Letters, July 7

Show me the private money

Re: Alberta pitches new pipeline to B.C. coast (July 3); Environmental groups call out gap in pipeline plan (July 4)

There are many things wrong with Canada’s headlong rush to expand our oil and gas sector but surely one of the most concerning is the injection of vast amounts of public financing to make it happen.

Case in point: the Canada-Alberta plan to use the federally owned Trans Mountain Corporation to build a large new pipeline to transport oil sands products may require about $40 billion in taxpayer financing.

This is a risky project. Massive public financing would not be required if it wasn’t. On the face of it, this plan seems like the poster child for “the socialization of risk and the privatization of profit” in our Canadian mixed economy.

When you look at alternative priorities for this magnitude of public investment like health care, education or climate change mitigation, it’s hard to follow the logic. There are those who point to increased supply chain tax revenues, diversifying Canada’s trade to non-U.S. markets and so on. All well and good, but if there are real economic benefits, let Canada’s capable hydrocarbon producers and pipeline companies step up and take on these projects.

I don’t want my tax dollars plumping up oil sector profits. I already pay at the pump.

Ian Gillies, Winnipeg

Room for philanthropy in education

Public-private partnerships have a significant role to play in strengthening public education and expanding opportunities for young people.

The recent celebration of the nine-year, $25-million partnership between the Schroeder Foundation and the Winnipeg School Division, highlighted with a full-page advertisement in Saturday’s Free Press, is an excellent example.

It follows other successful collaborations, including the Louis Riel School Division’s partnership with alumni, the City of Winnipeg, and private donors to develop the athletic facilities behind Dakota Collegiate.

These initiatives show that governments, businesses, philanthropists, and communities can work together to create opportunities that would otherwise be difficult to achieve. They should not be viewed as attempts to influence or control public education but as investments that help students and the broader community.

At the same time, school divisions are facing growing challenges, including food insecurity, poverty, increased student absenteeism, and rising demand for before- and after-school childcare. Adequate provincial funding is still essential to meeting these needs. When that falls short, divisions must often increase property taxes, as reflected in the Winnipeg School Division’s recent 9.3 per cent increase.

School divisions should continue to carefully consider private and philanthropic partnerships that expand opportunities for students while preserving public oversight. The leadership shown by the Seven Oaks Seven Oaks School Division and the Schroeder Foundation deserves recognition and, where appropriate, should serve as a model for others.

Wayne Ruff, Winnipeg

Mol was remarkable

Re: “Forgotten backyard artist” (Letters, June 22)

Kudos to Peter John Manastyrsky for writing about the Leo Mol Sculpture Garden. Leo Mol was also well known for the wonderful stained glass he created. The windows in St. Vladimir and Olga Ukrainian Catholic Metropolitan Cathedral are a testament to his artistic creative abilities.

As a young child I would sit in church and stare in wonder at these beautiful, colourful windows amazed by the stories they told.

Stephanie Mazur, Winnipeg

Carbon capture is not emissions reduction

Re: Carbon capture project gains support (June 30)

Individually and collectively, we are forever looking for ways to avoid making the changes we need to make. Change, particularly change that inconveniences us or cost us something, is difficult to accept. If it isn’t the NIMBY phenomenon, it’s someone touting tax breaks as good government.

Deep Sky’s proposal to capture 30,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide from the air is going to be made possible by allowing (encouraging) another company or potential client to continue to pollute. Carbon capture or carbon emissions trading are simply ways of allowing companies to continue business as usual. Such schemes also allow governments to avoid making difficult decisions about how to limit growth and consumption.

This carbon capture proposal is not a plan to make things better. It is an invitation to put off reinventing enterprises in ways that actually cut total emissions.

Carbon capture may actually be be part of the solution if solar energy, or other renewable energy sources, are abundant and available year-round. Any carbon capture scheme approved, anywhere, should be completely funded by private capital and use only renewable energy sources that are also privately funded.

That is not what Blue Sky is proposing.

Doing things that simply protect the way we currently live is no longer acceptable. The little blue ball we live on needs relief, it cannot take more abuse.

Jerry Storie, Winnipeg

Outrage machine runneth over

How incredibly predictable. A public servant leaves a job (in this case after approximately 25 years of service), receives whatever pay is legally or contractually owing, and Gage Haubrich has his outrage machine cued up.

Professional sports teams receive taxpayer funds year after year via tax breaks, subsidies, or financial contributions towards arenas, stadiums, etc. Not a word. Hundreds of millions towards hosting 13 World Cup games while FIFA rakes in billions? Not a peep.

Where’s the outrage machine when billions are given to large corporations such as those in the fossil fuel industry?It seems like the Canadian Taxpayers Federation finds it easiest to go after the little guy, while avoiding drawing attention to the wealthiest among us. Talk about adding insult to injury.

Michelle Burdz, Winnipeg

Women were there first

So, suddenly Canada is a soccer nation, because the men’s team made the round of 16 at the World Cup?

Canadian women have been playing soccer at a high level, with significant success, including an Olympic gold medal, for some time now. And they used to get paid less.

Valerie Gilroy, Winnipeg

Stitches of kindness

Re: Helping out one loop at a time (July 6)

Thank you to the Hooks and Needles group for their knit and crocheted items that they donate. I am a senior and I knit scarves at home that are donated to Koats for Kids every fall. Last year I donated 222 scarves and am on track to beat that total this year.

I would like to challenge all the crafty knitters and crocheters out there to make and donate 10 winter items to the charity of your choice. Together, we can be a big help to those in need. I like to think my scarves are a hug to the little people who receive them.

Chris Ranick

Winnipeg