\t\t\tLessons from history<\/p>\n
As philosopher George Santayana said, \u201c Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it\u201d\u2026 and so U.S. President Donald Trump thinks that he can force Iran into submission with technology and massive expenditures of money, materials and soldiers, having not learned the lessons taught by the Vietnamese who deftly sidestepped America by fighting a guerilla war.<\/p>\n
Canada will do well to avoid any participation in this conflict, lest we become a target for the inevitable terrorist-style attacks.<\/p>\n
Robert Collings<\/p>\n
Winnipeg<\/p>\n
Falling behind<\/p>\n
The University of Manitoba\u2019s announcement of a four per cent tuition increase comes on the heels of a provincial budget that increased grant assistance to post-secondary institutions by 2.45 per cent. This amounts to a decrease in \u201creal\u201d dollars since it doesn\u2019t even match Manitoba\u2019s annual average inflation rate of 2.7 per cent in 2025.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s disappointing that our provincial governments continue to undervalue post-secondary education, forcing tough choices for post-secondary institutions and higher tuition for students.<\/p>\n
Post-secondary education is crucial to our supply of highly educated professionals, including nurses, doctors, dentists, teachers, lawyers, engineers, scientists, etc.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s time for government to begin funding post-secondary education at levels that don\u2019t increase the financial burden on students, who should instead be commended for their academic achievements and offered the best education that Manitoba can provide.<\/p>\n
Tim Wildman<\/p>\n
Winnipeg<\/p>\n
Picking headlines<\/p>\n
Re: No charges for WPS officers in fatal 2025 shooting: IIU<\/a>, March 31<\/p>\n As a retired police officer I take exception to this headline and the tone of the article. The goal of the investigation was to gather the facts and have a judicial official review them to decide if the shooting was justified.<\/p>\n What the article suggests is the opposite. It implies that the goal of an Independent Investigation Unit (IIU) investigation was to gather enough evidence to charge the officers but that \u201cGiven that the Manitoba Prosecution Service\u2019s opinion is that the standard for prosecuting charges has not been met, the civilian director will not be authorizing charges.\u201d<\/p>\n This headline could just as easily read \u201cOfficers justified in fatal 2025 shooting: IIU\u201d which I believe most readers would accept given the scenario described in the article.<\/p>\n Stan Tataryn<\/p>\n Winnipeg<\/p>\n Lessen pain and suffering<\/p>\n Re: Winnipeg and ground squirrels<\/a>, Think Tank, March 20<\/p>\n With so many ways to manage ground squirrel populations, it\u2019s baffling that the city chose an option that\u2019s so unnecessarily cruel, especially when more effective and humane solutions were clearly on the table.<\/p>\n Environment and Climate Change Minister Mike Moyes should do the right thing and immediately revoke the permit for this draconian management plan, so the city can implement a more reasonable option that would spare our wildlife as much pain and suffering as this approach would cause.<\/p>\n Diane Youngman<\/p>\n Winnipeg<\/p>\n Boulevards and bike lanes<\/p>\n RE: The rush for Wellington bike lanes is misguided<\/a> (Think Tank, March 26), \u201cBalance in design\u201d (Letters<\/a>, March 30), and Protecting mature trees should be a priority<\/a> (Think Tank, March 31).<\/p>\n As someone who recently spent 10 years commuting to and from work along Wellington Crescent between Academy Road and River Avenue, and someone who still regularly travels that route, I have followed the discussions about bicycle lanes along there closely.<\/p>\n I tried cycling the route early in those years but found it rather terrifying and dangerous, and as a result ended up driving instead. Had there been bike lanes, I certainly would have regularly cycled.<\/p>\n Writers John Youngman and M. Strath have both referred to Wellington Crescent\u2019s \u201cwide boulevards\u201d as justification to convert them to bike lanes and leave the car lanes uninterrupted and open to zooming traffic. If they researched this properly, or even just observed properly, they would see that Wellington\u2019s boulevards are not particularly wider than any others in this city on any other regular street.<\/p>\n They might also have noticed that these boulevards have scores of tall beautiful majestic trees in them, along with tall, less beautiful (but rather useful) street lights and the occasional very useful fire hydrant, all of which would interfere with converting the boulevards to bike lanes.<\/p>\n Most concerning to me would be the need to destroy the trees, and Erna Buffie makes important and eloquent arguments for preserving and protecting all of our urban tree canopy in her March 31 Think Tank piece.<\/p>\n That canopy that produces critical life-sustaining oxygen, cools our summers along our asphalt heat-radiating streets, and beautifies our city to the envy of most other cities, must be preserved at all costs.<\/p>\n If that cost here is a minute or so of traffic delay or inconvenience in order to create a safe and respectful bicycle environment, it is a very small price to pay indeed.<\/p>\n Bob Martin<\/p>\n Winnipeg<\/p>\n No need for tax break<\/p>\n A gas tax holiday or subsidy for industrial and agricultural use is probably sensible, especially to help manage grocery prices, but one for all consumers is foolhardy.<\/p>\n We don\u2019t need a gas tax holiday, we need drivers to shift their priorities.<\/p>\n Urban drivers can lessen their time on the road by taking transit, bike riding is a good option with the snow melting. If people carpool, they can also pool their money for gas.<\/p>\n Sure, fewer visits to the pump will mean less money in government coffers; but getting less money is better than recieving nothing, which is the proposed solution.<\/p>\n The solution is not to remove a revenue stream that helps maintain physical infrastructure, like roads. This war could accelerate our move to renewables, and a gas tax can help fund greening initiatives.<\/p>\n If the war in Iran were to end tomorrow, oil prices will be at elevated levels for years.<\/p>\n Consumers need to be more responsible and make adjustments where possible.<\/p>\n Kelsey Enns<\/p>\n Winnipeg<\/p>\n Making connections<\/p>\n