Winnipeg Free Press

Winnipeg Free Press (Newspaper) - September 11, 2025, Winnipeg, Manitoba THINK TANK COMMENT EDITOR: RUSSELL WANGERSKY 204-697-7269 ● RUSSELL.WANGERSKY@WINNIPEGFREEPRESS.COM A7 THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 11, 2025 Ideas, Issues, Insights Why Winnipeg needs low-fare transit P ICTURE a single mother choosing between groceries and bus fare, or a youth not being able to access recreational activities because transit is too expensive. In a city where costs continue to rise, access to public transit shouldn’t be a luxury, but a daily necessity for survival. Winnipeg must adopt low-cost fares for adults and fare-free transit for youth — to boost equity, ridership and resilience in the face of economic and climate-related challenges. Winnipeg Transit adult fares jumped from $2.35 in 2010 to $3.35 in 2025, with 35 per cent of that hike since 2020. Youth and senior cash fares are currently $2.85. Annual increases will push adult fares to $3.55 by 2027, surpassing Toronto fares. Those hit hardest — inner-city residents, youth, BIPOC and women — rely on transit most and face the steepest financial barriers. This fare policy isn’t just unsustainable — it’s unjust. Years of government underinvestment — es- pecially the cancellation of the 50/50 funding deal by the former Progressive Conservative government in 2016 — sent Winnipeg Transit into decline. By spring 2020, ridership had plummeted 70 per cent, according to the 2022 Winnipeg Alter- native Budget. The system is struggling, and it’s time to take a step back. Winnipeg has the highest Indigenous popula- tion among Canadian cities — one in five in the inner city. Rising fares slash purchasing power, limit access to work and make essentials like food, shelter and health care even more compli- cated to reach. For communities already facing systemic inequality and economic colonialism, fare increases aren’t just inconvenient — they’re devastating. The WINNpass program offers 50 per cent off bus fares, but upfront costs, Peggo card issues and red tape creates challenges for many low-in- come residents. Fare disputes are driving up confrontations between passengers and drivers, with most secu- rity incidents tied to fare evasion. Rising tensions mean greater safety risks. Lowering adult fares and offering free transit to kids and seniors can ease conflict, restore trust, and make Winnipeg Transit safer for all. With 82 per cent of commuters driving and just 11.4 per cent using public transit, car depen- dency is choking our city — and our planet. In 2022, Winnipeg pumped out 4.76 million tonnes of carbon, nearly half from transportation alone. If we’re serious about hitting net-zero by 2050, we need bold moves. Slashing adult bus fares and making transit free for youth isn’t just smart policy — it’s the spark that could boost ridership, curb emissions and unlock better service for everyone. Kansas City’s zero-fare program (2020–2025) increased ridership by 31 per cent and cut car- bon emissions by 7,000 tons annually. But when COVID funding dried up, so did the program — proof that lasting change needs lasting invest- ment. As cities grapple with climate goals and equity gaps, leaders like NYC mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani are pushing for fare-free transit. The question isn’t whether it works — it’s whether we’re willing to fund it. Winnipeg should lead, not lag. Calgary offers free C-Train rides in select zones. Victoria gives youth aged 13-18 free passes, and kids under 12 ride free across British Columbia. Winnipeg? Children under 11 ride free with an accompa- nying parent. It’s a start, but we can aim higher. Let’s make transit truly accessible — for every- one. Critics say low-cost transit is too expensive — but the real cost is chronic underfunding. When the province walked away from the 50/50 transit funding deal with Winnipeg, it left the city short- changed. Reinstating that partnership, alongside innovative revenue tools — yes even just modest increases to property taxes or a small provincial transit sales tax, similar to Minnesota — can fund zero-to-low fare transit and improve service. It’s not just possible, it’s necessary. Affordable transit isn’t just about getting from A to B — it’s about building community. It con- nects people to events, volunteering and each oth- er. Winnipeg city council must rethink fare policy and cut the red tape. Start bold: cap adult fares at $1.50 to $2 on evenings and weekends, make it free for anyone under 18, and fund it through provincial support and new revenue streams. Run a six-month pilot, then make it permanent during all hours of service. Public pressure works. Contact your councillor, back ATU 1505 and its operators, and team up with community and environmental groups fight- ing for better transit. Let’s build a system that works for everyone. As Dan Hendry from Get on The Bus said on a February 2024 edition of Not Necessarily the Automobile, public transit is a public asset — for everyone. In a time of rising costs, financial access to Winnipeg Transit is essential. Zero or low fares aren’t just moral — they’re innovative, practical and urgently needed. As Winnipeg nears one million people and faces economic and climate pressures, low-to-zero transit fares aren’t just practical — increased public transit invest- ments, while lowering bus fares, can connect us all as a city. Adam Johnston is the host of Not Necessarily The Automobile on 101.5 UMFM every Thursday at 11:30 a.m. to 12 p.m., focused on public and active transportation. He can be reached at notnecessar- ilytheautomobile@gmail.com. Beyond virtue: A blueprint for Canadian renewal “WESTERN democracies are losing not just wars, but the ability to define victory,” warn U.S. economist Paul Krugman and military historian Phillips O’Brien during a discussion posted Aug. 23 to O’Brien’s Substack. Their insight should jolt Canadian policymakers awake: modern conflict is a contest of systems, not just soldiers. And Canada, drifting strategi- cally, risks irrelevance — or worse, complicity in its own decline. We speak the language of virtue — human rights, climate justice, multilateral diplomacy — but too often, it’s just that: language. Behind the rhetoric lies a troubling reality. Our defence spending lags. Arctic sovereignty is vulnerable. Digital infrastructure is tethered to foreign systems, leaving national security exposed to decisions made in Washington — or worse, by private billionaires. O’Brien’s warning about Ukraine’s reliance on Starlink and U.S. intelligence isn’t just a caution- ary