Winnipeg Free Press

Winnipeg Free Press (Newspaper) - July 24, 2013, Winnipeg, Manitoba C M Y K PAGE A8 EDITORIALS WINNIPEG FREE PRESS, WEDNESDAY, JULY 24, 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 birth of a baby is always cause for rejoicing, but the arrival of a prince who will be king is a moment in history. The event was announced with a 62- gun salute and wild jubilation, not just in the Commonwealth, but around the world. There are monarchies in the world today that are older, richer and more powerful than Great Britain’s, but no other royal birth or event causes such a stir. It was almost as if he was the only baby born in the world. Even the Americans, who revolted against the Queen’s distant grandfather, George III, retain a special fondness for the British royal family. The birth of a healthy son to the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge ( William and Kate) represents the continuation of a 1,000- year tradition that may be filled with blood and guts, but also with justice, the growth of democracy and the rule of law. The royal couple’s son is a living link with that past and its ancient traditions and customs. His parents may be no prouder than any other father and mother with great hopes for their offspring, but the difference is that this week a king was born. The energetic response to his birth, and to the marriage of his parents two years earlier, is evidence the historic institution remains relevant to millions of people, particularly in the Commonwealth. At times such as these, it provides an iconic moment in which a people can at once revere and rejoice in those things that we share in common. May he live long and glorious. A shrewd victory Hotelier Michael Bruneau is to be congratulated for successfully concluding his negotiations with the provincial and federal governments of Manitoba and Canada, in which he was guaranteed significant financial compensation for costs incurred while accommodating flood evacuees at Gimli’s Misty Lake Lodge ( Misty Lake Lodge’s future clears up , July 22). More than 2,000 years ago, a high- ranking Chinese military strategist, Sun Tzu, developed a military treatise devoted to 13 aspects of war and designed to always ensure victory in battle. This treatise, The Art of War, is still used to this day by war- rooms and boardrooms alike. Chapter 6 in this treatise advises, “ Know your enemies’ weaknesses, know your own strengths.” Bruneau, possibly, has read The Art of War , since he employed Chapter 6 of this treatise in his negotiation strategy. By knowing his enemies’ weaknesses of excessive government hubris and the fear of embarrassing government officials on high, and by using his own strengths of media coverage and public sympathy for his cause, Bruneau only had to ask himself, “ Will my action ( of going public with his position) embarrass the government to my advantage?” and his battle was won. BARRY HADFIELD Winnipeg ¥ This sorry simple saga is the bureaucratic gong show of the year. It is hard to understand how any agency, responsible or otherwise, could allow hotel bills to accumulate to $ 2.6 million over two years. Assuming invoices were submitted on a regular bases, the paper trail would be enormous and difficult to ignore. Hopefully, the ongoing review into the Manitoba Association of Native Firefighters will identify the problem and rebuke the managers responsible. It is interesting to note MANFF is currently dealing with evacuees from the forest fires in the north. TERRY MEINDL Teulon Highlighting a contrast In her intelligent and insightful column Death rituals and the circus animal ( July 20), Melissa Martin highlights very well the vast contrast between the natural lives of free- living elephants and the disgusting conditions they are forced to endure in circuses. And she correctly notes that, while wild animal “ shows” became a sort of tradition in our society, we can and should consign them to the dustbin of history. We are better than this, and phasing animal cruelty out of our amusements is a positive step. KEITH LINDSAY Oxford, England Content ‘ once over lightly’ I wonder if Free Press editors notice the irony of publishing the July 20 column U. S. news networks are ‘ lost’ in the editorial pages while the new section 49.8 has become the in- depth news coverage part of the newspaper. At least that’s what I think it is supposed to be. I assume that the old Detour section was combined with the Feed Your Intellect section to produce a new, trendy, more relevant section. In my opinion this hybrid in the very kind of socalled news reporting that column writer Peter Dykstra is decrying. Instead of in- depth articles, we now have lots of pictures, big typefaces and once- overlightly content. Once again the strategy at the Free Press seems to be to reduce real content in favour of colour and flash, with the hopes these changes will somehow increase newspaper readership. Those of us who are looking for real news and more comprehensive reporting