Letters, April 27

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 27/04/2024 (868 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Eatery ideas

Re: Teetering on Prairie’s Edge (April 26)

The Free Press is my interesting morning companion at breakfast. I was sad to read the article regarding Kildonan Park restaurant’s future.

Recently I purchased tickets to Rainbow Stage’s first production and was looking forward to dining at the Prairie’s Edge first. The city has not learned from its past mistakes. In 2008, Tavern in the Park, a delightful restaurant in Assiniboine Park, was forced to close because the city raised the rent to an unreasonable amount. The venue still remains empty.

If Wow! Hospitality Concepts cannot reach a workable agreement with the city, the venue could be closed and remain shuttered. It does not make sense to me that the city would risk losing the revenue of this restaurant or any restaurant by raising the rent to a point where it is not possible to be profitable.

Sandra Caplan

Winnipeg

Phosphorus problems

Re: Let’s try a system that works — now (April 25)

Alexus Kanu’s article is accurate in many ways and sadly, inaccurate in others. Ms. Kanu indicates that chemical phosphorus removal was first proposed by the Lake Winnipeg Foundation in 2019.

The fact is that the City of Winnipeg had been advocating for chemical phosphorus removal for many years prior to that time.

I was program director for the North End Water Pollution Control Centre expansion when I retired in 2011, and I can tell you that we had been trying to convince the regulators to allow chemical phosphorus removal for at least two decades prior to then.

So, sadly, we have an incredibly long timeline where a relatively economical and technologically proven method of removing phosphorus was not implemented, perhaps as a consequence of hubris on the behalf of the provincial regulators. Not a good thing.

Having said that, we are now likely at a point where biological phosphorus removal is finally the right thing to do. This does not excuse the past intransigence of Manitoba Environment, which has resulted in decades of lost opportunity to improve the water quality of Lake Winnipeg. But the fact remains that the newest biological phosphorus removal technologies are much more energy efficient than chemical technologies and result in a much lower production of residuals which end up in our landfills.

Both of these characteristics are good things.

With this background, notwithstanding Ms Kanu’s penchant for beating the horse and its rider, I believe that the horse (biological phosphorus removal) that is finally nearing the finish line is a winner.

We can’t change the past. Let’s look forward to a better future.

Tom Pearson

Winnipeg

Who will cover housing tab?

Re: Nearly half of Canadians pan Liberal budget (April 25)

It looks like everyone loves the Liberals plans for new housing and the money being budgeted for them. The actual houses are just a start. Who will get stuck with the tab to improve the infrastructure required to go along with this new housing? I am guessing that will fall on the communities, which will filter down to the residents in increased taxes. Thanks, Liberals.

Now to the increase in capital gains taxes. No incentive there at all for home owners to spend on property improvements if in the end they will just have to fork over more money to the feds when the property is sold or passed on to family members. Again, thanks Liberals.

Brian Short

Stonewall

Perhaps attack should be reported

Re: ‘Relentless’ attack terrifies dog owner (April 25)

Regarding the article about the “relentless” dog attack. This can certainly be a terrifying incident for both the owner as well as the poor assaulted animal.

The article goes on to explain the city’s enforcement process regarding loose and dangerous animals. The city deems an animal to be “at risk” and the owner “irresponsible” if the animal is found to be running at large or having attacked another, on two or more occasions.

My question is simply, has this particular animal attacked others, who have also chosen to not report it?

People already know dog owners need to control their animals, they simply chose not to. There should be consequences. Maybe the human victim should reconsider not reporting the attack.

Bob Haegeman

St.Pierre-Jolys

Prayer not always private

Re: Land acknowledgment more inclusive, respectful than prayer (April 24); Church and state (Think Tank, April 16); and Uplifted by a show of faith (Think Tank, April 17)

Tom Brodbeck’s latest opinion piece makes some interesting statements that I believe are not entirely correct. The latest issue to come forth from the legislative assembly is that the opening prayer should be more inclusive. Mr. Brodbeck states that “praying has no place in a public setting, such as a legislative assembly” and “isn’t praying a private matter, something people do on their own.”

Approximately one year ago in the run-up to the King’s coronation at Buckingham Palace, Assembly of First Nations’ then-national chief RoseAnn Archibald opened with an Indigenous prayer, in public.

In October 2023, a group protesting for the rights of the Palestinian people gathered at Memorial Park to pray, in public. Last November members from the Winnipeg Jewish community met at the Asper Campus gym to show support for Israel and the hostages taken by Hamas on Oct. 7 and to pray, in public.

A month ago, Christians gathered on Good Friday at Christ the King Chapel at St. Paul’s College and led a two-kilometre procession called the Way of the Cross and prayed, in public.

I would argue that praying in public is not something that should be frowned upon. The crux of the matter is that the prayer that is said at the opening each day of the legislative assembly does not align with everyone’s beliefs and being possibly offensive and not inclusive to some, needs to be re-examined.

Rochelle Squires in her article Church and state says she strongly believes in the separation of theses two entities. However, she then acknowledges that when she would hear the opening prayer it “rose above the idiosyncrasy of organized religion” and was “ seemingly appropriate in that sacrosanct place.”

Pam Frampton, a freelance writer, wrote the article Uplifted by a show of faith while in Italy on Good Friday. She shares, “I don’t personally find hope in prayer anymore, I do respect those who find solace and strength there.” She goes on to stay “at a time when the world feels inhospitable and unstable, there is something reassuring and comforting in seeing old and trusted rituals observed.”

Manitoba currently has the highest suicide rates in the country and is tied with Saskatchewan for having the highest violent crime rate. Housing has become completely unaffordable and for those who are sick in our province or require surgery, they will wait an interminably long time for a bed or to see a doctor. Food bank use is at an all-time high and people are having to choose between heating their homes and feeding their families.

But yet, here we are, discussing if a prayer that asks God for wisdom and to help those in power frame laws that tend to the welfare and prosperity of our province may not be inclusive enough, and is antiquated and offensive.

My belief and opinion that prayer needs to be a part of those who govern us may certainly cause some to bristle, and I realize I am in the minority here. A fitting end to this summation is from an online commenter who recently stated that the best possible prayer for these times might be “God, help us all. Amen.”

I agree.

Christine Cockerill

Winnipeg