Letters, Feb. 13

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 13/02/2025 (406 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Steely resolve

Most politicians and the many “buy Canadian” movements are promoting and encouraging Canadians to buy Canadian-made products, and that is great. So why doesn’t Canada stop importing steel from China and start using Canadian-made steel on projects in Canada?

Then the looming 25 per cent tariff will be reduced somewhat by the sale of Canadian-made steel to manufacturers in Canada. We have to start somewhere, so why not at home?

Alfred Sansregret

Winnipeg

Reframing homelessness issue

Re: PC leadership hopeful criticized for homeless comments (Feb. 7)

The comment that “When there are serious repercussions for a bad lifestyle, people smarten up very quickly,” which preceded the distasteful and rightly much-criticized joke, is not a joke. It is language, intentional or not, that echoes social Darwinism — the idea that we live in the wilderness, and those of us that are less intelligent than others, or deficient in any other number of ways that those with power may decide, deserve to perish.

The issue is not that I think the speaker is personally a danger to those suffering from homelessness, but that these types of jokes and attitudes make it difficult to get society, and politics, to a point where we can seriously look at the issue and move towards solutions. Let’s not frame homelessness as a problem for Winnipeg to solve, because it is the average person suffering the presence of the people suffering from homelessness, but solve homelessness for the people suffering it.

It is easy to imagine that their being homeless is much worse for them than it is for the person “inconvenienced.”

Fedor Sawazki

Winnipeg

Service to Canada

I have veteran licence plates on my vehicle. The other day I went for fuel. The young man that fuelled my truck must have noticed the plates. He made a point of thanking me for my service. While this was mildly gratifying I couldn’t help thinking, “And what about you? Are you prepared to serve?”

As a demonstration of patriotic spirit booing the U.S. national anthem or rummaging for Canadian-made goods at Walmart or Home Depot doesn’t impress me.

At a time when all components of the Canadian Armed Forces are under strength it would be a more persuasive proof of patriotism if those of eligible age would step up and enlist.

“Strong and free” doesn’t happen just because you sing the words.

Leo Nijssen

Grandview

Well done, curlers

Re: Yet another parking lot fiasco for city (Think Tank, Feb. 11); Affordable housing a stone’s throw away (Think Tank, Feb. 6)

How gratifying it is to read that some members of the Granite Curling Club support rezoning a parking lot next to the club in order to make way for a proposed housing project that could eventually provide urgently needed homes for some of Winnipeg’s homeless people.

It’s the kind of support that could, hopefully, make a difference to at least some of the folks carrying on the best they can in -20 C temperatures.

At the same time, Jess Klassen’s opinion piece points to this time as an opportunity for the curling club to secure “the best deal possible” with the city to protect the interests of the curling club.

Well done curlers, for an empathetic response to a demoralizing situation.

Thanks also to Erna Buffie for her common-sense and insightful piece on the same topic.

It’s cold, folks! But so heartwarming to see these supporters take the time to stand up for their fellow Winnipeggers.

Gloria Taylor

Winnipeg

Wasteful attitudes

Re: ‘Back to plastic’: Trump signs order for plastic straws as he declares paper ones ‘don’t work’ (Feb. 10)

Obstacles to environmental progress were quite formidable pre-pandemic. But COVID-19 not only stalled most projects being undertaken, it added greatly to the already busy landfills and burning centres with disposed masks and other non-degradable biohazard-protective single-use materials.

Also, increasingly problematic is a very large and growing populace which is too overworked, worried and even rightfully angry about food and housing unaffordability for themselves or their family — all while on insufficient income — to criticize various industries for the environmental damage they cause, particularly when it’s not immediately observable to the masses.

Meanwhile, too many people continue throwing non-biodegradable garbage down a dark chute or flush pollutants down toilet/sink drainage pipes as though they’re inconsequentially dispensing that waste into a black-hole singularity where it’s compressed into nothing.

This was especially reflected in the astonishingly short-sighted and entitled selfishness I observed about six years ago, when a TV news reporter randomly asked a young urbanite wearing sunglasses what he thought of government restrictions on disposable plastic straws. He retorted with a snort that it is like he’s “living in a nanny state that’s always telling me what I cannot do.”

His carelessly entitled mentality revealed why so much gratuitous animal-life-destroying plastic waste eventually finds its way into the natural environment, where there are few, if any, caring souls to immediately see it. Sadly, he’s far from alone.

Frank Sterle Jr.

White Rock, B.C.

Reaffirming our dedication

As we approach the 60th anniversary of our Canadian flag on Feb. 15, it is a fitting time for all true Canadians to reflect on our national pride and sovereign identity. Recent comments by U.S. President Donald Trump — threatening heavy tariffs on Canadian goods and suggesting that Canada could become the “51st state” of the United States — are not only economically misguided but also deeply insulting to our nation’s hard-won independence.

Such rhetoric does more than provoke trade tensions; it undermines the very values that define us. Canada has always stood as a beacon of multiculturalism, democracy, and respect for individual rights. The suggestion that our country could be treated as a mere appendage to American interests blatantly disregards our distinct history and the pride we take in our unique identity.

In recent days, there has been a noticeable surge in Canadians choosing to support homegrown products over American imports. This grassroots shift is more than a fleeting trend — it is a powerful statement of loyalty and a direct response to attempts at economic coercion. By prioritizing Canadian-made goods, consumers are not only bolstering local businesses but also reinforcing the idea that our nation’s sovereignty is non-negotiable. Furthermore, it is important to recognize that any move toward such tariffs would have a reciprocal impact, potentially driving up prices and limiting choices for U.S. citizens as well.

At its core, trade policies should aim to foster mutually beneficial relationships, not to create divisions or undermine national dignity. It is incumbent upon us, as Canadians, to remain united in our commitment to protecting our economic and cultural sovereignty. We must resist any efforts to erode our independence, even under the guise of trade negotiations.

On this significant day, as we celebrate our flag and all that it represents, let us also reaffirm our dedication to a strong, independent Canada. We must continue to support our local industries and stand firm against any external pressures that threaten our cherished way of life.

Sincerely,

Yog Rahi Gupta

Winnipeg