Letters, Oct. 16

Street’s struggles unsurprising

Re: Graham Avenue stretch ‘circling the drain’ (Oct. 15)

It should come as no surprise to see that Graham Avenue businesses are struggling.

The new transit system, combined with the pedestrianization between Garry and Carlton streets, has essentially left Graham Avenue a desert. If you look at pedestrianization initiatives around the world, you will see that success comes with streets that have a combination of retail, restaurants and bars, and other activities that draw people to the area.

In London, England, there has been ongoing debate about pedestrianizing Oxford Street, a very popular retail destination. They have even tested it by making the street pedestrian-only for a single day. The hesitation lies in the fact that Oxford Street is retail-focused and lacks many of the other attributes to draw foot traffic throughout the day and evening.

And what does Graham Avenue have between Garry and Carlton Streets? Parking lots, a police station, a church, and a library that is a shadow of its former self. I understand that new developments at Portage Place and the former Bay building are on the way, but the Graham Avenue transition was premature and may or may not even align with these new developments in a positive way.

Graham Avenue is well suited to be a transit route bringing more commuters to the area to support existing and new businesses.

Jim Sturney

Winnipeg

It should come as no surprise that Graham Avenue has been turned from a vibrant street filled with transit riders and buses supporting businesses on the street to a ghost town.

Heralded as a signature street full of innovative ideas, it hasn’t quite lived up to its billing. There is simply no reason to go there, why even ping-pong tables don’t seem to be enough of a draw, even two players. The shops on Graham are now at risk of closing because of an ill-advised change to the transit system which for all of its warts was working better than it is today.

Transit users had shorter rides and the bus actually ran in their area. Buses actually took people directly downtown, which is where I thought council wanted people to be.

So with a bold new “updated” transit system the city has managed to empty a once a street once teeming with people to a ghost street where there is no reason to be, and a transit system so onerous that former riders are buying and driving cars to work because it takes far less time to get around.

Gilles Nicolas

Winnipeg

A strange kind of ‘peace’

Re: Carney attends Gaza peace deal signing in Egypt (Oct. 14)

The definition of “peace” is shifting beneath our feet. Gaza is a wasteland, the West calls it “peace.” Entire families wiped out of existence. Babies, and children — many limbless — made orphans. We call this “peace.” Hostages returned while the framework of occupation, violent repression, and apartheid remains; this is “peace.” The West calls for complete surrender of sovereignty and agency under the guise of “peace.” The peacemakers recognize their subject’s “aspirations for self-determination” — just as a man being strangled aspires for air — and we call this “peace.”

This is not the idea of “peace” that I want my children to grow up with. Peace cannot come at the direct expense of another people’s existence and still be understood as “peace.” Capitulation, humiliation, subordination, and dehumanization are anything but “peaceful.”

Peace will not form under the boot of an empire, nor can it be manufactured by neocolonial technocrats.

Peace can only come when the victim of a crime is afforded their human right of dignity and — most importantly — justice.

Evan Marnoch

Winnipeg

Misplaced priorities

An announcement this week is a glaring example of what is wrong with our government’s priorities. As part of a $1.4-billion program, the federal government is providing Manitoba $72 million, over four years, to enhance French language education. The Manitoba government is adding $120 million to that program. All this is in addition to school tax allocations for French language education.

Canada has bigger problems. We have families that cannot afford food and housing. There is a grossly under funded need for mental health and addiction resources. There are people sleeping in tents. I appreciate that, for the Manitoba government, ideology is a higher priority than a person’s pain and suffering, but for $192 million we could send approximately 100 people per year to the U.S. for a hip replacement.

There is nothing wrong with preparing our youth for employment with the federal government but look around there are many higher priority places to allocate our tax dollars.

Brian McAughey

Winnipeg

Education invaluable

Is the growth of encampments in our city due to the lack of truant officers and a lack of respect for education over the last 25 years? I think of overcrowded prisons as an example of what the future holds for an uneducated person.

With most schools offering modified programs aimed at keeping even the slowest learner in school, there in no real excuse why at least 98 per cent of anyone born in the last 30 years for not having a Grade 12 diploma, other than a lack of value of education. Why any parent would not want their child to go to school to have fun, learn, and make friends, is beyond me. The future is not bright for them.

Alfred Sansregret

Winnipeg

Carney’s complicated struggles with Trump

People are blaming Prime Minister Mark Carney for coming back from the U.S. without a deal. Would they rather he get us stuck with a bad deal than a fair one? Trump isn’t interested in a fair deal, he wants one that benefits the U.S. only.

It’s far better to hold out until the American people are starting to suffer under Trump’s tariffs, then he will be more willing to compromise, especially with the midterm elections coming up. I still trust Carney way more than Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre to get us an acceptable deal.

Jason Sudyn

Winnipeg

There is growing criticism from some quarters that Prime Minister Carney is failing to deliver on his promise to “manage” Trump and ensure that Canadians continue to prosper. I don’t recall Carney campaigning on such a promise. I believe he is a realist and knows exactly whom he is dealing with — someone who is bent on getting his own way regardless of the effect on others, even his own citizens.

When people criticize Carney for failing to get a deal done, they seem to be suggesting that a hardline approach is called for. Slapping more tariffs on American products would only result in Trump upping the ante, and he has deeper pockets than we have. Carney, or anyone dealing with Trump, is up against a formidable opponent. It is one thing to go toe-to-toe with with someone who is rational, reasonable, and genuinely interested in getting a fair deal done. Unfortunately, that is not Trump.

Knowing whom he is dealing with and what the stakes are, Carney is continuing to pursue a trade deal with the U.S. while simultaneously strengthening our ties with other likeminded trading partners and pursuing new trading alliances.

In short, he is playing the hand he’s been dealt, and anyone who thinks this is a losing hand is being short-sighted.

April Phillips

Winnipeg