Winnipeg Free Press

Winnipeg Free Press (Newspaper) - July 22, 2013, Winnipeg, Manitoba C M Y K PAGE A8 EDITORIALS WINNIPEG FREE PRESS, MONDAY, JULY 22, 2013 Freedom of Trade Liberty of Religion Equality of Civil Rights A 8 COMMENT EDITOR: Gerald Flood 204- 697- 7269 gerald. flood@ freepress. mb. ca winnipegfreepress. com EDITORIAL T HE emergence of a new national aboriginal organization is a clear expression of the frustration and anger that exists among many native groups in the country. If old military principles are any guide, however, dividing the troops before an offensive probably is not the wisest move. Derek Nepinak, Grand Chief of the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs and one of the prime movers of the new National Treaty Alliance, says he wants a stronger approach to asserting treaty rights than the Assembly of First Nations provides. He also claims the AFN under Shawn Atleo has not been aggressive in pursuing aboriginal goals, particularly the elimination of the Indian Act. He also says Chief Atleo's organization lacks the authority to negotiate on behalf of First Nations or to speak on treaties on a " nation- to- nation basis." The problem, of course, is that Chief Nepinak has even less authority. Only 85 chiefs out of more than 600 in the country attended the meeting in northern Saskatchewan when the new group was established, and many of those split their time with an AFN conference that was held concurrently. There's no question Chief Nepinak represents a widespread point of view, but it is just one perspective among many. There is a common misperception that Canada's aboriginals are a homogeneous group with common problems and demands. In fact, they speak more than 50 languages and their issues are as diverse as those of Canadians in general. The problems of First Nations in remote areas of northern Manitoba and Ontario, for example, are not the same as those of bands on the West Coast or of reserves that are adjacent to urban areas. Some have rich sources of revenue while others are destitute. There also is the question of who represents the large number of so- called non- status urban Indians who may not have a home reserve, but who clearly are aboriginal in terms of background and self- identification. Chief Nepinak's nascent group attracted followers mainly from Saskatchewan, Manitoba and parts of Ontario and Alberta, but there's no evidence that most aboriginal chiefs in those provinces support the breakaway group. There is even less data on where ordinary aboriginals stand on the emerging schism. The new group got off to a weak start by threatening to issue a deadline to Prime Minister Stephen Harper for a meeting or risk a national campaign of some sort. Ottawa needs to move quicker to resolve some of the more urgent aboriginal challenges, but the job will be even more difficult if the country's First Nations can not work together as a single, powerful force. Supporting the circus It has come to our attention that the City of Winnipeg is considering an ordinance containing language that would, in effect, ban circus animals. Such legislation is a solution in search of a problem. No doubt this has been instigated by animalrights enthusiasts and well- meaning people who have seen one propaganda video too many. Our members call circus a hobby. We have witnessed that most performing animals are loved and well cared for. Make no mistake, we are against animal abuse. But to abuse the star of the show isn't a logical conclusion. But animal wrongists don't use logic. The care and handling of circus animals is an evolving science that has made great strides. We're excited about the circus having involved itself in the conservation of animals such as the Asian elephant. What a crime it would be if the circus were eliminated and along with it these wonderful animal ambassadors. This ordinance does nothing for animals except to move them closer to extinction. Animal- rights fundraising businesses are long on allegations and short on empirical evidence. They have cried wolf a few times too many. The decision - to attend a circus or not - should be that of the people. Do not be influenced by a tiny minority who would bully the circus out of town. GARY PAYNE Circus Fans Association Hamden, Conn. Expecting consideration As I have been a loyal, longtime supporter of the Conservative party, I do not expect my name to appear on the " enemy" list, which accompanied the briefing notes which the new federal cabinet ministers received. Since my MP has received a cabinet appointment, in exchange for my support I expect to be given favourable consideration for the next round of Senate appointments. I anxiously await a phone call from Ottawa to confirm my appointment to this elite group of parliamentarians who represent the epitome of fiscal management. ELMER PAWLIUK Winnipeg Same failed philosophy Brenda Norquay's July 17 letter, Discourage teen pregnancy , expounds the same old failed philosophy: In a nutshell, make contraception more readily available as a means to terminate pregnancy. Children are a joy and a gift. Granted, their rearing requires work, and they can be a pain. Without children, we will be cultivating robots. The best time for a woman to have a child is when she is at her physical peak, in her late teens or early 20s. Women postpone pregnancy for their careers. This suits the corporations and government employers because it increases the pool of single workers. This is not to the advantage of women. Large corporations and