\t\t\tFraudster-in-chief to blame<\/p>\n
Before criticizing Prime Minister Carney for his handling of the Gordie Howe Bridge issue, it\u2019s worth considering a few things.<\/p>\n
First, Canada has been the victim of an unprecedented, mob-style shakedown by the United States, fronted by their fraudster-in-chief. They used a page from Trump\u2019s business playbook \u2014 waited until the work was complete and then stiffed us. There aren\u2019t many palatable options available. Ironically, the bridge crosses the longest unprotected border in the world.<\/p>\n
Second, we\u2019re in the midst of the CUSMA negotiations. The numbers here are a lot bigger and Carney will be dealing with the same mob boss and his cast of characters. Mr. Carney needs to avoid the temptation to retaliate for the bridge, keep a disciplined approach and his eye on the ball. We should all be supporting these efforts.<\/p>\n
Finally, we have never experienced this treatment from our neighbour and we\u2019re in uncharted territory. CUSMA negotiations will depend on tonight\u2019s social media post and tomorrow it all might change. We must be able to adjust our plans accordingly. We need someone who is cool-headed, focused and who takes thoughtful, measured steps. If not Carney, who else could we trust with such a daunting task? Poilievre?<\/p>\n
Ernie Gilroy, Winnipeg<\/p>\n
Trump spoils everything<\/p>\n
Now the Gordie Howe Bridge. A spectacular structure completed by workers dedicated to the betterment of our economies.<\/p>\n
Michigan and Ontario came together to build a bridge that would benefit truckers and truck companies and travellers. It should have been a glorious and victorious shared opening celebration. Instead, Trump has again ruined the moment.<\/p>\n
It is always \u201cwhat\u2019s in it for him.\u201d The owner of the existing, outgrown Ambassador Bridge is a Trump donor and will lose revenue to the new Gordie Howe Bridge.<\/p>\n
A comparison of the tolls the new bridge will charge shows that the Ambassador Bridge charges twice what the Gordie Howe Bridge.<\/p>\n
The owner of the Ambassador Bridge does not have a good reputation in Detroit. He has been relentless in his drive to stall and keep the new bridge from happening.<\/p>\n
This type of person \u2014 and Trump himself \u2014 shows what our politicians have to deal with to get things done.<\/p>\n
Ted Wall, Rorketon<\/p>\n
The right direction<\/p>\n
Re: Pointing fingers and shifting blame<\/a> (Editorial, July 24)<\/p>\n You rightly point out some troublesome responsibilities put on a landlord to clean away a mess left by a homeless encampment. You also note a quirky regulation that does not allow the city to intervene on a garbage-filled property owned by Manitoba Housing. So yes, the city should find a way to help the landlord and work with the province to change the dysfunctional regulation.<\/p>\n However, in defence of the mayor, he rightly points out that housing, homelessness, mental health and addictions are provincial responsibilities. The province has a $27-billion budget, of which $10.55 billion is dedicated to health, seniors, long-term care, housing, addictions and homelessness.<\/p>\n The city makes up close to 60 per cent of the provincial population and an even bigger percentage of the province\u2019s addicted, poor and homeless. The city has a tax-supported operating budget of $1.5 billion, so can only play a comparably small role in these issues. For the record, the city used to have a social services department, but it was transferred to the province in 1999 to consolidate the provision of those services in the city.<\/p>\n I encourage concerned citizens to write to our elected representatives who are responsible for the services in question. They are the minister of housing, addictions and homelessness, the minister of families, the minister of health, seniors and long-term care, and the premier who, collectively, have direct responsibility and resources to assist those in need in the city.<\/p>\n Sometimes fingers point in the right direction.<\/p>\n Don Budinsky, Winnipeg<\/p>\n Match the plan to the crisis<\/p>\n Re: Hundreds being housed: minister<\/a> (July 24)<\/p>\n Manitoba\u2019s plan to end homelessness is nowhere near the scale of the crisis. Minister of Housing, Addictions and Homelessness Bernadette Smith recently stated that 8,248 people in Winnipeg are homeless, with 250 housed so far, 350 by 2027, and 700 by the end of a second term. That leaves over 90 per cent still homeless \u2014 and the number keeps rising.<\/p>\n As the owner of a non\u2011profit thrift shop in West Broadway, I see the fallout every day. The current strategy is piecemeal, slow, and failing communities on the front line.<\/p>\n We need a non\u2011partisan, all\u2011hands\u2011on\u2011deck approach that expands beyond traditional housing \u2014 managed encampments, low\u2011barrier transitional options, real addictions support, and public safety measures for neighbourhoods carrying the burden like West Broadway.<\/p>\n Housing alone won\u2019t fix this. Manitoba needs a plan that matches the crisis \u2014 not one that leaves thousands behind.<\/p>\n Susan Lockhart, Winnipeg<\/p>\n How does military spending make us feel?<\/p>\n Edwin Buettner<\/a> and John Wiens<\/a> always provide food for thought. I have appreciated and learned from their scholarly wisdom.<\/p>\n Both have recently written about the increase in Canada\u2019s military spending. The question was asked of us, the readers: \u201cWhat does it mean to be Canadian?\u201d<\/p>\n It\u2019s a provocative question.<\/p>\n How do we reconcile our collective actions when there are threats to our values, culture and, in some cases, to our very existence. This is not just true of Canada but to many other lands, peoples, cultures and to the planet that sustains us all.<\/p>\n How do we coexist with evil? What other responses, besides military, are viable against such threats?<\/p>\n It\u2019s a conversation worth having.<\/p>\n I\u2019m hoping Mr. Buettner and Mr. Wiens might continue to inform the discussion.<\/p>\n Lori Tighe, Winnipeg<\/p>\n Kudos to columnist<\/p>\n