our walks. The sense of community and diversity in Riverview/Fort Rouge is wonderful. Unfortunately, many of the multiple family developments that were constructed back in the day are no longer possible due to zoning and opposition. A lot of the infill housing is out of reach to any but the most fortunate. Our community has plenty of good schools, beautiful walking trails and great access to active and public transportation.

Continuing the diverse development plan promulgated in past years would be a good thing.

Tom Pearson

Winnipeg

Hookah ban past due

Re: Councillors direct city staff to create hookah-banning bylaw (Nov. 20)

Well it’s about time! Ever since the “lounges” have been popping up all over the city, I could not understand how city council even allowed this in the first place! Smoking is smoking is smoking. Even the article states that hookah smoking involves a mixture of tobacco, molasses, sugar and fruit.

How was this allowed when other people couldn’t have a cigarette? I am starting to think that city council was scared of offending someone. I also think that the same city council wanted to get some money in their pockets before all of a sudden deciding that this was not good. Did you not get that they were smoking? Who allowed this to happen in the first place?

Someone should be fired for this. But we all know that won’t happen.

Kadie Que

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