Where’s the vision?
Who is Winnipeg’s great visionary leader?
This year, a number of candidates have entered Winnipeg’s mayoral race. Important issues are being debated, including public safety, transportation and taxes. Yet, amid the campaigning and political mudslinging, I find myself asking a much bigger question: Who has a compelling vision for what Winnipeg could become?
So far, I have yet to hear it.
Winnipeg has tremendous potential — not only within Manitoba, but within Canada and beyond. Yet much of our political conversation focuses on managing the problems immediately in front of us. Of course, potholes must be fixed, budgets must be balanced and our streets must be made safer. But leadership should also be about looking beyond the next four years.
Where should Winnipeg be in 10 years? In 20? In 50?
What could make people across Canada want to move here, build businesses here, invest here and raise their families here? How can Winnipeg become known for innovation, opportunity, culture and quality of life? What investments and decisions must we make today to lay the foundations for that future?
Great cities do not become great by accident. They require leaders willing to imagine what does not yet exist and then develop credible plans to build it.
And that requires a different kind of political conversation.
Instead of candidates spending their time attacking one another, pointing fingers and dragging their opponents down, I would rather see them compete over who can offer the most ambitious, credible vision for Winnipeg’s future. Tell us not merely why another candidate is wrong, but why your ideas are right. Tell us where you want to take this city and how you intend to get us there.
That is the conversation I would like to hear during this mayoral campaign.
So, I challenge every candidate in this election — and those considering public office in the future — to answer four questions:
1. What is your vision for Winnipeg in 50 years?
2. What will make our city stand out on the world stage for all the right reasons?
3. How will you turn that vision into reality?
4. What foundations will you build today to make that future possible?
Winnipeg does not simply need someone to manage the city for the next four years.
It needs someone who can show us where we are going.
Richard Dyrkacz
Winnipeg
An eerie similarity
Re: Comparing, contrasting the Iran and Vietnam wars (Think Tank, Oct. 13)
Peter McKenna’s opinion piece could, with a few minor insertions, be applied to the Trump administration’s economic war on Canada:
“As for common lessons unlearned, both Vietnam and Iran (and Canada) clearly demonstrate how a U.S. White House makes life-altering war decisions without fully understanding the history and culture of those targeted countries, their past relationships with the U.S. and the nationalistic sentiments of the people whom it is (economically) bombing.
“More important, one should not forget the key role that U.S. governmental arrogance and hubris plays in clouding the judgment of presidents, advisers and aides and military leaders (Trump, Vance, Lutnick, Bessent, Greer) who contemplate going to war.”
Ron Menec
Winnipeg
How low will Trump go?
Re: ‘An assault on the rule of law’ (Oct. 10)
It was disturbing but not surprising to read that U.S. President Trump has “imposed severe financial sanctions” on the International Criminal Court, an institution supported by Canada and 125 other countries — but not the U.S.A.
Ironically, but again, not surprisingly, this announcement was made the same day he lifted sanctions on the sale of Russian diesel, which he had increased only weeks earlier. Trump revels in constraining the ICC while enabling Putin’s ability to continue his illegal occupation of Ukraine. This will only bolster Putin’s aggressive and deadly efforts.
It becomes ever more evident that the current U.S. president is not guided by “the rule of law” in his actions. Expediency and self-interest carry the day. But then, we must remember that he did say in a New York Times interview that his global and executive power is constrained only by “(his) own morality, (his) own mind.’ After he announced the “energy ceasefire,” he stated that Russia and Ukraine could do whatever they want as long as they don’t disrupt the flow of diesel.
Diesel for Trump is more valuable than Ukrainian sovereignty and the lives of innocent civilians. This further reveals his “morality.”
And this is perhaps to be followed by livestreaming an execution. How low can he go?
Leonard Harapiak
Winnipeg
He’s unbelievable
Re: Trump says U.S. to get diesel from Russia (Oct. 10)
Terrified that he and his party will lose power in the upcoming elections, U.S. President Donald Trump will now buy diesel from Russia, thus making a mockery of his new sanctions (announced last month) on Russia to halt its aggression against a much smaller nation.
As Ukraine fights to survive, Trump, as a toady of Putin, has doubled down on his unreliable, wavering support and now blames Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy for attacking Russian fuel facilities, while Russian attacks on Ukrainian civilians and infrastructure continue.
All this after Trump made things worse when he bumbled into a disastrous war with Iran which disrupted fuel supplies, the world economy and prompted Iranian/Russian collaboration against the U.S.
You can’t make this stuff up!
A few things are apparent:
• Since Putin’s unprovoked attack on Ukraine, Trump’s inept “mediation” efforts and years of talks, Putin has not budged one inch, opting to play the long game to outlast his much smaller victim. Putin has always played Trump like a violin, so this purchase aids the Russian economy and lowers any pressure for peace;
• Ukraine has been consistently blamed, undermined and pressured by Trump towards concessions while Putin smirks and civilians die;
• Trump tore up an effective, working international agreement and cancelled new negotiations in favour of a misguided attack on Iran which is impacting both the world economy and the entire region. Now, everyone suffers, more people die and, according to American sources, his friend Putin is now aiding Iran;
• Leaders want their nations to prosper, but Trump has actually made things worse for his own people. Now, like a cornered rat he will do anything to survive.
These developments and many others continue the steady decline of respect, credibility and influence of the U.S. among nations.
Trump sets a low bar for his behaviour and then fails to meet even that moderate threshold. Hang on, with three weeks to go before the U.S. midterm elections, new depths may yet be achieved.
Dan Furlan
Winnipeg
E-vehicle law requires enforcement
Re: Manitoba e-scooter legislation changes set to impose speed limit, age restrictions, sidewalk ban (Oct. 13)
I’m quite pleased the government has devised a set of laws to govern the use of personal electric vehicles.
So, how is this all enforced? Am I allowed to make a citizen’s arrest?
There are not enough police personnel to enforce these laws. Very few of these kids will wear a helmet and abide the rules by keeping off headphones, keeping to the streets, etc.
Maybe, instead of doing a ton of photo enforcement, the Winnipeg Police Service can start ticketing and fining PEV users so we can feel safe!
Finally, we must involve the schools in educating students on the rules of the road. It should be done early and often.
Ken Campbell
Winnipeg