Letters, June 16
Opinion
Re: 'Misuse of money' (Letters, June 13)
In his letter, Ernie Wiens encourages us to speak out against the misuse of money on weaponry to 'fan the flames of war' when our own back yard is burning right here at home. Speaking out is one necessity, the other is 'spending our privilege.'
Sometimes spending privilege means speaking out, sometimes it means giving of our volunteer time, and sometimes spending privilege literally means supporting and spending our own excess money on local and global organizations that promote peace and help with disaster relief.
Thanks to the Free Press for publishing stories that keep us informed about wars and disaster zones (wildfires) along with providing us ideas about where to give money, protest and volunteer. There are many good ways to spend privilege.
Peter Krahn
Winnipeg
Re: 'Food over sprawl' (Letters, June 12)
The developing housing policy of the Green Party of Manitoba, of which I am leader, explains a very different and more enlightened approach to meeting housing needs in Manitoba.
We need to support families to build housing in the country and recreate communities. This will dramatically reduce the housing shortage in the most overcrowded areas, when done with a modern zoning plan.
A better solution is likely small regenerative and organic mixed farming, public or cooperative ownership of common lands. Farmers and other residents sharing the land. The infrastructure could avoid mixing water and sewage with no water or power utilities needed.
Industrial agriculture does not produce food for Manitobans; it is an export business. The pesticides, fertilizers and monocrops create nutrient runoff and dead zones for biodiversity. Even a regular suburb with roads can have more birds and insects.
Janine Gibson
Steinbach
Re: Fix school of choice progress — and boost academics (Think Tank, June 11)
I greatly appreciate the op-ed by Joanne Seiff about the situation going on at the Winnipeg School Division. I hope that your newsroom will continue to shine a light on the problems around school of choice in the division. It is well worth investigating the deeply inequitable practices taking place in the city's older neighbourhoods.
As a parent in the division, my child is being denied educational opportunities by being forced to stay in his catchment, opportunities that students less than two blocks west of us are simply entitled to. While I agree that there are merits to students going to school in their neighbourhoods, it is more important that students are given equal opportunities no matter where in the city they live, that is the very core of public education.
Instead, the division is going about this change backwards by forcing this change without first creating equal programs in the schools. It is even more insulting that we have been told (repeatedly by the superintendent and assistant superintendent) that we should be willing to accept the denial of educational opportunities to our child because this plan could result in improved schools in five to 10 years.
Based on how poorly the division has handled things so far, that timeline seems like some very wishful thinking.
Timothy Penner
Winnipeg
Re: Downtown mural illustrates ties between province, grateful Ukrainian newcomers (June 10)
My letter focuses on the commitment and appreciation of a local artist Jennifer Mosienko and Mila Shykota, a newcomer to Manitoba who spearheaded the project in conjunction with Take Pride Winnipeg.
In Winnipeg, we have many beautiful murals identifying cultural mosaic settings, all of tremendous imaginary meaningful perspectives, distributed throughout our wonderful city.
The mural that was recently completed entitled Pray for Ukraine, located in the Exchange District, has its own meaning, symbolizing hope, peace and a rebirth of Ukraine. It is unique, reflecting the difficulties and hopes of all immigrants who leave their mother country and desire to make a new life, particularly in Canada.
As a Winnipegger, I appreciate Mila Shykota, the brainchild behind the project who had a goal by providing Winnipeg a sense of recognition and awareness that cities support each other. This mural in the Exchange District will leave a remembrance, how welcoming and helpful citizens of Winnipeg are to each other and to new Canadians. A thank-you goes to Jennifer Mosienko, the artist, who committed herself to this major project, which will become a landmark and legacy in our city. We need a guiding light in our lives.
Peter John Manastyrsky
Winnipeg
The Trump administration's sensationalist accusations directed at the immigrant population with respect to crime, has been statistically proven false time and time again.
Over the past 150 years, the immigrant population has never been incarcerated at a rate higher than American-born citizens, and yet we're being led to believe these people bear a mortal threat to the republic, while a sitting president who advocated for an insurrection is intent upon inflicting misery upon largely defenceless people seeking a better life.
Americans in general seem to ignore their history of wilfully injecting their economic and political self interest into the affairs of the nations from which many immigrants seek refuge. Cuba is but one example, but I rather doubt many Americans have ever learned as to the conditions which lead to Castro's ascendance and the inevitability of reoccurrences elsewhere. When a country incessantly advertises itself as the dream to which all should aspire, finds itself in repulsion of those who follow the bread crumbs they themselves toss about, it's rather obvious as to the cynical game the MAGA world has opted to play for purely political and self-enrichment purpose.
Years ago, I found myself stranded along an Florida interstate. I made my way to a gas bar only to find a state trooper parked outside and asked him if he might be able to help me out. His response was it'd be best to walk a few miles and I might be so fortunate to find a garage open and be willing to help me out. I was about to make the trek when a voice called out, sir, let me help.
A guy whose wife was tending the gas bar and was hanging around with their son to keep her company as she worked the night shift came to my rescue. We drove to my stranded car and he boosted the battery and off I was able to go.
I put a bunch of bills in his hand and he refused to take them saying that Canada had been good to his family and he was honoured to return the favour. To my mind, these are the people that make America great and thankfully we as Canadians, have recognized.
Dan Donahue
Winnipeg
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And don't get me started on the sales of wood from existing U.S. National Forest lands — the bill also would increase cutting, saying, 'For each of fiscal years 2026 through 2034, the Secretary shall sell timber annually on National Forest System land in a total quantity that is not less than 250,000,000 board-feet greater than the quantity of board-feet sold in the previous fiscal year.' By fiscal 2028, that would be a 25 per cent annual increase in wood cut on National Forest land. It's funny — when I think about the quiet beauty of the Modoc National Forest in California, walking on the deep cushioned mat of pine needles beneath the huge trees, the air hanging still in a way that engenders something close to reverence, I don't think of how much more valuable it would be as a housing development or mall, or even how much the wood is worth. 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He can be reached at Russell WangerskyPerspectives editor Russell Wangersky is Perspectives Editor for the Winnipeg Free Press, and also writes editorials and columns. He worked at newspapers in Newfoundland and Labrador, Ontario and Saskatchewan before joining the Free Press in 2023. A seven-time National Newspaper Award finalist for opinion writing, he's also penned eight books. Read more about Russell. Russell oversees the team that publishes editorials, opinions and analysis — part of the Free Press's tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press's history and mandate, and learn how our newsroom operates. Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider becoming a subscriber. Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support.
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Winnipeg Free Press
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- Winnipeg Free Press
North Carolina Green Party retains official status despite failing vote thresholds
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