Letters, June 12

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This article was published 12/06/2025 (287 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Food over sprawl

Citizens of Manitoba must soon balance the short range need for money today with the longer range need for a future for children, grandchildren, and others who may wish to enjoy the world of today. Losing farmland is an immediate concern. We may even increase Manitoba family incomes today if we cease placing economic infrastructure on farmland. Food comes from farmland so a trade-off between decreased economic development, compared to food, water and other needs is timely. The issue is money today versus food for the future.

Losing farmland to economic development is costly since taxpayers have to fund sewer pipes and gas lines to suburban buildings. Is it progress if seven per cent of Canada’s land must now be used for economic gain?

Climate change and population growth affect this choice. However if much of farmland is to be allocated to urban expansion, this is not helpful for Winnipeg. A warming climate reduces water availability as the environment sucks up the water available for crops.

Help save the Earth. Reduce urban sprawl and choose food over money today.

Barry Hammond

Winnipeg

Keep up the boycott

Re: It’s not the time to cave on booze boycotts (Editorial, June 11)

I am disheartened and disappointed to know that both Alberta and Saskatchewan have resumed purchasing American alcohol.

For most Manitobans, alcohol is a not an essential purchase. If it is, there are ample non-American alcoholic choices available in our liquor stores.

Economic impact is one thing that the current American president may actually be able to comprehend.

If this discussion arises in the Manitoba legislature, I urge MLAs to continue Manitoba’s boycott.

By the way, I enjoy a small glass of Canadian red wine three or four nights each week.

Lynn Silver

Winnipeg

It was very disappointing to read about Alberta and Saskatchewan capitulating to U.S. demands and starting to sell U.S. liquor. That to me now means that interprovincial trade barriers being removed will allow the rest of Canada to buy American liquor by purchasing those products through the “back door.”

Shame on both of these provinces for bowing to the bully south of us. I have faith that Manitobans and I hope the rest of Canada are smart enough to realize that the premier of our province made a stand against the U.S. in banning their liquor from our liquor stores.

That move is and will continue to show the U.S. administration our determination to resist their bullying tactics.

Ken Butchart

Winnipeg

Kudos to the Free Press for its June 11 editorial. We should all to the extent possible and within our means not buy anything American during U.S. President Donald Trump’s term.

I have not spent a dime on American products since departing the U.S. early this spring. We are currently travelling in France and have used Canadian, British and French carriers for our trip. The food and goods we have purchased are all European in origin and of much better quality and of comparable cost to U.S. products.

Before leaving Canada I stitched a Canadian flag to my cap, as a source of pride and to confirm to Europeans that I wasn’t American. That flag draws a fair bit of discussion. What do the French and British think of Trump? Sorry, it can’t be printed here. Sufficed to say that there is strong support here for Canada.

Prime Minister Mark Carney has the right idea. Buy Canadian first. If this isn’t possible, buy anything but American. And diversify our trade with principled partners that share our values and appreciate our support.

Tom Pearson

Winnipeg

Activist was no threat

Re: Community activist hit with $15K fine for breaching court order in Lemay Forest fight (June 9)

Louise May was fined $15,000 for breaching a court order to desist from impeding access to the Lemay forest, that the court itself recognized was done for an “important purpose.”

May, in exercising her right of freedom of expression, did breach the law. The court decided that every court order is sacrosanct and essentially equal to every other court order. To suggest that this order was equal, say, to a restraint order to prevent domestic violence, is nonsense. May was no physical threat to anyone and deserved no more than a minimal penalty.

Our judiciary deserve respect, but should also be called out when making patently stupid decisions.

Norman Brandson

Winnipeg

Street-level perspective

Re: From Whiteout to down and out (June 9)

I read with interest Mike McIntyre’s recent piece on Mark Chipman’s comments about downtown Winnipeg’s struggles. While I appreciate Mark Chipman’s efforts to support important community organizations, I feel compelled to point out that his perspective doesn’t fully capture what it’s really like on the ground.

I spend a lot of time downtown in the evenings, and I live just over the bridge in St. Boniface, where many of the same issues are now spilling over. Vulnerable people sleeping on sidewalks, addiction, and mental health challenges aren’t just occasional sights, they’re part of the daily landscape for those of us who live and work in these neighbourhoods.

Mr. Chipman’s generosity is commendable, but real solutions require more than generous donations. It takes an ongoing commitment to understanding and addressing the root causes of poverty, addiction, and mental illness, something that can’t be fully grasped from the window of an office tower or on game nights alone.

I invite Mr. Chipman and all community leaders to spend more time walking these streets, talking to residents and frontline workers, and seeing firsthand the complex and multi-layered challenges that affect our neighbours every day. Take an evening stroll with the Downtown Community Safety Partnership if you want a real eye opener.

Only by truly listening to those who live these realities can we hope to build a downtown that is healthy, safe, and welcoming for everyone.

Marc Robichaud

Winnipeg

Accommodating disabilities

Re: “Ableism in health care” (Letters, June 9)

I agree with Ariel Lee. In the washrooms of many health-care facilities, the toilets are too low for some people to be able to sit down and get up due to their disability. If the disability also affects the hands and/or arms, the grab bar is useless to help lower or raise the body.

There should be taller toilets (the seat is 17 inches or more from the ground) in health-care buildings to make the washroom accessible for more people. This is especially important in emergency rooms and urgent care since a person cannot be in the waiting room for many hours without access to a washroom. The chairs in waiting rooms should also be taller.

Lived experiences of people with disabilities, who encounter barriers when trying to access health care, should be listened to and solutions should be found. Health care needs to be accessible for people with disabilities.

Joanne Wowczuk

Winnipeg