Letters, Feb. 26

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 26/02/2025 (244 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Canada’s fine as is

I am writing to address the narrative that suggests Canada is somehow “broken” and in need of a makeover by joining the United States. This notion is not only unfounded but also dismissive of the successes and values that define our nation.

Since 2019, Canada has boasted the wealthiest middle class in the world when measured by median annual income (standardized to U.S. dollars). Our achievements are not the result of serendipity but of policies that promote social equality, robust public services, and economic stability. While some critics point to isolated issues — such as the challenges of high grocery prices — these problems are not unique to Canada. In fact, many everyday items, like eggs, often cost even more in the U.S.

The idea that Canadians would prefer to “join” the U.S. misrepresents the sentiments of a proud citizenry that values its distinct culture and way of life. Our federal minimum wage, which converts to about US$10.45, is just one of many figures that must be understood in the broader context of a thriving and well-supported middle class. Canadians are not yearning for an American makeover; we are deeply committed to the principles and practices that have built our success.

To those who advocate for a shift towards U.S.-style policies or even outright assimilation, I say this: Canada is doing just fine as it is. Our country stands as a beacon of balanced prosperity and social progress — a fact that remains evident even when one considers the economic realities of our daily lives.

Yog Rahi Gupta

Winnipeg

Improving literacy

Re: We must fight for students’ right to read (Think Tank, Feb. 24)

I too hold Ms. Seiff’s passion for the right for all students to read and the need to intervene early if there are signs of difficulty.

The notion that we must fight to find a solution is Trumpian in nature. The suggestion of a singular diagnosis and solution for all students is alarming. Will a provincial mandate regarding universal assessment and a single method of instruction for all students support those identified with complex learning needs? Anyone with children knows that what works for one does not necessarily work for the other. It is sheer folly to think a one-size-fits-all approach will support all students.

Teachers need access to a variety of assessment and instructional tools to meet the diverse needs of learners in the classroom. Don’t blame the teachers, school divisions, universities, and Reading Recovery for a lack of support for students in need. Don’t look to other provinces to tell us what works for Manitoba students. Manitoba’s teachers need a toolbox full of evidence-based techniques, resources, and interventions to support all learners in becoming competent, critical, and joyful readers and writers.

Allyson Matczuk

La Salle

I am writing in response to We must fight for students’ right to read. As a student studying early childhood education, I agree with the article’s argument that our schools must prioritize evidence-based literacy teaching to ensure that all students develop strong reading skills.

Reading is the foundation of all learning, and it is concerning that many children struggle with literacy due to ineffective teaching approaches. The success of the Evergreen School Division in implementing structured, phonics-based instruction serves as an example of what is possible when educational policies are aligned with scientific research. All school divisions in Manitoba and across Canada should follow this lead to improve literacy rates and provide every student with the opportunity to succeed.

It is critical that policymakers, educators, and parents unite in advocating for systemic changes that promote positive literacy practices. I urge education officials to take immediate action to ensure that all students have access to high-quality reading education.

Thank you for shedding light on this vital issue. I hope this article sparks meaningful discussions and, more importantly, concrete steps toward literacy improvement.

Melissa Veliz

Mississauga, Ont.

A letter for the mayor on bus tech

We applaud Mayor Scott Gillingham’s efforts to combat homelessness, reopen Portage and Main and increase community protection.

Given his praiseworthy initiatives, it is disappointing and frankly puzzling that he is stalling on zero-emission battery electric buses. Endless testing of competing “cutting-edge” technologies just doesn’t cut it.

There is more at stake here than just managing a budget in a cold-weather city. For the foreseeable future, hydrogen is a dirty and/or expensive fuel — either you get it from electrolysis of water or by chemical reactions of fossil fuels. Sure, you get more range with hydrogen fuel cells but overall, it is not net zero emissions, and not cost effective — because of how the hydrogen is made.

On the other hand, we already have a good hydroelectric system. The mayor’s unwillingness to invest in an infrastructure that charges a bus battery in a garage is baffling. Surely the mayor has to realize that the infrastructure for highly explosive hydrogen would be just as daunting.

A capable battery electric bus can get 300 kilometres of range easily. I’m sure we can find better. Naturally it would be a challenge to arrange bus routes and some charging slots on-route — but it’s doable! It just requires a vision that allows big changes, rather than dedication to old, familiar technology.

Josh Friesen and Brian Kowalchuk

Winnipeg

What makes us Canadian

Canadians are very different than Americans and here are a few of the ways we are different.

There are many “brands” of democratic government but the American brand is the most fragile (i.e. republic). It is the only one of its kind in our hemisphere that has not morphed into a dictatorship … yet. Recent events suggest that it is almost there.

The Canadian brand of democratic government relies on the participation of many facets of community and the ability to compromise when this is required. Our democratic system neither vests decision making and “executive power” with a single individual nor in people who have not been elected by anybody.

Unlike Canadians, Americans seem to be terrified of each other. Why else would there be a desire to carry a firearm as a constitutional right? Something frightens them to the point that their average citizen is able to use deadly force in the face of perceived threat against anyone, their neighbour for example. While threats do exist in our country, Canadians do not feel the need to take violent action individually against their neighbours.

Unlike the American banking system, Canadian banks provide reasonable protection to their users. Canadian banks must have real capital on hand to protect depositors and they cannot pass assets back and forth among themselves. In other words, Canadian banks are appropriately regulated to protect consumers. Recall the unregulated American banking system that created a mortgage crisis in 2008 that caused tens of thousands of working people to lose their homes.

The American government has hijacked what passes for Christianity; they have ignored the democratic priniciple of separating church from state.

In closing, I cannot imagine any Canadian that I know capable of betraying a friend or ally and yet this is what we face.

Richard Voss

Winnipeg