Letters, June 14

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 14/06/2025 (285 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Difficult change

In exploring the upcoming new Transit system coming June 29, I recently learned of a few of the changes.

These include much longer walks between bus stops, fewer benches and bus shelters, and a need to take more than one bus on most trips (transfer when no need previously).

The goal of this appears to be to increase ridership, however there is no plan to stop people from getting on the bus for free (i.e. thereby not addressing one huge reason some individuals are leery of riding buses).

It still is unclear to me why this overhaul is occurring. The number of negative changes involved, however, particularly in this climate, would suggest that it was created by people who neither ride the bus nor wait in the cold for them.

Any enlightenment (other than “change is difficult”) would be appreciated.

Susan Peterman

Winnipeg

Livestock and climate change

Um … has anyone noticed the wildfires? Besides being the most destructive and violent industry on the planet, animal agriculture is responsible for creating more greenhouse gases than all forms of transportation combined and is a main driver behind the climate crisis. In 2023, 18,000 cows died in an explosion at a Texas dairy production facility when the methane they produced ignited.

And let’s consider what life will be like for the cows on these proposed mega-dairies. (Environmentalists on both sides of border fear impact of planned North Dakota dairy farms on Lake Winnipeg, June 11.)Like all mammals, they will only produce milk to feed their young. Each one will be forcefully and artificially inseminated and, after a nine-month pregnancy, have her baby taken from her shortly after birth. If the calf is male, he will either be killed immediately or sold into the veal industry. If female, she will be raised in an isolated “hutch,” destined to take her mother’s place. This heartbreaking process is repeated throughout the cow’s “productive” life.

She will never experience the simple pleasure of grazing on pasture. Rather, she will be housed on concrete, making her prone to lameness. Having been purposely bred to produce more milk than nature ever intended, she will be susceptible to a painful condition called mastitis. And when her production begins to diminish she will be trucked off to slaughter, only five years into a life that could potentially span 25. Now multiply her experience by 37,500, which will be the number of cows on these proposed mega dairies, and you no longer have “farms.” You have concentrated animal misery operations.

Debbie Wall

Winnipeg

Oil needed in the meantime

I am just as concerned as any Manitoban and Canadian regarding the burning of fossil fuels and their carbon emissions that are most certainly causing an unprecedented warming of our planet with terrible consequences.

Fortunately, production of coal, oil and gas is becoming a sunset industry as energy generation shifts to non-carbon alternatives of solar, wind, hydro and yes, nuclear. The reality is this momentous change will take a minimum of 30 years to raise the necessary capital and build these alternatives as we wean ourselves from fossil fuels while energy consumption continues to rise.

During this transition period, I find no conflict in Canada maximizing production of oil and gas that is exported to other countries from which we can profit and tax to assist capitalizing our shift to non-carbon alternatives. Otherwise, other countries will surely fill this demand.

While a northern oil or gas pipeline to the port of Churchill may not be viable, Premier Wab Kinew’s support of such a project makes good sense.

Bill Speers

Winnipeg

Carney’s big bill

Bill C-5 is Carney’s version of one “Big Beautiful Bill.” Ostensibly to protect Canada, it appears to join U.S. President Donald Trump who wishes to “drill, baby, drill” all the oil, and gas possible. Add in the Carney/Trump idea that splitting atoms is OK after the legacies of Three Mile Island, Chornobyl and Fukushima. The premiers liked the Trump/Carney ideas despite the wildfires.

Meanwhile, safe solutions are available. In 2024, the intergovernmental organization International Renewable Energy Agency reports that 95 per cent of all new grid energy production came from renewables.

Increasing the amount of renewables a modest amount can apparently help the world reach clean energy goals needed to address climate change. Canada, and the Earth, do not need more oil, gas and nuclear.

Bill C-5 should be changed to push and fund renewables and energy efficiency. Call it Canada’s Energy Wonderful Earth Opportunity bill. The opportunities are clearly exciting.

Steve Rauh

Winnipeg

The ‘mind in everything’

Re: “The sentience of fire” (Letters, June 11)

The word for Mr. Laser’s subject is panpsychism (“mind in everything”). Anyone intrigued by this idea can do worse than read the universal genius and philosopher of panpsychism, Gottfried Leibniz, who wrote his celebrated Monadology in 1714.

In it, he claims that minds form the fundamental substance of reality, and that every mind reflects every other mind, such that each is a microcosm of the entire universe. This would mean that fire, water, atoms, chairs, and even the planet itself contain some manner of consciousness.

The trillion-dollar question is what this non-biological consciousness is like, and whether we can communicate with it. The recent rumours swirling around Google’s Quantum Core computer as being able to bypass the observer effect in quantum mechanics comes tantalizingly close to such a goal. Can we talk with atoms and learn their secrets?

Mr. Laser’s musings remind me of the 1991 film Backdraft, in which Robert De Niro observes a fire he himself set, and remarks, “It’s a living thing, Brian. It breathes, it eats, and it hates. The only way to beat it is to think like it. To know that this flame will spread this way across the door and up across the ceiling, not because of the physics of flammable liquids, but because it wants to.”

Gregory Unger

Winnipeg

Take pride in Canada

I would like to say this my fellow Manitobans, and fellow Canadians, while watching the insanity unfolding in the United States, and the unravelling of the supposed core of democracy.

Thank either God or your lucky stars to be Canadian. Yes, there was the “freedom convoy” and the support of a Trump wannabe in Parliament. But we live in a country that aspires to maintain our democracy. We live in a country where we can say what we want and not have the military nor the police put us in handcuffs — unless, of course, you are violent.

We live in a country big, beautiful, and strong.

To all of you wonderful Canadians, be grateful. Be strong. Keep our country beautiful. Fly a flag. And keep those elbows up.

Brad McKay

Winnipeg

Get it together

Re: Sewage plant cost could jump by ‘tens of millions’ (June 10)

When is Winnipeg going to actually get their act together? You have had years of putting off fixing your sewage problems to the detriment of the Red River and Lake Winnipeg. Somehow you found millions to reopen Portage and Main.

Time to get your priorities straight. I’m tired of your excuses.

Lois Wales

Selkirk