Letters, June 27

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 27/06/2022 (1544 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Idea to replace beheaded statue

Re: Damaged Queen Victoria statue is beyond repair, Manitoba government says (June 24)

How about the following idea to replace the statue of Queen Victoria that was beheaded last year amid angry protests over the discovery of anomalies that might be unmarked graves at former residential schools?

Let’s establish the existing base as the site for a periodically changing display of artwork from different individuals and communities in Manitoba, along the lines of the Fourth Plinth in London’s Trafalgar Square. That plinth, which has never had a permanent statue, displays a new artwork every year or so.

This changing exhibition provides an opportunity for a range of artistic expressions and statements, and brings attention to art and the public place as a vital part of community life.

The legislature plinth would be an even more prominent site, on the axis of approach to our governing body. The display could be curated by a committee made up of Manitoba’s arts councils and representative citizens, at arm’s length from the provincial government.

It could also display the contributions of artists from communities elsewhere with which we feel a strong connection — for example, right now, Ukraine. This empty plinth is a great opportunity to make public art relevant, visible and meaningful.

Lawrence Bird

Winnipeg

Queen Victoria aided Métis

Re: Long live the (decapitated) queen (June 24)

Manitoba Metis Federation President David Chartrand correctly points out that Queen Victoria’s British government “played a pivotal role in ensuring the Métis of the Red River were going to be dealt with and heard.”

In response to the 1869 uprising, along with fears of an American incursion into the north west, and since Canada had no professional military at the time, the Macdonald government had requested an imperial military expedition to Red River. The British government, however, insisted on Canada reaching a negotiated settlement with the people of Red River prior to authorizing the Red River Imperial Expeditionary Force, which was led by Col. Wolseley and a battalion of British regular soldiers.

So it was, indeed, that Queen Victoria’s government played a pivotal role in the Red River Colony becoming the province of Manitoba in 1870.

John Perrin

Winnipeg

Keeyask likely to stay money loser

Re: Keeyask fiscal windfall could be Tories political downfall (Opinion, June 16)

Dan Lett’s recent column regarding Manitoba Hydro’s anticipated windfall should have been more accurately headlined “Export windfall means Keeyask will lose less money.” Unfortunately for Lett, as a political commentor with a particular dislike of the current government, such reality does not offer much in the way of cache.

It is true that former premier Brian Pallister went over the top condemning Keeyask, yet the excessive cost of the hydroelectric project is not a figment of his imagination. It would have been better for Pallister in the cost review to have engaged boring academics rather than high-profile politicians. The same conclusions would have been confirmed, showing Keeyask to be unnecessary and too costly, but not easily dismissed as “political.”

For several years, my students at the Asper School of Business have examined cost aspects of Keeyask. We find that to not lose money, at least around 12 cents must be received for every single kWh, day in day out, year after year. Keeyask has ended up as a money loser, especially if directed to exports.

In 2021, Manitoba Hydro reported an average export price of about 5.6 cents, reflecting combined firm and spot sales. Even if we were to get double that price, which is highly unlikely, Keeyask would still not break even.

Problems with obscenely high costs of hydroelectric dams are not unique to Manitoba either, with scandals erupting in both B.C., regarding Site-C, and in Newfoundland and Labrador, regarding Muskrat Falls.

A significant concern with Lett’s article is that some people invariably will interpret comments as erroneous justification for more big projects. Building new power dams, notably Conawapa, would be ill-advised, just as it was with Keeyask. New expensive dams are also unnecessary even if the province were to move more aggressively toward electrification.

We have all the energy we need already. The likely consequence of Conawapa or any other new large dam, given a track record of excessively high costs, would be to push us toward bankruptcy.

Robert Parsons

Winnipeg

The latest move to ensure the PC government controls the narrative about Manitoba Hydro is to dissolve the Public Utilities Board. That way the government doesn’t have to make Hydro’s financials public. They then can claim Hydro’s debt is unsustainable.

Of course, anyone with even a pedestrian knowledge of business knows you don’t own only one side of the ledger. If you own the debt, you own the assets.

Back in 2016 when the Conservatives were elected, the Hydro situation looked bad if, as most people do, you just see the debt as immediate. The investment in Hydro was and is for the future.

Everyone was talking about global warming and six years later, in 2022, much to the surprise of the Conservative government, the people of Manitoba own a zero-emission electric company.

Currently, the demand for electricity is through the roof. Why are we even talking about the past? Is it because our current government is living in the past, or do they want shareholder dividends once Manitoba Hydro is sold and privatized?

Gilles Nicolas

Winnipeg

Transgender slurs are hate crimes

Re: ‘In shock’ about inaction on transgender slurs (June 23)

It’s heartbreaking to read about Trinity Wolf’s experience. Trinity should be applauded for going public so no one else will be similarly abused.

A complaint with the Human Rights Commission of Manitoba should be launched immediately against Trinity’s co-workers and the lease operator of the service station where Trinity experienced the episodes. Perhaps the Rainbow Resource Centre can take the step on behalf of Trinity and also explore if action can be taken in the courts.

Transgender slurs are hate crimes, and hate crimes must be dealt with promptly and severely to serve as a deterrent.

Shashi S. Seshia

Winnipeg

Make oil firms match gas tax cuts

Re: Ottawa refuses to budge on gas price relief (June 22)

I agree that significant cuts to gas taxes would be beneficial at this time. However, these should not be done unconditionally by the government. As is well known, oil companies are making huge — some would say obscene — profits as a result of the extremely high oil and gas prices.

Therefore, I suggest the government agree to cut gas taxes only if the the oil companies match the cuts. Otherwise, without such conditions, tax cuts by governments alone could easily be gobbled up by the oil companies with no benefits to consumers.

Gilles Roch

Winnipeg

Roar of vehicles disturbing

Re: Sound off (Letters, June 17)

I totally agree with letter writer Jeff Monk, who suggests we ask mayoral candidates what they plan to do about the loud engines.

We live behind Chief Peguis Trail, and the motorcycles are bad enough, but you can hear vehicles coming from blocks away and they seem to pick up speed just before the lights at Gateway Road. As we listen to the roar of the engines, we just hold our breath hoping we don’t hear a loud crash. Sadly, I have a feeling that it will happen one day.

Janice Jackson

Winnipeg