Letters, March 11

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 11/03/2025 (244 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Recognizing those who fight

Re: We are fighting… (Think Tank, March 10)

Thank you to Emily Traud from Blacksburg, Va. for writing about the counter-protests and efforts of U.S. citizens against the hate and removal of rights bombarding them every day. Thank you for sharing the names of the groups who are leading the resistance.

I hear in your letter a desperate call for help in the face of restrictions of free speech, peaceful protest and of a government owned and controlled media. Our U.S. friends (yes, they are friends) need other mass media outlets to help cover the voices of the U.S. citizens fighting against this new government. I hear you Emily, and as a citizen I will pay attention to the groups you have named.

I am also asking our Canadian media, to cover the protests, the stories and opinions of the U.S. citizens instead of bombarding us with only the messages controlled by the MAGA movement and other elected officials. Our job as a neighbour who is not under siege is to help. How else can we help but to share real stories from real people and balance the coverage? If we truly want to show the need and benefit of a free press, let’s get to work.

Jennifer Rodrigue

Winnipeg

Time to reopen monarchy debate

I was born and raised in England. Since I came to Canada I have believed (not as a monarchist per se) in the monarchy as head of state for Canada. I was primarily looking south at the U.S.’s version of democracy; starting with Richard Nixon, who was president when I arrived on these shores. I have long been a Canadian citizen.

For the first time in over 50 years I have changed my opinion: I might have forgiven Britain for not openly and vocally supporting Canada. I might even excuse British Prime Minister Keir Starmer for his toadying behaviour in the White House on behalf of the British economy. But an invitation to the felonious, anti-Canada, U.S. President Donald Trump for a state visit has just disgusted me and cannot be justified.

It is time for a rethink. What use is the King as head of state? Is it not now time to reopen the debate?

Peter Hodge

Winnipeg

Bet on Canada

Re: Bully next door scary and unpredictable, but Canada won’t back down (March 8)

Tom Brodbeck is right both in terms of his analysis of the problem (an erratic, possibly deranged bully next door) and of our response as Canadians (we won’t back down). It is a serious situation, especially for those of us in the smaller economy, but we have four important advantages over our opponents.

We are united, and they aren’t. Splits along party lines have become a permanent feature of U.S. politics, whereas here in Canada, politicians from every political party are listening to their constituents and putting forth a common front to the U.S. tariffs and threats of annexation.

We have a strong social infrastructure to help those impacted by the trade war — the U.S. does not. Our neighbours to the south have to fear losing their health care, or not being able to see a doctor when they are “Elon’d” out of their job or laid off at Jack Daniels. We also have a much stronger system of unemployment insurance, which the federal government has already adjusted to provide as much economic support as possible.

They need our exports more than they need ours. Oil, potash, uranium, energy, high-grade nickel for armoured steel and soft-wood lumbers are all things they have to get at least in part from Canada to keep their large economy working. On the other hand, if Canadians don’t want to buy a Tesla, we have many other choices.

Lastly, we are strengthening our friendships and alliances — especially with Europe and Latin America at a time when the U.S. seems determined to isolate itself from the rest of the world.

I’m betting on Canada!

John Hutton

St. Francois Xavier

Send ambassador packing

Re: Trump picks Hoekstra for ambassador to Canada (March 7)

If any other country showed hostilities to their neighbour, the first thing for the threatened country would be to toss the other’s ambassador out.

Pete Hoekstra needs to be stopped from even entering Canada. Time to get a little bit more serious.

Al Yakimchuk

East St. Paul

Re-assessing our needs

U.S. President Donald Trump has rattled us (and others) in a number of significant ways. Who knows what his motives are or what he wants, but in light of the economic threat being posed and the adjustments which might have to be made, I am going to suggest that we take it as an opportunity.

An opportunity for those of us who are most well-off to ask ourselves some perhaps overdue and difficult questions about how we live, what we want, and what we should expect. At the risk of annoying many, some of whom I like and love, I suggest the following set of questions as a start.

How many far-away vacations should we expect to go on in a lifetime? How big does our vehicle or residence really need to be? How often should we expect to be able to visit friends and family who live far away? How important is it to have the latest and most fashionable (designer) this or that?

Not meaning to be preachy or righteous, just wondering.

Gerald Farthing

Winnipeg

Annexation would be disastrous

Re: Accusations over trade dispute dominate first day of Manitoba legislature sitting (March 5)

So Josh Guenter thinks 43 per cent of people in his age group would “consider” annexation. Well, annexation isn’t something we can individually consider. All of us together either will be or we won’t be annexed.

If those people want to emigrate to the U.S., who is stopping them? They might consider though, that they could go bankrupt if they or their parents have some medical condition not covered in their medical insurance. Or that they put their lives on the line if they get pregnant. Or that their children will get one of the worst educations in the developed world, because their education systems are run by religious fanatics and politicians instead of by teachers and educators. Or that the political system has been hijacked by extremist oligarchs. Or that anyone in their family could get shot at, in a school or shopping mall, because almost anyone can carry a gun.

Canada isn’t perfect but it’s a better county than the one south of us by a long shot. Annexation would be a disaster for all of us.

Mary Vanbuskirk

Winnipeg

Changing the clocks

Re: Private member’s bill would make daylight time permanent (March 7)

MLA Ron Schuler is using a flawed argument that Manitoba should stay on one time zone because Saskatchewan does. From a scientific-technical perspective (i.e. the world rotates on its axis every 24 hours and from a time perspective the sun doesn’t recognize provincial borders), Saskatchewan straddles two time zones and until 1966 had Eastern and Western Time zones.

In 1966 the Time Act was passed that Saskatchewan would use Central Standard time. Some minor exceptions were allowed. To have DST in Saskatchewan would mean, that in essence, the Western portion would be on double DST. Manitoba is different, in that, we are nestled fully in the Central zone and we can oscillate between DST and CST and experience the best each has to offer in their respective seasons.

It seems to me that having an extra hour of darkness every freezing cold morning in December, January and February is a heavy psychological price to pay for being too lazy to change our clocks twice a year.

David Halstead

Winnipeg