will now have to look elsewhere. BILL PURA Stonewall Polson labelled wrongly In the “ Homes sold” feature of the July 20 Homes Section, you again incorrectly label Polson Avenue as being in West Kildonan when it is in fact in the North End. Any expert who has lived on Mountain, Lansdowne, Cathedral and Scotia knows that after Polson comes Inkster, then Lansdowne, then Matheson, then McAdam, and then into West Kildonan. PHILLIP ROSEN Winnipeg Picture says it all I thought it quite appropriate that the July 20 headline Report shows anti- bullying bill needed appears below the picture of a steer having his neck wrenched by a cowboy at the Manitoba Stampede. I’ll say. DEBBIE WALL Winnipeg Check out your adviser Thank you for the informative article respecting hidden fees ( Know what your adviser earns? If not, you will soon enough , July 19). I assumed it was the roll of the dice whether or not a financial adviser has an ethical duty to disclose those hidden fees. I believe the same goes for whether an investor has taken the time to research the adviser and sponsoring firm. First, prior to investing in mutual funds through an adviser, I suggest the investor go to the Canadian Securities Administrators website and do a national registration search of their adviser and sponsoring firm to see if any red flags should be raised prior. A very important link on this website is the “ disciplinary history.” The Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada ( IIROC) also has a very informative search called an “ adviser report.” Second, let us not forget about an important document called a “ know your client” form. I suggest all who are ready to invest research rules and regulations for the industry with the Mutual Fund Dealers Association of Canada and IIROC. Perhaps it is time to take the investment industry one step further and have one federal regulatory body. LESLIE WORTHINGTON Winnipeg Leading to lewdness Re: Graphic play will continue at fringe ( July 22). What is the difference between this graphic display and pornography? Desensitization will only lead to more lewd displays. ERNEST DIAS 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 Re: Royal fans floating on heir ( July 23). Many people have a problem with the selective breeding of animals, because it’s just not the natural way to do things. So, in light of the new royal baby, is it not time to consider the cost to taxpayers in funding the selective breeding of humans to accommodate our need to grovel at the feet of our betters? WAYNE ASHLEY Winnipeg Breeding the royal heir Photographers congregate at St. Mary’s Hospital in London Tuesday. S EVERAL city councillors who voted to give buyers of new condos in the Exchange District $ 10,000 as a purchase incentive now claim they weren’t clear what they were supporting and they want to reconsider the matter. In fact, the question before them was crystal clear, but what they did not anticipate was the public backlash against the idea of handing out cash to people for purchasing condominiums with a value of less than $ 400,000. Actually, that figure wasn’t even in the report they approved. Nor was other critical information on the number of condo units that are awaiting sale. The goal of the program, for example, was to sell half of 460 units, even though only 166 are actually built. The rest are in the process of being built, or still in the planning stages, awaiting enough sales before developers begin construction. Coun. Scott Fielding said he changed his mind after constituents asked him why someone should get a $ 10,000 subsidy “ if they don’t.” Mr. Fielding should have figured out an answer to that question long before he endorsed the plan. Coun. Jenny Gerbasi said she didn’t know funding for the program would come from new taxes generated by downtown development, rather than new taxes generated by growth in the Exchange District. The report she approved, however, clearly states the money would come from tax revenue raised across the downtown. Councillors didn’t need a seminar to figure this out, but they needed to ask questions before the motion arrived at council last week. Maybe it was the º heat wave that caused their disinterest and lackadaisical approach, but whatever it was, it’s hardly an endorsement of the idea that well- paid, full- time councillors are better equipped to focus on civic problems than the part- time representatives they replaced in 1992. The program would not have become law until council’s next meeting in September, but the current uncertainty means no one is likely to make a purchase or begin new construction until councillors figure out which way the parade is marching so they can get out and appear to lead it. What started out as a plan to stimulate downtown revitalization, in other words, has merely slowed it down because some councillors were asleep at the wheel on a controversial initiative. Condo redux New prince is a king in waiting A_ 08_ Jul- 24- 13_ FP_ 01. indd A8 7/ 23/ 13 6: 54: 05 PM ;