Letters, Jan. 24

Opinion

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 24/01/2025 (260 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Scanner problems

Re: Weapons scanners to be installed at HSC (Jan. 22)

First of all, what will they consider a weapon? Scissors? Nail clippers? Work equipment? But the real stupidity is: imagine when a very sick person is in the emergency room. This person has a so-called weapon.

So, instead of being treated, the focus will be on searching the person, bags. This will apply to you, to me, to all of us. It’s not fair to put patients through this.

Jay Jones

Winnipeg

Doubts about AI

Re: City’s 311 service to roll out AI chatbot in spring pilot program (Jan. 22)

As a recent user of the 311 service, I am worried about the possibility of losing that human touch if the city proceeds with AI.

I had a rather complicated request that no AI would have solved. The helpful human I talked to went out of her way to look at answers to my situation and came up with an innovative idea that went a long way to resolving my concern.

I doubt AI a would have been able to do that, and more importantly, not with the empathy and support I received.

Bonnie Dickie

Winnipeg

Message for aspiring Liberal leaders

Re: Cutting provincial nominee numbers disastrous for Manitoba (Jan. 22)

Manitoba must have its full complement of skilled workers under the provincial nominee program based on the NDP government’s recent actions to address homelessness through the Your Way Home plan. After all, the federal Liberal government’s rationale for slashing the number of immigrant visas it offers each year was that there is not enough housing.

Setting aside the obvious flaws in that argument, Manitoba is already on board to address the homelessness issue with a well-supported set of resources and excellent community-based leadership. So, homelessness and a lack of housing is being addressed here, leaving no reason for the federal government to cut immigration in half, damaging the Manitoba economy. Which incidentally will reduce the tax base needed to supports housing initiatives.

In fact, Ottawa should offer the full allotment of immigrants to every province that commits to a credible, community-lead strategy for addressing homelessness, as Manitoba has already done. The lack of housing is a serious issue, as is the lack of skilled employees to fuel provincial economies. Manitoba wants to address both issues and Ottawa no longer has a rationale to stand in our way. As Liberal leadership hopefuls criss-cross our province there is one thing they should hear — support immigration and housing in Manitoba.

John Hutton

St. Francois Xavier

Sign of poor morals

Re: Manitoba government runs ads on electricity rate freeze that has not been approved; Minister lobbied to cover $300K annual cost of drug (Jan. 21)

These two Free Press headlines say it all about the NDP government. The first headline tells a story of wasted money. If one drills deeper into the story from the second headline, the provincial government says it’s up to some Government of Canada authority — but other provinces fund the drug!

Just shows that the NDP has money to put its name in lights (billboards), but when it comes to funding a drug for a human being, they punt it off to the feds, who may or may not change the guidelines. It’s the choice of where money is spent which is truly not acceptable. Different government, same moral compass!

Tom Fraser

Winnipeg

Supporting Canada

So the orange menace has arrived. Regarding tariffs against Canada, it’s time for all Canadians to jump in and do what we can do.

When I buy groceries, I look where they are grown. Lettuce from Mexico, grapes from Peru, apples, potatoes, carrots from Canada. There are still some odds and ends I have to buy produced in the U.S., but I do my best to avoid American products even if it costs me a little more.

The Canadian government should mandate grocery stores to put a “Canada Friendly” sticker (with the maple leaf logo on it of course) to all product that is non-U.S. to help consumers do their part in fighting these tariffs.

As well, the government should reconsider their purchase of F-35 fighter jets in favor of the French Mirage or Swedish Griffins. And who knows, I think we have the talent, capacity and know-how to make our own jets. It’s time for us to decouple ourselves from the unfriendly neighbour.

Airline companies in Canada should be forced to cancel any orders from Boeing. Use Airbus and Bombardier instead (European and Canadian content)

Put 25 per cent tariff on John Deere and Case IH. Don’t tax the repair parts for these tractors for the next four years so farmers can keep their equipment running.

Any U.S. company in Canada should be taxed for money leaving Canada for the U.S.

On wine and beer, I only buy non-American wines. I don’t even buy American-branded beers made in Canada. We have a lot of micro brewers who need our support.

I am not travelling to the U.S. in the near future. I am planning to go the Europe instead.

There are a lot of other areas where I am sure you as a Canadian can do your part.

Money is the only thing Americans understand. If we all do our part, the tariffs should be coming down soon.

Gerald Trudeau

Winnipeg

Thinking of the trees

Re: Private property versus the public good (Think Tank, Jan.21)

I hope Erna Buffie’s eloquence and anger doesn’t end up as an obituary for 19,000 mature trees.

If the owner won’t accept an offer to purchase she states is four times what he paid for the land, land that is sacred to many people, then it’s easy to suspect that outright greed is more important to the absentee landowner than social responsibility.

If so, for shame.

Barry Craig

Winnipeg

Animal care laws inadequate

Re: Manitoba drops ball on overseeing breeders: animal rights group (Jan. 20)

According to a provincial spokesperson, “Use of gases such as carbon monoxide, or more commonly CO2, in a confined chamber is recognized as an approved, humane method of euthanasia for a variety of species, if constructed following recommended designs and operated correctly.” Online videos of pigs being lowered into gas chambers, panicking and screaming for their lives, would suggest otherwise. Killing in this manner results in injury for some animals and stress for each and every one of them.

So how can this be allowed? Euthanasia, from the Greek meaning “a good death,” is one on a long list of so-called “accepted activities” that are exempt from the Animal Care Act as long as they are carried out in a manner that is “consistent with generally accepted practices.”

This story provides yet more examples of how inadequate our laws truly are. The Animal Care Act needs to be updated in a manner that provides real protection for animals instead of prioritizing those who profit from their exploitation.

Debbie Wall

Winnipeg