Letters, April 4

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 04/04/2025 (418 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Correction:

An op-ed in the April 3 issue of the Free Press (Focusing on an affordable clean energy future) incorrectly claimed that the Manitoba government had recently tabled legislation “to amend two laws governing oil and gas in Manitoba.”

The legislation quoted was from a previous session of the Manitoba legislature, and not the current session.

Americans who care

I recently travelled to Belize for a 10-day dive trip, staying at two different resorts. As is my usual habit, I like to interact with the other residents and just generally ask where they’re from and how their experience is going.

I met fellow Canadians from across our country. I also met innumerable Americans — those from both “blue states” and “red states.” Invariably, they asked where I was from. I said I was a Canadian. Their response was unanimous.

“We apologize.”

They apologized for their president, and what he is doing to our country, and that they see us Canadians as their friends. They were in essence, embarrassed. Even those who voted for Trump.

So, my fellow Canadians, fear not. Based on my microcosm of American opinion, our American friends stand with us. We are loved, appreciated and respected. As for their reciprocal feelings towards their dear leader….not so much.

Elbows up to the dear leader. Not to our American friends.

Bradley McKay

Winnipeg

Prioritize international aid

Canadians have a unique opportunity to reiterate our global commitment during the next federal election. With the slashing of international aid by the U.S. and other countries following suit, we can’t afford to waver in our support for global health, poverty reduction, and human rights.

Global aid is not merely a charitable handout to the poor; it is a way of strengthening economies, preventing conflicts, and saving lives. It is an essential part of any humane and sensible global strategy. At its best, international aid is an investment in stability and security—something that amounts to far more than just an immediate return on investment in human lives. International aid at its best ensures millions of people do not live in the conditions that might cause them to act in ways that lead to conflict or terror.

I ask that candidates make international aid a top priority, and I ask that voters hold those candidates accountable up and down the electoral line when it comes to making strong, clear commitments on this issue. Because a better world starts right here in Canada, and the kind of leadership we provide on the global stage has never been more crucial.

Daniel Yazie

Winnipeg

Praise for hospital staff

For the past two months I have been a patient at Seven Oakes Hospital.

I have accolades for all the staff from the doctor, to the physician’s assistant, the nurses and the aides.

As a retired nurse I can honestly say that the care has been excellent! I couldn’t have asked for better care. Thank you all.

Morene Weinstein

Lockport

Canadian pride

My visits to the grocery store, a bakery, the war veterans organization where I play snooker and to two local restaurants have all clearly, and somewhat surprisingly, demonstrated that my increased vocalization of Canadian pride, and my efforts to buy Canadian and to talk politics are not unique. Many are doing it, and publicly.

The topic of the criminal-bully actively attacking Canada and the existence of democracy in the country in which he resides is coming up, and vociferously so. People are helping people find Canadian products. They are proudly announcing the cancellation of trips and cruises to the U.S. in favour of exploring Canada, or that they will no longer be a snowbird (ever). Support for our new prime minister, the grown-up in the room, has become almost commonplace. Public places are becoming community conversation places.

The need for the expression of Canadian pride, and to be seen as fighting for democracy, is outstanding.

I feel the urge to tell the specific stories of these conversations, but will leave it at this: I have never before seen and been part of such an integrated coming together of community. Reminds me of the ’60s, minus the generation gap.

Garrett Loeppky

Winnipeg

A call for real engagement

The roar of the crowd, the glow of the screen, the endless scroll of curated lives, these are the hallmarks of our current existence.

We’ve become a society of spectators, living vicariously through the manufactured triumphs of athletes, the scripted dramas of television, and the carefully crafted personas of influencers.

We celebrate a hockey player’s goal as if it were our own, shouting “we won!” while the reality is that “we” did nothing. We mourn a team’s loss as a personal tragedy, investing emotional capital in the fortunes of millionaires who wouldn’t recognize us in a crowd.

We consume endless hours of television, our minds filled with the manufactured drama of fictional lives, while our own stagnates.

And let’s not forget the influencers, those purveyors of fleeting trends and unattainable lifestyles, who peddle illusions of perfection while we chase their fleeting shadows.

We are told to buy, to consume, to emulate, all while the real world, with its pressing issues and tangible needs, fades into the background.

This passive consumption extends beyond sports and entertainment. It seeps into our political discourse, where we treat candidates like teams, cheering and jeering without engaging in meaningful dialogue or critical thought. We are divided by manufactured rivalries, our loyalties exploited for political gain, while the real issues are the ones that directly impact our lives and remain unresolved.

We’ve become a nation of spectators, reacting to the spectacle, rather than participants in our own lives. We are trained dogs, salivating on command, our emotions manipulated by corporate machines that dangle bread and circuses before us.

It’s time to wake up. It’s time to recognize the illusion. Our passions should be directed towards building something real, towards acquiring tangible skills, towards contributing to our communities.

We must learn to fix, to build, to create. We must engage with the world, not just watch it.

Instead of screaming at a screen, let us build something with our hands. Instead of consuming manufactured drama, let’s engage in real dialogue, real problem-solving. Instead of chasing the fleeting approval of influencers, let’s cultivate genuine connections and meaningful contributions.

Let’s step out of the shadows of manufactured reality and into the light of active participation. Let’s reclaim our lives from the spectators’ seats and become the players in our own destinies.

Logan Solitar

North Bay, Ont.

Thoughts on the Euro

It would be very interesting to adopt the European euro as our currency, instead of the Canadian dollar, which is extremely low and affects our imports and exports.

We, as Canadians, can still maintain our sovereignty, but use a different currency.

I just wonder what the advantages or disadvantages this action would foster. It would be an interesting concept to investigate.

Kenneth Miller

Oakbank