Letters, Oct. 7

On diet and humanity

Re: “Maybe ASI will need us” (Letters, Oct. 5)

Mr. Martin, humans eating animals is not part of the circle of life. Many cultures with abundant plant resources, or for religious beliefs, have historically subsisted on largely or strictly vegetarian diets. Likewise, in extreme environments such as the Arctic, Inuit rely heavily on animal products due to the near-absence of arable land. Humans adapt locally to their environments and do not have a single ancestral diet.

Clearly vegetarian or vegan diets are not fringe, as evidenced by plant-based products on main-stream grocery store shelves. To suggest the Free Press is morally endorsing a fringe diet is rubbish, (the newspaper) merely gives the public a platform for diverse opinions, thus generating individual, thought-provoking ideas and conversations — a practice that is desperately needed these days.

Mr. Martin, we do not live in a famine-free world. Currently, approximately 650 million people face chronic hunger globally. People living in Sudan, Gaza, Yemen, Haiti, Nigeria and Somalia face this reality every day. Western societies face food insecurity on a daily basis. Yes, even in Winnipeg.

Whether the Western world treats harvested animals ethically is a fiercely debated topic between people with two opposing lenses. Gestation crates for pigs, battery cages for chickens and tail-docking without anesthesia are all practices allowed under the “heavily regulated” agricultural industry. But, in my opinion, these practices should be reviewed.

Our shared humanity makes it imperative that we engage in these conversations.

Mr. Martin, if you are privileged enough to afford meat, vegetables and potatoes on your plate tonight you are a fringe member of society … no guilt required.

Jane Pogson

Winnipeg

A plan for nature

World Habitat Day, Oct. 5, was a day to reflect on the importance of the places that wildlife depend on and which sustain healthy communities.

We have a responsibility to leave more than memories of the places we love. We should be able to take our children into a quiet forest, paddle a wild river, watch birds fill the sky and see wildlife thriving, knowing those same experiences will be there for their children and grandchildren. Protecting nature today is how we keep those experiences alive for generations to come.

Manitoba is making progress on some important nature conservation initiatives. But these individual efforts need to add up to something bigger: a clear path to achieving Manitoba’s commitment to protect 30 per cent of our lands and inland waters by 2030.

The Manitoba government made a commitment in 2023 to develop an action plan to achieve this commendable goal. Yet Manitobans are still waiting for a public plan with a vision, and an outline of how the job will get done. We’ve been told recently the province has no intention of producing the promised plan.

The last three provincial budgets have also failed to match the ambition of the task. The level of funding provided for conservation will not make “30 x 30” a reality.

Our provincial government needs to recognize that protecting nature requires more than a few piecemeal initiatives. It requires a plan, timelines, and the resources to deliver it.

The Manitoba government made us a promise. Now it needs to show Manitobans the plan for how it intends to keep it.

Ron Thiessen

Executive director, Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society — Manitoba

Stay the course

Re: “Teachers need leverage” (Letters, Oct. 6)

In 1956, Manitoba teachers ceded the right to strike in favour of conciliation and binding arbitration. This feature of collective bargaining has helped to maintain teachers’ working conditions and wages while ensuring uninterrupted service.

Robert Milan’s letter urging the restoration of the right to strike is interesting in view of current trends in public service, such as the recent treatment of Dynacare workers regarding their negotiations. I would urge Manitoba teachers to stay the course and continue their steady efforts to improve the working conditions and quality of service in our public schools using the current system.

Ed Labossiere

Winnipeg

Not above the fray

Re: Smith denies any connection to separatist meetings (Oct. 6)

Danielle Smith can claim she has no direct connection to the treasonous meetings with MAGA politicians seeking to attack Canada, but she cannot act like she is above these tactics herself.

Last year, she and Kevin O’Leary tried to secretly meet with Donald Trump. I say “tried” because Canadians found out about the visit thanks to an errant Instagram picture O’Leary posted; only then did she tell the public she was on a government trip to lobby the president at his resort.

Kelsey Enns

Winnipeg

Geothermal needed now

Re: Keeping the lights on (Think Tank, Oct. 5)

Hal Turner, interim president and CEO of Manitoba Hydro, does not mention the power savings that could be obtained by a wholesale transition of existing building heating to shared geothermal.

Rapidity of installation has already been demonstrated in the transition to natural gas heating circa 1958. Transition to geothermal heating from natural gas is necessary to meet Canada’s 2050 net-zero greenhouse gas requirements.

Building cooling would be automatically provided, protecting Hydro from liability from future severe heatwave deaths. Why is Hydro not implementing this transition through a central geothermal entity?

Dennis LeNeveu

Selkirk

Citing Duff’s details

Re: Khan cites infighting, quits as Tory leader (Sept. 29)

Wally Daudrich apparently claims that Duff Roblin joined the PC Party in the 1960s. He does not know the history of the party.

Roblin was the grandson of former Conservative premier Sir Rodmond Roblin and was a lifelong Conservative Party supporter. The party was renamed the Progressive Conservative Party in 1946. In those days, it was in a coalition with the Liberal-Progressives. Roblin was opposed to the coalition and, after the war, ran and was elected as an independent PC MLA in 1949. After the PC Party left the coalition in 1950, Roblin became leader in 1954. He was then faced with the challenge of building the modern PC Party from the ground up. In this he was eminently successful, serving as premier from 1958-1967, leading successive majority governments and implementing a progressive agenda. Duff Roblin was a Red Tory, who governed to the centre-left, compared to a more conservative Liberal Party in those days.

John D. Perrin

Winnipeg