Letters, May 13

Opinion

Heed Hanuschak

Re: A teardown isn’t the solution (Think Tank, May 8)

Thanks to William Hanuschak for his insightful perspective on the future of the Centre Village/Balmoral Street residential project.

Hopefully, common sense will prevail at a time when housing is in short supply and the environment is facing significant challenges. Demolition and reconstruction of this structurally sound facility defies logic when alterations can be made at a fraction of the cost.

Mr. Hanuschak described several examples of effective renovations of existing buildings that provide a model to follow. Hopefully, the Winnipeg Housing Rehabilitation Corp. heeds his wisdom and experience.

Gerri Thorsteinson

Winnipeg

Another view of carbon tax’s impacts

Re: Still not getting to zero (Think Tank, May 10)

Robert Parsons demonstrates a particularly conservative bias in his article on the impact of the Canada carbon tax on reducing green house gas (GHG) emissions and costs to business and consumers.

He states that, despite increasing carbon taxes, GHG emissions in Canada rose in 2022. Firstly, GHG emissions in Canada and elsewhere decreased significantly in 2020 due to COVID restrictions, less travel and less consumption of goods and services overall. While GHG emissions have rebounded somewhat, they still remain below pre-COVID levels. Secondly, many provinces, including the most populous provinces of Ontario and Quebec, have reduced their GHG emissions, although the largest emitter Alberta has increased its emissions.

Two-thirds of homes in Quebec are now heated primarily by hydro-electricity. Ontario has eliminated its coal-fired electrical production and has significantly electrified its public transportation. While the demand for oil and gas has remained relatively static in Canada, over the past decade, Alberta has continued to increase production, with most surplus currently being sold to the United States. Alberta and Saskatchewan have also been the most critical of the carbon tax and other proposed measures such as emissions caps.

Parsons also contends that businesses overall have been negatively impacted by the carbon tax with costs often passed on to consumers.

There are many factors contributing to the costs of goods and services, including fuel costs. The intent of carbon pricing is to incentivize businesses and consumers to reduce fossil fuel consumption and emissions. Canadians who live in larger homes heated by natural gas, drive larger less-fuel efficient vehicles and consume more services and goods such a travel, entertainment and things like restaurant meals are likely more impacted overall by rising fossil fuel prices.

Canadians who live in smaller homes, primarily use public transportation and simply consume less are much less impacted by rising fossil fuel prices.

There are currently more than 40 countries with some type of carbon pricing. Many of these countries, primarily in Europe, have been most successful in lowering GHG emission. Also in Canada, provinces with their own carbon pricing and/or more robust efforts to reduce emissions have been more successful in doing so.

While there are costs associated with these efforts, the cost of climate change and mitigation efforts in Canada and elsewhere continue to increase significantly.

Richard Dilay

Winnipeg

Affluence favoured

Re: Fundraising not enough to save Happyland Pool; Pool preparation (May 9)

It’s ironic that in the Free Press we have the unfortunate news the city’s community services committee has rejected a community effort to keep the Happyland pool from closing, despite a local fundraising effort and a promise of money from the province, while on the front page of another section of the same issue there are three artful photos with descriptive text of city crews preparing the Transcona Aquatic Park for another season.

Happyland is located in an older, less affluent neighbourhood, while the aquatic park serves an area that is burgeoning with new development. In the same story on the rejection of the Happyland effort, we learn the same committee refused to scale back the South Winnipeg Recreation Campus which is projected to cost $94 million, up from $71 million.

Once again a newer, more affluent area appears to be favoured. What does this say about council’s priorities for its citizens? Shouldn’t developers be required to provide at least some of the funding for these amenities and services that make neighbourhoods worth living in?

Neil Coligan

Winnipeg

Future plant-based, Not dairy

Re: If many dairy farmers contract H5N1, we risk a pandemic (Think Tank, May 9)

As the health critic of the Green Party of Manitoba, I couldn’t help shake my head while reading today’s op-ed on the potential for another health catastrophe — an H5N1 pandemic emanating from large-scale dairy production.

With the possibility of another public health disaster on the horizon, not even to mention the environmental impacts, why aren’t we instead supporting (read “promoting and subsidizing”) plant-based beverage producers — soy, hemp, oat, rice, nut and other plants? We have many producers of those crops in Manitoba who could greatly benefit by support, moving from intensive animal-based products to the way of the future, plant-based alternatives.

As for the purported health benefits of dairy, it’s been over 30 years since I last drank cow’s or any other animal’s milk and haven’t suffered from the conditions the dairy industry claims their products prevent — vitamin deficiencies, brittle bones, and the like.

How great a price in terms of public health and the climate emergency do we have to pay before making substantial changes in our agricultural policies?

Dennis Bayomi

Winnipeg

Must change direction on climate

We have a problem. The global climate is changing rapidly, not in eons but in decades or faster. There is too much carbon in the atmosphere and current human activity is adding more. The natural cycles of the Earth are being overloaded.

It is a common thought that private industry and business is more efficient and effective than government programs.

Here is a perfect and critical opportunity to show the truth of this or to expose it as a myth, convenient for profit making.

The challenge: We will get where we are going unless we change direction. Create leadership for a just transition from a fossil fuel energy economy to a new form. Do not delay or distract.

Our children, the children of tomorrow, the Earth itself, all need wise responses from all of us. Now, do not delay till tomorrow or 2050.

Ray and Marilyn Hamm

Altona

Endowment right way to go

Re: Make tobacco money last (Letters, May 9)

I agree with writer Vic Mikolayenko that endowment funding is a good approach to managing cancer care in Manitoba.

Indeed, there is a rich history of endowment funding through the CancerCare Manitoba Foundation. In urging the application of this approach to the potential Big Tobacco settlement, however, I respectfully submit that Mr. Mikolayenko is ignoring an important fact: the application of those funds to a second CancerCare building is remedial — it is to reverse a decision that impeded cancer care management in Manitoba, when the previous government cancelled the building’s construction just as it was about to begin.

Seven years ago it was determined that managing cancer care required an additional building. The funding model for that building rested on both public and substantial Foundation funds. If the anticipated funds arrive and are applied to get that second building back on track, of course the CancerCare Manitoba Foundation will continue to be a partner.

And I would not be surprised if such a project prompted an increase in donations to the Foundation.

Rocky Pollack

Winnipeg