Letters, June 13

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 13/06/2025 (286 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Shame on IIU

Re: Language used arresting teen earns Brandon police a scolding (June 12)

I was seriously disturbed to read that an officer in Brandon earned a “scolding” after using inappropriate language during the arrest of a teenage Indigenous girl.

Apparently the officer called the girl a “rez dog” and a “neechie” several times during the arrest. This is beyond grotesque, and no decent adult person in this province, let alone a police officer, should be allowed to use this kind of language. It is purely racist and completely unacceptable.

A scolding might be appropriate for an elementary school child, but a police officer that uses this kind of language should be immediately dismissed. We do not need people with this type of racist attitudes in our police forces, and the lackadaisical response from the Independent Investigation Unit is equally disturbing.

Steve Oetting

Winnipeg

Dissecting a poll

Re: Canadians’ opinion of U.S. tanking, poll finds (June 12)

I was more than surprised to see that there was only a 20 per cent drop in the number of Canadians who viewed the U.S. positively, in the polling by the Pew Research Center. My first reaction was that the reported drop from 54 per cent to 34 per cent since 2024 understated reality, but then I read further.

This was a survey of 24 countries covering a wide range of topics (and there are many). I am sure the survey is valid, however, would suggest that a similarly valid survey of Canadians alone, would show a much lower level of anger and dissatisfaction. Beyond the erratic, ill-considered and harmful actions of the U.S. leader and his sycophantic minions, his unwarranted attacks and careless destruction of trust between Canada and the U.S. are having a deep and significant impact here. Trust, once lost, is not easily restored, if ever.

We do, however, need to distinguish between the American people and their immature, insecure leader, and his gang. Somehow, he persuaded many Americans (who pay far lower taxes than those in other developed nations) that they were hard done by. Yet, through the chaos he causes, we still see expressions of support for Canada from many, many Americans on an ongoing basis. One friend on a cruise said every American they met apologized for his disrespectful actions.

Understood, however, Canadians are now called on to step up for the longer term to chart our course more effectively. Buy Canadian is one step as are improving interprovincial trade, improving our lagging productivity and local investment. Meeting our NATO commitments is long overdue but will cost. Perhaps, however, it is one of many steps for Canada to forge new relationships over the longer term and regain our previous role as a trusted and influential middle power. As Bono once said, “The world needs more Canada!”

Time to step up.

Dan Furlan

Winnipeg

Hold off on jet purchase

The seemingly endless procurement process for this hyper-advanced fighter may actually be to Canada’s benefit.

The American F-35 is arguably the most advanced fighter in the world and understandably that means very high costs. The aircraft requires both new dedicated facilities and astonishingly complex maintenance. (And that maintenance has a considerable proprietary aspect tied very tightly to American goodwill.)

So the F-35’s operational readiness is predicated on close co-operation with the U.S., for the life of the aircraft.

But there’s a problem. The U.S. is now not a reliable partner.

There has been an accelerating erosion of unity and even enmity, especially towards both NORAD and NATO, fostered by the current American government. Any scenario where the Canadian F-35 might be deployed would have to be in the U.S.’s interest or rather, that of one man. The instability in America could easily result in our F-35s being grounded at the whim of that same one man.

Therefore, it might be in our best interest to delay — yet again — a final decision on the F-35 until at least the 2026 mid-term elections in the U.S. Those elections are crucial; one way or another we have a good idea of the future of co-operation with the U.S. It can be noted that the U.S. Air Force has recently cut its order for 48 F-35s to 24, and the Navy and Marines are planning to cut orders as well.

It’s thought this might be about the inexpensive capabilities of military drones.

Allan Robertson

Winnipeg

The importance of play

Re: Celebrating the power of play (June 11)

I would like to express thanks to Miranda Ayim and Erica Wiebe for their commitment to the importance of play for young people.

As Canadian ambassadors for Right to Play International, they point to the dangers of “disappearing play.” Some of those dangers have been unpacked by Jonathan Haidt in his book, The Anxious Generation. In his words, since the introduction of the smart phone our young people have moved from a “play-based world” to a “phone-based world.”

In this rewiring, young people are being connected to everyone in the world but disconnected from the people around them. As well as fragmenting their attention, far too many are becoming addicted to their phones.

Some of us will remember those long hours of playing Red Rover or dodgeball, and the friends we made in person. Let’s encourage, and let’s celebrate, the power of play. Even as we age.

Ray Harris

Winnipeg

Time for change

Re: Bike safety changes are overdue (Think Tank, June 11)

Linda van de Laar’s op-ed regarding the need for bike safety changes probably reflects the thinking of most bike riders in Winnipeg. I know I concur with her 100 per cent and I hope city council decides to reduce vehicle speed limits and creates more protected bike lanes on routes like Wellington Crescent.

What I do not understand is why city politicians are afraid to reduce speed limits on our roads? Is there some evidence that we are better off getting somewhere in 10 minutes rather than in 12 minutes? That Winnipeg is a better place to live because we can drive faster? Who said that 50 km/h is the benchmark for road safety?

Irwin Corobow

Winnipeg

Time to speak up

Re: “Misuse of money” (Letters, June 11)

Evan Marnoch concludes his very excellent letter with the statement: “Our children and grandchildren deserve better than fanning the flames of war, especially when our own house is already on fire.”

I fully support this statement and all the other valid statements in Marnoch’s letter. I also want to remind us that in too many places as we speak, beloved children, grandchildren, innocents and combatants are being injured, maimed and killed — think of Ukraine, Gaza , Sudan and more. And for those who survive there is ongoing trauma. Each one of these lives is precious and deserves better. War is simply evil, is never justified, is preventable and must be abolished.

How dare we even think, never mind openly write and talk about, this evil as boosting our defence industry, qualifying for taxpayer investment, boosting employment, increasing shareholder returns and executive salaries — not to mention stabilizing and maintaining our Canada Pension Plan? Seniors and grandparents (and all of us), to be silent is to be complicit. Individually and collectively, we can and must do better — for our sakes and the sake of all children of the world. Speak up!

Ernie Wiens

La Salle