Letters, March 26

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 26/03/2025 (367 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Annexing Canada no simple task

The Free Press has informed us, sadly but accurately, that the primary issue of the coming federal election will be which candidate or party can best “handle” the U.S. president. That would be the president who wants to annex Canada into the U.S. While I would prefer to ignore the proposal, that may be unwise. Perhaps we should prepare to negotiate. What might be our terms, entering into such a “deal”?

The most obvious problem is the Crown. Some Canadians might see this as no problem, but it would be for both King Charles and for me. I am an immigrant, so I am bound by a solemn oath to be loyal to the Crown. Besides, I like the way our parliamentary system works in contrast to the elected monarchy our neighbours seem to have stumbled into.

But suppose a majority of Canadians should feel otherwise, and that Charles should agree to such a move. What then?

Language would obviously be a problem. Would the U.S. agree to have French as an official language? Perhaps that would bring the U.S. to consider Spanish as an official language. Perhaps Puerto Rico might finally be granted statehood. Would the next president be required to be fluent in at least two official languages?

The treaties with First Nations in Canada would require consideration. Canada does not have a great record at treaty-keeping, but it would be a disaster to close down the reconciliation process when we seem to be making a fair start. Perhaps the U.S. would like to join us in this process.

Another major issue is made obvious by the U.S. president’s ignorance of the reality of provincial sovereignty. Each province has its own representative of the Crown. So the issue would not be a 51st state, but states 51 through 60. Twenty new senators and a lot of representatives from our most populous provinces! How might that affect the balance of power in the legislature? And what of our northern territories? If Alaska is a state, why not Yukon, etc. ?

Finally, why not include Mexico in this process? That would be 31 (or two) more states in return for a much shorter land border to control.

Perhaps I digress. But are these and other such questions not part of the elbows we want to have up?

John Badertscher

Winnipeg

Premier stumbles

Re: Kinew discloses trips to ethics commissioner months later (March 24)

I like Premier Wab Kinew. In fact, I find myself liking him more and more as premier. He brings a real sense of energy, vision, and connection to people, qualities this province needs in a leader.

That said, the recent Grey Cup trips serve as a reminder of how tricky public life can be. We all suffer from a little entitlement now and then, it’s human nature. You work hard, you put in the effort, and it’s easy to feel like you’ve earned something or dare I say are “entitled” to something. I don’t believe there was any bad intent here, like many of us would, the premier figured that because he paid his own way, disclosure wasn’t necessary.

But the reality is, when you’re in that position, perception matters as much as intent. You need to keep your hands close to your chin, not because you’ve done something wrong, but because you’re in the political ring, and the punches come from your blind spots.

Kinew has been getting a lot of well-deserved praise early in his term, but with that will come criticism and scrutiny. I’m confident he’ll take this as a learning moment. This stumble doesn’t change the fact that he seems to be the kind of leader Manitoba needs. Someone who grows stronger with experience and stays mindful of the responsibility that comes with the job.

Marc Robichaud

Winnipeg

Leaning right

Prime Minister Mark Carney claimed in his election announcement speech that he’s spent his life figuring out how the world works. He’s also spent his entire career as a banker ensuring the status quo would continue in times of crisis through neoliberal fiscal policies in both Canada and England.

In short he has always sided with big business, corporations, and banking institutions ensuring the smooth flow of capital (profit) at the expense of poor and working class English and Canadian people. It’s no surprise that his first priority was cutting taxes and announcing austerity measures. Austerity in the face of financial crisis guarantees that the majority of Canadians are going to foot the bill so that billionaires and millionaires profits and bottom lines are protected as much as possible. This is sold to us as “responsible management,” but all it is is conservative policy dressed up in fluffy Liberal language.

We need, at minimum, a return to Keynsian economics of big national jobs and infrastructure programs to keep people employed building and repairing critical industries and infrastructure while making ourselves more self reliant and resilient to hostile trade partners. Unfortunately, almost none of the major political parties are taking this approach.

Carney’s neoliberal, conservative politics are also going to ensure that the conservatives move even further to the right as the gap between them and the Liberals shrinks on policy matters. In other words, the Liberals are shifting the entire country rightward, culturally, and when their policies fail to address any of the underline root issues of poverty, unaffordable housing, crumbling healthcare, drug addiction, etc. it will enable the most extreme xenophobic, Christian nationalist elements of the Conservative Party and pave the way for an ugly brand of Canadian fascism.

Evan Marnoch

Winnipeg

Poilievre wrong on taxes

Re: Conservatives pledge to cut personal income taxes (March 24)

“And his dad said, ‘Well, it’s kind of like your report card at school, except the opposite — the better you do, the more you get punished.’ And that is what income tax is. It is the fine you pay for the crime of working hard,” Poilievre said.

Taxes should, in fact be looked at as just the opposite. They are a privilege to provide support to all the benefits we receive from our country (municipal, province, federal) and a payback to our country which has provided us with the opportunity to work and enjoy the benefits we receive from it.

To suggest to voters that they are a “crime” is just plain wrong and sends a completely degrading message to Canadian citizens.

Art Quanbury

River Hills

North End neglected

Re: Is Chief Peguis Trail extension worth the price? (Think Tank, March 24)

The column states that the city is currently considering a report on the extension of Chief Peguis from Main Street west to Brookside Boulevard. The article goes on to state that the city currently has an $8-billion infrastructure deficit, so why would the city even consider such an expense?

Meanwhile the Arlington Bridge sits unused and without any immediate plans for its removal and replacement. In November the city released a proposal to replace the bridge at its current location, which would cost $166 million plus up to $27 million more in interest and require six years to build.

In the meantime, Winnipeg citizens who require or wish to travel to or from the north end of city are left without the option of using the Arlington Bridge. The amount of vehicular traffic on McPhillips Street since has increased substantially and even on weekends and “off” rush hours, there are numerous long line-ups on this street.

Is the city ignoring the needs of its North End citizens?”

Ruth Humberg

Winnipeg