THREATENED LAKE
Lake Winnipeg nominated and put on Most Threatened Award List. (Winnipeg Free Press, Jan. 10).
Yes, there’s more wrong with the lake than right, and when our elected officials, in this case the conservation and water stewardship minister, allow the destruction of a lakeside marsh, it makes me wonder what in blazes is wrong with our government, which professes to care about these waters?
There are a great many other contributions of pollutants that come into the 10th largest fresh-water lake in the world, in our Manitoba: west from the Rocky Mountains, Ontario, and of course the U.S. via the Red River system.
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Worrisome drop in grain prices
Prices had been softening for most of the previous month, but heading into the Labour Day long weekend, the price drops were startling.
But that should never deter Manitobans (from) doing our part and set an example of not to pollute or remove or destroy nature’s water filters.
In June 2011, the premier of Manitoba made a statement that in the coming year, which would be 2012, there would be meetings at high levels with provinces and the United States to address water issues that contaminate Lake Winnipeg.
To date the only action in that regard, and reported, is a short trip into the U.S., where the crowd did apparently agree that they also have concerns about the condition of our lake.
What else has been done? Who knows?
It’s not a very nice award to be nominated for, that’s for sure, and “threatened” is not the appropriate word. It is far beyond that. Lake Winnipeg is and has been under attack for the past couple of decades.
And if the government would just look in a mirror every now and then, they might come to the conclusion that they themselves are a very big part of the problem that is plaguing the health recovery of Lake Winnipeg.
John Fefchak,
Virden, Man.
NO ENTITLEMENT
I need to take exception with Kevin Hursh’s column in the Jan. 10 WP.
I have farmed and ranched in Alberta and Saskatchewan for the last 26 years and feel qualified to speak to the time frame Mr. Hursh references. I cannot think of one of my neighbours, peers or associates in either province who felt they were “entitled” or “owed a living.”
GRIP (Gross Revenue Insurance Program), Tripartite Stabilization, Western Grain Stabilization, etc., were all well-grounded and necessary government programs that offset subsidies in other countries that were encouraging overproduction.
The Crow Rate was not an entitlement to western farmers but rather a rate concession the railroad agreed to in exchange for massive government assistance and land grants.
Since when does belonging to or supporting a marketing board classify one as entitled?
If governments can offer assistance in times of need to the automotive, meat packing and banking industries, I do not find it unreasonable that farmers and ranchers expect the same consideration. The trickle down effect to the economy is just as significant.
David Martin,
HELICOPTER CARE
As reported in the Regina Leader Post of Dec. 20, the (Saskatchewan premier Brad) Wall government plans to rob some Saskatchewan crown corporations to the tune of $10 million, then turn that money over to a private company that is trying to operate an ambulance service with helicopters.
The article further explains two SaskPower employees received a non-fatal electrical flash that warranted a call for the air ambulance. But, due to weather conditions, the helicopter was unable to transport the employees for treatment.
A fair question for SaskPower — by what method were the injured employees transported for medical treatment?
Henry Neufeld,
Waldeck, Sask.
CANADIAN DEMOCRACY
In this day of ever increasing far-right governments being elected, here is reassurance.
I read the other day that you can tell Canada is a democracy because the rich are not allowed to sleep under bridges or on heat grates in the city either.
Jean H. Sloan,
Lloydminster, Sask.
