Letters, Feb. 22

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 22/02/2025 (399 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Go Team Canada

I am a little surprised that U.S. President Donald Trump hasn’t come up with an excuse for the U.S.’s loss against Canada in the 4 Nations Face-Off final. After all, the game could have been rigged and stolen from the poor, defenceless Americans.

But just like the American election in 2020, the game wasn’t rigged or stolen, the U.S. lost fair and square and Trump is still a loser.

Al Prokopowich

Winnipeg

Lousy sloganeering

Re: Poilievre still holds the best hand but bad beat possible (Feb. 20)

Dan Lett writes that Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre is going to keep on parroting Trumpian talking points, despite Canada’s “growing disaffection” with what’s going on in the United States.

“Growing disaffection” savours too much of our infamous Canadian politeness when it comes to how Canadians feel about what’s happening in the U.S.

“Mounting fury” is much better.

And while Poilievre does persist in regurgitating Trump’s talking points, nothing is more indicative of his determination to continue aping Trump than his slogan “Canada First.”

Poilievre’s rallying cry resembles too closely the motto America First, which American fascists appropriated just prior to Second World War and which the increasingly anti-democratic U.S. government has embraced.

The mind boggles at Poilievre’s insulting and cynical adoption of a catchphrase burdened with such a history.

And at the fact he must believe Canada is so alike to the United States that stamping the Conservative platform with this disreputable Made-In-America label will bring him the brass ring after which he’s been hungering for so many years.

That alone merits kicking him off the political merry-go-round. Permanently.

Ross McLennan

Winnipeg

Hydrogen bus a bad bet

Re: Zeroing in … on zero (Feb. 20)

Winnipeg Transit and the civic government is touting the purchase of hydrogen fuel-cell buses as a positive event for Transit. Events elsewhere would indicate otherwise. Across the world, in China, Europe, California and even in Quebec, jurisdictions are abandoning hydrogen as a fuel source for buses. Factors include: price being higher than battery electric; maintenance issues; and importantly, fuelling infrastructure.

Ballard Power Systems, which makes fuel cells, has a tanking stock price, and several hydrogen vehicle manufacturers have gone into bankruptcy. The most recent is the Nicola truck manufacturing company that was heavily involved in hydrogen along with batteries.

Here in Winnipeg, New Flyer Industries may be taking the wrong path to construct hydrogen vehicles for a shrinking market, while losing focus on a battery market where they need to be competitive and innovative. A company like BYD will eat their lunch.

It appears the purchasers at Winnipeg Transit have not been following events in this industry.

Brian Marks

Winnipeg

What’s the gig pay?

Re: Compensation negotiation expectation (Feb. 15)

One way to ensure transparency and fairness in the hiring process would be for the provincial government to require employers to publish the expected pay or salary ranges in all job postings. Pay transparency is gaining momentum across Canada.

In recent years, Progressive Conservative and NDP governments in Ontario and B.C. respectively have both passed legislation to require employers post compensation in job postings. B.C.’s law also requires larger employers to post annual pay transparency reports. Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland and Labrador also have pay transparency laws in place.

Coupled with rules against employers asking about previous compensation, pay transparency laws can be a powerful tool for more fairness and equity in hiring.

Kevin Rebeck

Selkirk

Bus not so bad

As a student at the University of Manitoba I feel as though Winnipeg Transit is overly hated by many people. Whenever someone mentions the transit options in Winnipeg, I feel as though the first thing that comes to mind for them is how bad it is. However, with the introduction of the Southwest Transitway and Blue Line, I feel as though transit in Winnipeg is improving.

From a university student’s perspective, while some buses have been late on occasion, it has never been so egregious as to make me massively late for some of my classes. Often I find that people overlook the fact that bus drivers need to use the bathroom or get coffee, and that over the course of a bus’ route, this can add up making the bus late. This is not the fault of the driver nor the transit system, and in reality having to wait five extra minutes for your bus is not the end of the world.

The other major complaint I often see with respect to Winnipeg Transit is the lack of connecting routes across the city. While this is somewhat of a problem right now with the introduction of the Southwest Transitway and the upcoming changes to bus routes this year, I believe that there will be more efficient and connected routes than ever in the Winnipeg transit system.

As a city, I hope that we can be more appreciative of the great transit system we already have in place, and be excited for the amazing changes it will have in the future.

Nathan McKenna

Winnipeg

Carney the unreliable

Re: Carney leads Liberals in fundraising by large margin (Feb. 19)

Mark Carney is ahead in the Liberal leadership race, with his recent bump in polls appearing to be due primarily to not being Justin Trudeau. Liberal insiders apparently value any sign of perceived electability, as fleeting as poll results might be.

But what about policy, or in Carney’s case, the lack thereof? Canadians deserve more. His launch was noted as dull and uninspiring, but, importantly, also uninformative. His website consists mostly of aspirational pronouncements, little in the way of specific actions on how to get there. He has been plagued by a slew of inconsistencies. Vagueness continued as a theme in his recent interview with a prominent and friendly CBC commentator, where he did not perform well. He was as clear as mud; evasive and aloof. He was also less than honest on multiple points, in particular his close relationship to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and ardent past support of failed policies like the carbon tax.

His time with the Bank of England is touted as an asset. We are told an example of success, but was it? Comments from England are less positive, with one recent revelation coming via the BBC, not partisan sources. During his tenure, he was described as behaving like an “unreliable boyfriend.” The odd moniker stuck.

This stemmed from his lack of clarity, tinged with arrogance; not providing clear and timely directions when needed, instead sowing confusion at an already uncertain moment. Even now, in the depths of the Liberal leadership, we still have little idea what Mark Carney stands for, nor what exactly he would do.

These behaviours might be fine for an investment manager, but decidedly negative for an aspiring political leader.

Robert Parsons

Winnipeg