Letters, Aug. 26

Time to be resolute

Re: “Life during wartime” (Letters, Aug. 25)

Kudos to Brent Corrigan for his perfectly penned letter about how he will be responding to the Trump government’s economic war against Canada.

To support Canadian sovereignty and businesses, we should all be actively redirecting our money away from U.S. products, services and travel, and toward Canadian alternatives.

We also need to ensure that targeted Canadian businesses and their employees are not left unaided while they absorb the brunt of the assault. We should all be prepared to support and pay the increased costs and taxes that are required to sustain them.

Certainly, Vladimir Putin’s war against Ukraine is far more violent than Donald Trump’s attack on Canada. Nonetheless, they are both examples of a brutish leader of a larger country unjustly attacking a smaller, seemingly vulnerable neighbour. I hope Canadians will be as resolute as Ukrainians in defending their country.

Calvin Brown, R.M. of St. Andrews

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Keep tone civil

Given the unholy (and wholly unacceptable) rhetoric coming from top administration officials in the United States of America, and now starting to be echoed by certain Canadian politicians, this is what I fear: the overwhelming goodwill that has existed between our two nations over the last 100-plus years will soon be completely eroded — largely due to the children in the White House and those who support them.

We must recognize that many Americans actually understand the idiotic and infantile comments emanating from the halls of power down south, and they empathize with us. They are also trapped (for the moment) by the same uncivilized people. But the longer this trade war carries on, the more difficult it will be to maintain honest and open goodwill between the two nations.

Canada has, in the past, been recognized as a nation of polite, peace-loving people. There is a great danger that we will feel it necessary to respond in kind to the southern bully … and we must not!

This is what I hope: that Canadians, and particularly friendly Manitobans, will continue to show our welcoming and civil selves to our American friends at all times, and especially when they make disdainful and childish comments. Let the world see our true character — and let it remember that we are not like that.

Eric Unger, Winnipeg

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Carney’s power move

Trump was set to get what he wanted — a subservient-looking prime minister and a weakened Canada. Heck, JD Vance was already taking victory laps while simultaneously pumping air in his friend Jamil Jivani’s tires.

A trade deal would have been a much-needed win for Trump. It would have been taken as proof that America had the might to make a tariff regime work; it would have weakened the nature of Democratic attacks on trade policy; and, in Canada, it would have resulted in Liberals shedding support.

When we look to Latin American politics, we see the glee Trump feels in meddling in the domestic politics of those he sees as vassals. Vance’s comments last week came from a similar place, as he was clearly hoping that he could move disillusioned Canadians behind his good friend in Parliament, even if it meant taking pot shots at the actual Tory party leader. In short, it would have been a show of power in time for the U.S. midterms.

On the world stage, Carney maintains the sheen he accumulated with his Davos speech. At home, Carney’s Liberals are going into byelections as the defenders of French-language rights and Canadian sovereignty. This is a win the Liberals needed after making concessions to get to the negotiation table and after the less than enthused reaction from premiers last week at the prospect of returning American booze to our shelves.

Kelsey Enns, Winnipeg

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Supporting our own

It seems that the tariffs will hit some industries far harder than others. As consumers, we can no doubt help those industries in Manitoba and other parts of Canada who are hardest hit.

Honey comes to mind as an industry in Manitoba facing a tough time. Most people like honey. We should all make a point of increasing our purchases to help our local beekeepers. Perhaps our chambers of commerce and the Free Press can highlight other industries who need our support as consumers.

Douglas Finkbeiner, K.C. ​​​​, Winnipeg

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Not all Americans …

My family emigrated to Canada from Europe in the early 17th century. I grew up in Wisconsin, not far from the Canadian border.

Canada has always held a special place in my heart and I visit whenever I can.

The disrespect shown by our president angers and saddens me. His crude language and the punitive tariffs he has imposed on our closest ally are a disgusting betrayal of our long friendship.

I admire your prime minister’s honest candour and I hope Canadians understand that most Americans do not support Donald Trump nor his disgraceful behaviour.

I also hope that when this administration comes to an end (and please God it will sooner rather than later), Canadians will give us another chance to allow us to try to regain your trust and respect.

Charles E. Bouchard, St. Louis

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Zeitgeist moment

Our View/Your Say (on Aug. 25 was) a perfect page. From (the) editorial to the cartoon to all five letters to the editor, I found myself in complete agreement with every piece.

Hopefully this is the way most Canadians think, as we dig in to combat the Project 2025 movement, and its absurd leader/figurehead. It is encouraging to see so many intelligent, decent people putting thoughts to paper.

So, Canada, elbows up again (or still) — and maybe even higher!

Paul Rand, Portage la Prairie

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Ease the ER traffic jam

Re: Chronic blame game festers (Aug. 22); Condition critical (Aug. 22)

Uzoma Asagwara says “We’re a listening government,” in one story.

The same day, Dr. Alecs Chochinov tells you what you need to do to alleviate the crisis in the emergency rooms — clear the blockage that exists because of people occupying hospital beds when they actually require a personal care home bed or home-care services so they can occupy their own beds in their own homes.

Unless and until the government puts money and effort into these, ERs will continue with escalating wait times and more people will die waiting for treatment.

You will not unblock the current ERs by opening more ERs. All that will do is result in more ERs where people will wait unacceptable amounts of time for care.

Instead, put that money into new PCH beds and more homecare staffing and see the problems resolve.

Uzoma, are you listening?

Leslie Hancock, Winnipeg

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Publicize the clinics

Having recently used the minor injury clinic at Misericordia Hospital with my son after a bike accident, I am amazed at the swift and efficient care he received. I also used this clinic a few months ago after a dog attack. This was after seven-and-a-half hours in Concordia Hospital ER without seeing a doctor.

How I wish I had known about the Misericordia or Corydon clinics at that time. Can the health minister not make these options known to the public to ease the pressure on ERs?

It is sad that intake staff in ERs cannot redirect patients who come in with non-emergency issues to alternate clinics.

No wonder waiting rooms are overloaded and wait times have skyrocketed!

Edna Erickson, Winnipeg