Letters, March 20

Speeds and common sense

Re: Speed limits and safety — follow the science, Think Tank, March 16

I’m following with interest the concerns and suggestions surrounding reduced, residential speed limits, from 50 km/h to 40 km/h.

I live in a district — St. James, south of Portage Avenue — where a trial run lead to a permanent, maximum speed reduction to 30 km/h, 24-7.

The streets in the area have short runs, from Portage Avenue to Assiniboine Avenue.

Many do not have sidewalks, and the area, due to proximity to Assiniboine and Bruce parks, as well as being a part of a major bike route, make this a popular area for cyclists, joggers and foot traffic in general.

I’ve lived here for 40-plus years, the bulk of that time when speed limits were 50 km/h. The reduced speed has made it safer for non-vehicle persons, in at least the feeling of personal safety, but not necessarily backed up by statistics.

In order to make that comparison, one would have to have, for sake of argument, a record of known accidents prior to the speed reduction, and the corresponding numbers since, as well as severity of injuries. I personally have not seen those numbers presented.

From personal experience, I can’t say the reductions have lessened the numbers, as in over 40 years I’ve seen very few, if any, caused by the speed of travel. What I have seen is accidents at intersections, be it street ends or entrances to back lanes. At intersections, it is typically a failure to stop before entering, or entering too far to gain a visual for safe entry onto the connecting street, be it Portage Avenue, or Assiniboine.

Both ends of our district require a left or right turn, or a drive across Portage to continue north.

I’m in favor of 40 km/h on typical residential streets, not so much over concern of head-on collision, but due to narrow operating room caused by parked vehicles or winter conditions.

On larger, feeder streets, be it Wellington Crescent, or others with dedicated parking lanes, maintaining 50 km/h speeds, accompanied by permanent bike lanes, would seem a fair compromise. Transit riders have gained sympathy recently, because their travel times may have increased due to recent changes. I suppose the same would merit consideration for people trying to get to work, or schools etc.

The suggestion of leaving home earlier sounds good on paper, but doesn’t correspond with the realities of homelife and schedules. If common sense (the great catchphrase) could be taught and enforced — in other words knowing how to drive sensibly given conditions, and reasonable regulation — a lot of this angst and discussion would be moot. Such is not the case in all cases unfortunately.

Compromise between all parties, backed by fact, is the ultimate solution, but compromise seems to be a word more associated with times past, and operating in silos appears to be popular in thought and action today.

Ian Campbell

Winnipeg

Changing taxes

School taxes are going way up again.

Perhaps it is time to raise the PST by one per cent and use that extra funding to fund schools and remove the school tax from property taxes.

I think Manitoba is the last or one of the last provinces to fund schools using this outdated method.

Ron Robert

Winnipeg

Remembering the environment

The article Conservation consternation by Julia-Simone Rutgers (March 13) raises important questions about conservation in Manitoba and deserves careful attention.

Manitoba has commendably committed to protecting 30 per cent of its lands and waters by 2030. That goal reflects growing recognition that healthy forests, wetlands, and rivers are essential to our future. But reaching it will require much more than good intentions.

Budget 2026 must include significantly increased funding to move conservation projects from vision to reality.

Across the province, Indigenous Nations are stepping forward with proposals to protect some of the most intact landscapes left in the world, for the benefit of all Manitobans. These efforts take time, resources, and meaningful collaboration.

Environment and Climate Change Minister Mike Moyes emphasized that people who live in these regions must help shape their future. “These are folks that live in the areas that we’re talking about, right across the province, and so ensuring that they’re a part of these projects moving forward is critical,” Moyes said. “All of our work is for Manitobans, by Manitobans.”

A strong example is the Indigenous-led effort to protect the Seal River Watershed in northern Manitoba. Spanning more than 50,000 square kilometres, the watershed supports thriving wildlife populations, stores vast amounts of carbon, and sends clean northern waters into Hudson Bay.

The proposal has been shaped through extensive engagement, with substantial input gathered from Indigenous communities, Manitobans, and other interested voices along the way. The four First Nations leading the initiative want the region to remain accessible for people to experience and enjoy, including paddling, cultural tourism, and licensed hunting.

Minister Moyes also noted that conservation and prosperity go hand-in-hand. “The environment is our backbone, and it’s important that we’re protecting the environment in order to have economic development,” he said.

“We’re always going to ensure that there is adequate funding to get these projects across the line,” Moyes added.

But time is running short. Without significantly increased investment in Budget 2026, Manitoba risks falling short of its conservation goals, and missing an opportunity to secure a healthy future for both people and wildlife.

Ron Thiessen

Executive Director

CPAWS Manitoba

Winnipeg

Do your research

Re: Taxing nurture, Money Matters, March 14

As a daily subscriber and vivid reader of the Free Press, I came across a very interesting and informative article written by Joel Schlesinger, a Winnipeg freelance journalist. He identified a number of federal and provincial tax credits. Excellent insightful information published by the Free Press. Like everyone at this time of the year, I am focusing on completing my 2025 tax return.

The article concentrated mostly around some of the key credits for caregivers living in Manitoba. Personally, I hope that whoever read that article has gained a better perception what is available at this tax time.

Sometimes tax credits are difficult and complicated to qualify for, no matter at what governmental level they are structured. In particular, when one is applying for the federal Disability Tax Credit.

On an informational note, and from my experience in tax credits, once you become eligible for Disability Tax Credit, one can apply for the Canada Disability Benefit (CDB) as of July 2025, a monthly tax-free payment designed to supplement, not replace, provincial supports.

This CDB is for low- or modest-income earners who were approved by the federal government the Disability Tax Credit, and who filed their federal income tax return for the previous year. This Canada Disability Benefit is based on individual and couples’ income.

Therefore, at this time of the year there are credits and benefits that one can capitalize for Canadians, based on individual and family income. My recommendation after reading this article in the Free Press, check out Service Canada and Canada Revenue Agency to see what is available in reference to these plans before filing your taxes. I hope that more articles appear throughout the year in the Free Press about “what is out there.” Good start.

Peter John Manastyrsky

Niverville