governments have to redesign the workplace. Feminism missed the mark. Society cannot diverge from basic human biology. Teen pregnancy reflects this conceptual failure. ERNEST DIAS Winnipeg Cyclists have right to road David Osborne ( Letters, July 13) recounts how he shouted at a cyclist for riding on the street and not using the separated bike lane that winds up and down the curb for four blocks of Pembina Highway. Osborne's concern for safety is admirable, but in this case, the driver's education falls short. He should understand that the Highway Traffic Act of Manitoba gives cyclists the right to use the road and to travel at any speed below the posted limit. Everyone's safety will be improved by Winnipeg drivers accepting the rules of the road instead of finding imaginary faults in the cyclists. MICHAEL ZAJAC Winnipeg Time better spent I have had no issues with the recycling and garbage bins up until our last pickup. I found a message on the handle of our recycling bin that said we did not leave enough room between the bins. Maybe we didn't, but what I find so funny is that in the time the worker spent winding the wire around the handle several times with the message attached, he could have just moved the bin over instead and my recycling would have been taken. SANDRA DESAULTELS Winnipeg A record to top While past regional ministers have brought institutions and jobs to Manitoba, Vic Toews seems to have concentrated on getting rid of them. Under Toews' watchful eye: . The Winnipeg- based Canadian Wheat Board was abolished against the clear wishes of a majority of western Canadian farmers. . A majority of Parks Canada employees in Manitoba were fired or put on notice and its large collection of western Canadian artifacts were shipped from Winnipeg to the Ottawa area. . The National Research Council facility on Ellice Avenue was closed. . The Freshwater Research Institute in Fort Garry was greatly downsized. . The Experimental Lakes research facility in nearby Ontario was abruptly cancelled at a time when Lake Winnipeg was named the most endangered lake in the world. What will the next Conservative regional minister do for Manitoba? DANIEL STONE Winnipeg Spin doctor's orders Re: Attack of consultanitis ( Letters, July 17). For recurring infection, when taking " Citihalas," you may experience headaches, upset stomach, anger and thinning of the wallet. Side- effects may include extra fees. Do not drive when taking Citihalas. Avoid media and public interactions. If symptoms persist longer than four years, consult the electorate. DON WARKENTIN Winnipeg HAVE YOUR SAY: The Free Press welcomes letters from readers. Include the author's name, address and telephone number. Letters may be edited. Letters to the Editor, 1355 Mountain Avenue, Winnipeg, R2X 3B6. Fax 204- 697- 7412. Email letters@ freepress. mb. ca Letters represent the opinions of their writers and do not reflect the opinions of the Winnipeg Free Press or its staff. �� LETTER OF THE DAY In no other country in the civilized world would George Zimmerman have been allowed, or encouraged, to carry that 9- mm handgun while on a community- watch mission. This is really at the heart of what happened in Sanford, Fla. Trayvon Martin is dead, and while it is true that Zimmerman did not set out that night to kill him, he can't be allowed to just walk away. In a very real sense, Zimmerman is also a victim. America desperately needs to reframe the entire debate over gun control, and in so doing separate the issues of assault weapons, handguns and hunting rifles. Newtown, Aurora and Columbine are pretty much forgotten now, all blotted out by the constant drum roll from folks like the National Rifle Association and the American firearms industry. The Zimmerman- Martin case is the logical outcome of the paranoid fallacies and fantasies that underpin American gun culture, and the rocky road down which that country has chosen to go. ERIC DURHAM Winnipeg Gun culture is the problem A crowd protests gun violence in Orlando, Fla., last week. Schism weakens cause A CETYLENE, benzine, bombs, carbolic acid, chlorine, compressed oxygen, phosphorous, propane, sulphuric acid... The list of hazardous materials transported by rail and itemized in safe- shipping regulations in Canada and the United States runs into the thousands. Since the catastrophic runaway train disaster that killed 47 people in Lac- M�gantic two weeks ago, however, the focus has been on the danger of moving crude oil by rail. That's understandable, but not particularly useful. Crude oil is not especially corrosive or explosive compared to hundreds of far more hazardous materials moved by the millions of carloads annually in North America. And yet the safety record for hazardous- material shipments is 99.9977 per cent " arrivals without incident." It's not a perfect record and, as seen in Quebec, when something goes wrong, it can go tragically wrong. But a response to that calamity is not to be found in hand- wringing over the efficacy of transportation of crude oil by rail. The response, as the federal Transportation Safety Board signalled Friday, is to prevent a recurrence of the Lac- M�gantic events. The TSB called for the implementation of two measures: that trains carrying hazardous goods not be parked on main lines, and a standard be set for emergency brake use - either of which would have prevented the Quebec tragedy no matter what was being transported. That is a meaningful response. Meaningful response A_ 08_ Jul- 22- 13_ FP_ 01. indd A8 7/ 21/ 13 5: 53: 41 PM ;