Letters, Dec. 15

Transit eroding

Re: Riding the bus ‘unbearable and stressful’ (Dec. 11)

In the article, Coun. Lukes says she expects good results in the long term but, as J.M. Keynes said, “in the long run we are all dead.”

Especially true of seniors, this quotation emphasizes the need for governments to fix crises now, rather than in slow, weak tweaks.

The union president is also quoted as saying members are happy with the new system because it’s designed to help them be punctual. Schedule adherence was the main issue till July; it remains a frequent issue today, so the new dispensation has failed on that count.

Riders want an affordable Transit to go where they want to go; it should be comfortable, reasonably fast, reliable and safe; it should run frequently enough to render planning unnecessary; and convenient walkability.

Steadily eroding bus services seem misunderstood by decision-makers who are, absurdly, touting them as improvements.

Perhaps minibus fleets could get commuters from their old bus stops to the new ones two to three blocks away.

Ashoke Dasgupta

Winnipeg

Transit should be reliable, safe

Re: Free bus rides for all might be what’s needed to save Winnipeg Transit (Dec. 10); Riding the bus ‘unbearable and stressful’ (Dec. 11)

Dan Lett’s argument for free bus rides is all well and good, but it doesn’t address what — in my opinion — are the chief causes of declining ridership.

The service is unreliable and the routes don’t cover the city well. Buses don’t run on time, and sometimes don’t show at all. If I need to get someplace on time, but using the bus creates a big question mark as to whether I will get there on time (or at all), or if it’s going to take me all day to run an errand, why would I do that if I had a choice? They are also not convenient for most people to get to. These new changes aren’t helping, as the recent Free Press story Riding the bus ‘unbearable and stressful’ detailed.

The promised tweaks might be too little, too late to restore confidence in Transit as a viable alternative.

Second, to paraphrase James Carville’s oft-used political quote: It’s the safety, stupid (not directed at Lett).

In short, make the service reliable, accessible and safe — in other words, a good value for the fare spend — and people will come.

How to do that is another question entirely.

Kelly Parker

Winnipeg

Waste everywhere you look

Re: “Waste of resources” (Letters, Dec. 12)

Writer JP Gobeil describes what is a common winter sight in Winnipeg and has been for years. This week on Kenaston, I witnessed six tractors with snowblades travelling in a staggered formation to clear the entire street width.

Very efficient operation, except that behind them were two trucks with snowblades and eight front-end loaders, all with blades up. Travel Pembina Highway after dark after a snowfall and it’s a common occurrence to see an entourage of a dozen front-end loaders travelling to their destination with blades up, right over the unplowed street. Waste of resources!

Next, on to our much-debated transit system. Recently, as I was leaving St. Norbert, I witnessed two articulated buses and three regular buses stopped in a row on Pembina, with not a single passenger. That’s the equivalent of seven empty buses. Nearby, travelling southbound, were three more regular buses with not a single passenger. Waste of resources!

Travel the length of any one of our major thoroughfares and you get to experience the unrelenting stop/start of an uncoordinated traffic light system. Waste of resources!

All of these uniquely Winnipeg experiences can be experienced by just driving around the city with your eyes open. I suggest that the mayor, city councillors and all of the directors responsible for snow clearing, transit and traffic lights hop in a vehicle and drive around this city at all hours of the day to see what’s really going on.

Their observations might help to save a lot money and be environmentally friendly at the same time. The waste of resources is out there, they just have to go see for themselves.

Wally Barton

Winnipeg

Lower costs of pet care

Who doesn’t love animals? Whether it’s a cat, dog, rat, or horse, many people have them. Most commonly, households have a dog or a cat — sometimes one or even both.

Something significant has occurred in the industry, impacting our pets, their care and us as owners. Veterinary practices are being acquired by private equity firms. It’s natural to be concerned about the influence of private equity on vet clinics. The appeal is clear — the industry is huge and, unlike human health care, consumers pay directly out of pocket, without insurers — more cash and more practices to buy. Private equity can profit even if clinics decline, customers suffer and pets face poorer care — even to the point where euthanasia becomes a difficult choice for some owners. Stories abound of pet owners struggling with care costs, leading to pets suffering and living in pain.

There are some potential benefits to this takeover, such as better compensation for staff, increased resources, financial support, growth opportunities, all which could lead to better care. However, feedback from staff and veterinarians highlight significant drawbacks. When private equity is involved, the focus often shifts heavily toward profitability, with pressure to upsell, unnecessary tests, customer dissatisfaction, staff burnout and low morale.

Pet owners can purchase insurance for their animals, with annual costs often reaching up to $550, depending on the pet’s type, size, breed and location. Unfortunately, pet insurance premiums are rising faster than the general inflation rate. In addition, many procedures are not covered under standard plans, requiring owners to purchase extra riders for broader protection.

We all love our pets deeply — they are family. It’s heartbreaking to see a world where profit comes before people — and now seems to come before animals, too. We must push for government oversight, demand transparency and advocate for policy changes that lower costs and ensure quality care. Our pets deserve better and it’s up to us to make our voices heard.

Gwen Falkingham

Winnipeg

The value of a spine

Re: ‘Doomsday predictions’ proven wrong (Dec. 8)

With the not-in-the-least-surprising lack of impacts from the opening of Portage and Main, I am reminded yet again how many of our municipal politicians need to grow a backbone and learn to do the right thing. How often have the vocal minority managed to intimidate council and send them backtracking on good proposals? They should enter the Olympics in the backstroke.

Another example, composting. For heaven’s sake. Brandon has been composting for years. Mention it in Winnipeg and the moaning about extra costs starts and the next study begins. Meanwhile, citizens flock to the compost drop-offs. How pathetic.

And the developers. How awful for them that they might not be able to cut down every tree within sight. Oops, better rethink that one, even though many cities have had bylaws to preserve their trees for years. And try to protect birds? More pity party and rethink for the developers.

Isn’t it enough that we have ignored our planning guidelines to allow for unending urban sprawl or that we have a provincial, outdated building code which again benefits the developers, not the environment?

Anything that might make it difficult for the poor, downtrodden developers seems to have council quaking in their shoes.

Please, could anyone refer council and the mayor to an orthopedic specialist to check for missing backbones?

It’s the only thing that can explain how whining and complaining wins over what’s right so often.

Ingrid Ostick

Winnipeg