Letters, Aug. 22

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 22/08/2025 (221 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Conserving water

Re: Drought preparation vital, experts warn (Aug. 21)

In conversations about wildfires, some people I’ve spoken with discount the relationship between wildfires, drought and climate change.

They say that the fires are human-caused, which may be true in some cases, but the droughts are and were present first. The article points out that extreme drought exists and warns us about the need to prepare for more droughts.

My thought is that we must save the water we have: reducing lawn-watering, taking fewer and shorter showers, installing low-flush toilets, wasting less water at our kitchen sinks, planting drought-resistant plants and so on. This writer suggests farmers adopt drought plans and plan for water efficient agriculture.

On top of these already existent problems, the upcoming construction of AI data centres across the continent doesn’t bode well for saving water as they require a lot of water to function. Do we want this? Manitobans and Canadians need to get going on water saving and preparation for droughts to avert increasing numbers of wild fires and other climate change problems.

Donna Eastoe

Winnipeg

Defining ‘family’

Re: The path to new purpose for conservatives (Think Tank, Aug. 16)

Conservative surrogate and commentator David McLaughlin offers a sobering state of play and some forward-looking advice to that particular species of political animal, the Canadian Conservative. He points out that classic Conservatives recognize, “… the value of permanence in key institutions and values, while recognizing and reconciling needed social change.” And he further states that, “Community, based on family, fits into this notion nicely.”

For my part, offering advice to conservatives would be among the very last things I would ever consider doing. However, allow me to add something to McLaughlin’s recipe. Recognizing existing institutions is fine and well (think CBC), but it’s in recognizing and reconciling social change that the greater issue lies.

Specifically, this is evident in assumed definitions of “family.” The era of the one-size-fits-all traditional Leave it to Beaver nuclear family, living in an idealized suburbia, is gone, finis, kaput. It seems to me the “mommy, daddy, me” family of provider fathers and homemaker mothers has evolved into a significantly more diverse and positive reality. Today’s families come in all shapes, sizes and orientations; traditional yes, but also intergenerational, communal, single, coupled, gay, lesbian, trans, etc.

These more open and accepting structures allow the individuals in these families the freedom, as McLaughlin says, “to live and achieve as they see fit.” Now who would disagree with that?

On the other hand, if you’re still pining for the passing of the British Empire, or Ronald Reagan, sorry, can’t help you.

Sig Laser

Winnipeg

Reason for changing lights

Re: Light posts a triumph of utility over beauty (Think Tank, Aug. 18)

Brent Bellamy’s Aug. 18 column pays tribute to the unique character and appearance of heritage light standards in Winnipeg’s downtown. We agree, and we’ve been proud to jointly manage with the City of Winnipeg the distinctive streetlights.

Mr. Bellamy is mistaken, however, about the reasons the heritage light standards are being replaced. “Uniformity and lower maintenance costs” are not factors. It is regrettable Mr. Bellamy did not contact Manitoba Hydro — of which I am media relations officer — for correct information prior to publishing.

The 160 heritage light standards were installed along Portage Avenue and Main Street downtown starting in the late 1990s. But after decades of service, the historic poles have reached end of life. Inspections have shown cracking and corrosion. Attempts at repairs have been unsuccessful and it is therefore prudent to remove the light standards before they become a risk to public safety.

The City of Winnipeg is seeking suitable alternatives and we’ll be pleased to install them when that decision is made. In the meantime, as a temporary measure Manitoba Hydro is replacing the heritage light standards with conventional streetlights from existing supplies. This will maintain street lighting along Portage Avenue and Main Street downtown until a permanent replacement is found and ensure the safety and security benefits of well-lit public sidewalks and roadways are not compromised in the interim.

Maintaining aging infrastructure has many challenges, especially when unique equipment is involved, continuity of service is required and safety is paramount.

Peter Chura

Winnipeg

Pricey lot for project

Re: Municipal board to decide fate of proposedhousing development next to curling club (Aug. 18)

The controversy over building housing on the Granite curling rink parking lot is another example of city council’s helter-skelter approach to running and developing our city.

Parking lot aside, I doubt that anyone could find a more expensive piece of land to build a purportedly low-cost housing project. Aside from the tens of thousands that will have to be spent to stabilize the riverbank, riverfront property is the most expensive in the city.

The Granite Curling Club is 135 years old, a designated historical building and is still being used for its intended purpose. Why would we as a city put this building in jeopardy of closing to build another box for housing when there are plenty of vacant properties that are much less expensive to build on?

Thankfully the project is being challenged; much like the apartment complexes being planned for The Forks. Again, The Forks in national heritage site. It is meant for everyone, not a residential development for a select few. Council will tell you that the city owns those properties and can decide what to do with them. Just to clarify ownership for the councillors, the citizens of Winnipeg own it and we need to be told what the deals for development are.

Gilles Nicolas

Winnipeg

Not impressed with road design

I don’t think I have seen anything as ridiculous as the traffic curbs recently installed on Cambridge Street. Oh, just a minute … the mini-traffic circles on Grosvenor Avenue!

The traffic curbs do not appear to slow traffic but they certainly have the potential to snarl the flow on this busy bus route. In my opinion, irate drivers are less likely to slow down, stop at intersections or drive courteously.

I wonder what the bus drivers and snow plow drivers think. An improvement? Time will tell.

Ellen Karr

Winnipeg

Tough work for fire crew

Re: Highrise owner sues for $25M over 2023 Stradbrook blaze (Aug. 20)

It’s astonishing that members of Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service were able to haul themselves and equipment 18 storeys to the roof by hand in this blaze in 2023.

Let’s hope the higher-ups in the department find a way to reward their way-higher-ups on the roof.

Barry Craig

Winnipeg