Letters, July 16

Thanks to Dan Lett for clarifying the settlement of the dispute over the opening of the Gordie Howe Bridge.

To continue reading, please subscribe: Digital Subscription One year of digital access for only $205* - Enjoy unlimited reading on winnipegfreepress.com - Read the E-Edition, our digital replica newspaper - Access News Break, our award-winning app - Play interactive puzzles *First annual payment billed as $205.00 + GST for one year. This annual subscription will automatically renew at $233.00 + GST every 52 weeks (10% off the regular annual price of $259.35). Offer available to new and qualified returning subscribers only.

Cancel any time. To continue reading, please subscribe: Add Free Press access to your Brandon Sun subscription for only an additional $1 for the first 4 weeks* * Your next Brandon Sun subscription payment will increase by $1.00 and you will be charged $17.95 plus GST for four weeks.

After four weeks, your payment will increase to $24.95 plus GST every four weeks. Joe Zuken for mayor Re: More mayoral candidates would mean more ideas (Editorial, July 14) Absolutely, elections matter and, as the Free Press editorial states, “Winnipeg deserves an election that matches the seriousness of the challenges before it.”

And yes, “The mayor sets the tone at city hall ...” So, given the dearth of serious alternatives running against the incumbent, let me propose the following: a write-in campaign for Joe Zuken. Sure, given electronic ballots the ‘write-in’ bit will take some finessing ... details, details.

Most likely a vote for Joe would appear as a spoiled ballot, but that would still allow Winnipeg voters to register their frustration and disappointment with the shameful boondoggles we’ve been subject to for the last four years. Coun. Joe Zuken served first on the school board and was then elected to city council in 1961, representing the North End.

He fought for public housing, public hospitals and in general, for the poor and disenfranchised. In 1969 he won unanimous support for changes to Winnipeg’s Tenant Act, including the establishment of a landlord/tenant review board, restrictions on eviction notices, and improvements to tenants’ privacy rights. Widely respected, he exemplified serious intent and competence.

Joe Zuken ran for mayor in 1979 and garnered 18 per cent of the vote; we could beat that with a write-in campaign. Joe left us too soon, dying in 1986 at age 73. I’m imagining a boisterous campaign launch at Joe Zuken Heritage Park in the North End, with families in attendance and with all of the wonderful diversity that makes up our city today.

Winnipeg deserves better — Joe Zuken for mayor! Sig Laser Winnipeg Lack of analysis is telling Re: Manitoba lost $40M in unpaid medical bills (July 15) I can’t help question the motivation of SecondStreet.org, the Alberta-based think tank’s freedom of information request and contact with the media regarding unpaid medical bills.

I fear it’s intended to stir up anger. The comments from the interest group lacked balance. We don’t get to decide who “deserves” health care and we are not always going to feel great about all taxpayer-funded expenditures.

Personally, I wonder how $8 million annually compares to other expenditures, such as the costs to treat people (Canadians) for conditions which could have been prevented by vaccines? Or treat injuries sustained by people (Canadians) not wearing seatbelts or helmets? This could go on forever.

The proposed solutions are impractical and expensive. How do we confirm the validity of proof of insurance at border crossings and medical facilities? Who will pay for the staff required?

Where will this confirmation occur and how will it impact the timeliness of border crossings and provision of treatment (for all people)? How will it impact Canadians travelling to other countries after the same requirements are placed on us? Never mind the complexities of the “banned” list.

I also wonder about Canadians’ unpaid medical bills outside Canada. I suspect we are just as guilty as “them.” This organization has the capacity to do a basic cost-benefit analysis and I wonder why they felt the need to share the information without including any analysis.

We really don’t need anyone winding up the outrage machine with incomplete narratives. Michelle Burdz, Winnipeg A windy solution? Re: Gone with the wind?

(July 11) Julia-Simone Rutgers has written a fine article about the subject of wind power. I am very much in favour of using more wind power to generate electricity, but it is concerning to hear the size and scale of the proposed wind farms, and that it may be difficult to live in close proximity to them. I wonder if reducing the height of the towers would help the situation, since in most ways, the area is very suitable?

It’s sad that Manitoba has been so slow to implement wind technology. We should have been having these conversations years ago. Marlene Beaty, Winnipeg Firearms protest puzzling Re: Gun owners rally at city hall (July 14)

I am puzzled by the comments offered by attendees at the Canadian Coalition for Firearm Rights rally. One person suggests the gun policy will “take away freedom” and that gun ownership is an “essential right.” Raquel Dancho, MP for Kildonan–St. Paul, said that the policy targets “family artifacts and heirlooms” and that owning guns is part of the “Canadian identity.”

Admittedly, I don’t have a clear understanding of Bill C-21 and the gun buyback policy, but I am at a loss to understand how military-style assault weapons could be family heirlooms, or an essential right, or even be necessary to hunt for food. My idea of Canadian identity and freedom is being able to live without the fear of being killed by the gunfire of a criminal or paranoid person. This seems to happen daily in the United States, with their professed “right to bear arms.”

Annette Lowe, Winnipeg Gordie was good in the corners Re: Carney trumps U.S. with Gordie Howe bridge deal (July 14) Thank you and your staff for delving into the detail of the Gordie Howe bridge deal. Mr. Lett helped us understand it better in his opinion column.

It really does not matter whether Donald Trump thinks he won or Pierre Poilievre thinks we caved; in the end, I think Gordie Howe won with his elbows, playing for Team Canada. I think this can only help trade between our two great countries. Tom Tonner, Selkirk Thanks to Dan Lett for clarifying the settlement of the dispute over the opening of the Gordie Howe Bridge.

When the resolution was announced, it appeared Canada was giving the U.S. something that was undeserved, as Canada had paid the total costs of the bridge. The original announcement made it sound like Canada was kowtowing to Donald Trump by settling the dispute at a 50/50 split on all revenues. However, as Dan pointed out, this was not the case.

Canada appears much more in control of the issue than it originally appeared. Glad to see the U.S. was not taking advantage of Canada at the whim of Donald Trump and the attempt to reward one of his grandiose, rich political (and quite possibly personal) supporters. Douglas King, Winnipeg Moving the goalpoosts Re: ‘That just brings the uniqueness to the game’ (July 15)

I just read Ken Wiebe’s exciting description of Trey Vaval’s 129-yard missed field goal return against the Argos on July 10. Now picture yourself sitting around the CFL boardroom table and deciding: “We cannot allow this to happen; it is just too exciting. Let’s shorten the end zone to 15 yards and move the goalposts to the back.

That should take care of the problem. People need more time to use the washroom and freshen their beverages, anyway.” Someone was actually paid to come up with this idea.

Warren Otto, Winnipeg