Letters, June 10

Rent problems

Re: Finding what’s missing in the Winnipeg housing market (Think Tank, June 9)

While Mr. Bellamy identifies the problem of affordable housing, I am disheartened at the lack of analysis of how families seeking ownership, as opposed to eternal status as tenants, can afford to bid against commercial developers who will now be able to bid for essentially every property in Winnipeg as a tear-down to construct multi-family revenue-generating “middle housing.”

The law of unintended consequences may then obtain with ever higher rents when the option of ownership further recedes into the economic distance, given that individuals bidding against investors will be at tremendous economic disadvantage.

Mr. Bellamy is suggesting a market-based solution, when all the fundamentals of present concentration of ownership in the commercial residential tenancy market tends toward rent controls as essentially ineffective in the new construction market.

Norman Rosenbaum

Winnipeg

Khan’s claims

Re: Seeking a reset on ‘parental rights’ and landfill snafus (June 7)

Although Obby Khan was deeply involved in the 2023 provincial government that saw the Manitoba Progressive Conservatives decimated at the polls, he now purports that he was unaware of the meaning of the right-wing soundbite decrying that “parental rights” were in danger, i.e. that the LGBTTQ+ community had no right to self-determination. Apparently, he was far too busy to attend any of this year’s Pride activities, and besides pointing to his taxing schedule, tried to explain his absence by saying that no one in his party had received an invitation to any activity.

Newsflash: no one needs an invitation to participate in Pride activities.

During the campaign, his silence regarding the “Stand firm” soundbite is equally telling. His party took the official stance of refusing to search a Winnipeg-area landfill for the remains of two Indigenous women who police presumed were victims of an alleged serial killer. This was a central plank in his party’s campaign. Remaining silent in the face of clear racism does not absolve his tacit complicitly in promoting that horrific message. The remains of Marcedes Myran and Morgan Harris were later found, thanks to the humanity and commitment of the Manitoba NDP.

Does Khan not know that his pants are on fire, for all to see? A veritable inferno.

Kenneth Meadwell

Winnipeg

I find it interesting that Obby Khan, the newly elected leader of the Progressive Conservative Party states that he has had an “a-ha” moment when it comes to his stance on parental rights and support (or lack of support) for the LGBTTQ+ community.

First, he explains his position of being the champion of the parental rights movement as not really understanding the meaning or the extent of that movement as being anti-LGBTTQ+ and now he wants to apologize to anyone who though he was promoting a hate concept. Along with many other Winnipeggers, I saw Mr. Khan leading that huge parental rights demonstration down Broadway and it was clear that it was anti-LGBTTQ+. So I don’t believe that excuse for a minute.

Second, Mr. Khan and his entire PC caucus just voted against Bill 43 which would add Gender Expression to Manitoba’s Human Rights code. This would not only ensure individuals are not discriminated against based on how they express their gender, but also bring the code in line with almost all other provinces and territories in Canada.

Every PC caucus member voted against Bill 43 with Mr. Khan again leading the way. Don’t believe this party has changed their stance on anything. Their “apologies” are not lining up with their actions.

Melissa Dvorak

Winnipeg

Khan really can’t win this one. Either he knew and went along with it or he didn’t think to google the phrase they were going to put beside his likeness and plaster all over certain areas of Winnipeg before agreeing to it. Either way, it demonstrates a level of cruelty or incompetence.

One could also look to where the concentration of those ads were going to be the highest and should have asked a few other questions. Like, why are we targeting these areas with these ads? Answers to those questions should have raised concerns as well and maybe prompted another visit to the Google machine in hopes of generating possible eye-opening results.

Regardless, his lack of interest in the power of language doesn’t make for a great leader. And definitely doesn’t signal a change in the party. From Pallister’s “All Lives Matter” comment to Stefenson’s “And that’s where I draw the line” the PCs really need people who understand that words matter. They have staying power. And in Khan’s case, they have sticking power. His words do stick with voters. And to date, none of them in a good way.

For those reasons I do believe that if a provincial election were held tomorrow, Khan would end up with one more thing in common with Pierre Poilievre: he’d be a party leader without a seat.

Brian Spencler

Winnipeg

HBC’s legacy

In 1821, the North West Company was absorbed into the Hudson’s Bay Company and its name put to rest. In 1987, the HBC shed its Northern Stores Division, which subsequently became the revived North West Company.

Knowing these facts may comfort those, including myself, who lament the loss of the iconic Bay, in at least two ways. First is the idea that it may one day, perhaps in the far future, be itself revived in some form, as had been the NWC. Second, and more immediate, is the knowledge that the NWC carries a lot of the history of the HBC; it is not completely lost.

It is as yet unclear exactly what meaning or resonance the HBC Stripes, as sold by Canadian Tire, will have, but I hope they prove to be, in the near future, another source of comfort and historical continuity for all who miss the Bay.

Conrad Padilla

Winnipeg

Time for an inquiry

Re: Bureaucrats must also be accountable (Think Tank, June 7)

David McLaughlin’s article on Manitoba’s ethics commissioner report shows a clear case of broken governance and the need for Premier Wab Kinew to call for a full, independent public inquiry into the Sio Silica file.

For decades, organizations have been calling for meaningful reform of Manitoba’s environmental assessment and licensing regime under the Environment Act. Reforms that ensure for independent evidence-based decision making, an accountable public service and a transparent process are required to bring about proper oversight and good governance.

Strengthening our environmental and mineral law and policy will prevent the “fear or favour” culture and political back-door dealings identified in the report. The government’s handling of the Sio Silica development since 2016 exemplifies the “capture in ideas and implementation and an unhealthy accommodation of ‘getting along to go along.’”

Until an inquiry and meaningful reform occurs, Manitobans will continue to have no confidence in our government nor our environmental regulatory and enforcement processes.

Tangi Bell

Anola