tale — it’s a mirror. And while we hesitate to confront authoritarian regimes abroad, we also fail to confront creeping authoritarianism at home. Let’s be blunt: our neighbour to the south is no longer a stable democratic partner. The erosion of norms, politicized courts and normalized disinfor- mation have transformed the United States into a cautionary tale. If Canada wants to remain a functioning de- mocracy, we must stop treating American decline as a temporary fever. It’s a structural shift — and we must respond accordingly. To move beyond slogans, Canada must invest in capabilities that make values actionable. That means establishing a Canadian “cyber command” to defend against surveillance and sabotage; expanding Arctic infrastructure with Indigenous-led governance, icebreaker fleets and satellite surveillance; launching a strategic technologies fund to support Canadian innovation in AI, quantum computing and clean energy; and supercharging public R&D to lead in the technolo- gies that will define the next century. These aren’t luxuries. They’re the price of autonomy in a contested world. Canada once built a railway to unite a vast and diverse land. It’s time to do it again — electri- fied, sustainable and visionary. A pan-Canadian high-speed rail network would connect regions, slash emissions, reduce reliance on air travel and symbolize a renewed commitment to national cohesion and climate leadership. This isn’t just infrastructure — it’s imagination made real. Restricting immigration is not just morally questionable — it’s strategically foolish. Immi- grants bring talent, entrepreneurship, cultural richness and global networks. Canada’s future depends on welcoming those who choose to build it with us. We’ve charted our own course before. We re- fused to join the Iraq War in 2003. We pioneered peacekeeping under Lester B. Pearson. We embraced multiculturalism in the 1970s. These weren’t accidents — they were strategic, val- ues-driven choices. It’s time to choose again. According to the 2025 Freedom in the World report, Canada ranks fifth globally in democratic strength, earning a score of 97 out of 100 — among the highest in the world. But democracy isn’t a trophy to be displayed. It’s a practice to be renewed, challenged and defended every day. To strengthen it, we must combat disinforma- tion through media literacy and platform account- ability. Reform electoral systems to reduce polar- ization. Invest in civic education. Protect press freedom and independent journalism. Democracy isn’t just about institutions — it’s about people who believe they matter. Canada doesn’t need to mimic Washington to lead. It can champion climate diplomacy, support democratic resilience in the Global South and forge alliances with fellow middle powers like Germany, Japan and Australia to shape a coalition of democratic middle powers. Prime Minister Mark Carney is already advancing this vision — his recent visits to Poland, Ukraine, Germany and Latvia signal a renewed commitment to strategic partnerships, democratic solidarity and global leadership. Leadership isn’t about size — it’s about clarity of purpose. Manitoba is uniquely positioned to contribute. Its aerospace sector, Indigenous leadership in Arctic governance and central geography make it vital to Canada’s strategic future. Winnipeg, as a hub of innovation and multiculturalism, can model the inclusive, forward-looking Canada we must build. The now mostly empty National Research Council buildings on Ellice Avenue should be re- purposed into functioning scientific laboratories for cutting-edge research. These could include advanced manufacturing, artificial intelligence, robotics, sustainable food packaging and medical device development — fields where Canada can lead and where Manitoba’s talent and infrastruc- ture already offer a strong foundation. The redevelopment of the Port of Churchill — backed by Carney and Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew — is a powerful example of national re- newal. As the only deepwater Arctic port in North America accessible by rail, Churchill is poised to become a cornerstone of Canada’s sovereignty, trade diversification and climate strategy. Canada’s strategic drift is not inevitable. But reversing it demands courage, clarity and commitment. Let’s stop mistaking proximity for alignment and comfort for security. The world is changing. Canada must choose: lead with purpose — or be led by others. It’s encouraging that Carney’s Liberal govern- ment is moving forward with bold, co-operative initiatives. Let’s continue in that direction — with ambition, independence and purpose. Martin Zeilig is a Winnipeg-based journalist and writer. The Argentinization of the world A FEW days ago, Argentine businessman Eduardo Elsztain (a key figure in Argentine business circles in the 1990s) told a business audience that the world is “Argentinizing.” He wasn’t talking about tango or soccer or steaks. He was referring to currency — or more precisely, the destruction of it. Holding up an 1881 Argentine gold coin, once a sym- bol of stability, he reminded listeners that Argentina has since erased 13 zeros from its currency. “We’re the world champions of printing,” he said, “but now, others are catching up.” A century ago, Argentina wasn’t a cau- tionary tale. It was a rival to Canada. In 1913, Argentina’s GDP per capita ranked among the world’s top 10, ahead of France and Italy and close to Canada’s. Both were resource-rich, immigrant-driven economies supplying the world with food, timber and minerals. Buenos Aires was the “Paris of South America.” The two countries looked like peers on a shared path to prosperity. Then came the split. After the Second World War, Canada doubled down on stabil- ity, embedding itself in NATO, the Bretton Woods system and a rules-based global order. Its central bank earned credibility, its welfare state grew responsibly and its banks remained cautious. Argentina chose another route. Perón’s populism promised redistri- bution, nationalization and easy money. The printing press became the government’s crutch. Inflation, debt crises and currency collapses followed. Elsztain’s warning stings because the world now looks more like Argentina. Since 2008, advanced economies have embraced massive monetary expansion. The pandemic erased the line between fiscal and mone- tary policy. Debt exploded. Inflation, long thought dead, returned. What once seemed an Argentine peculiarity — financing defi- cits with freshly printed money — is now global orthodoxy. In Argentina, people spend pesos quickly and hoard U.S. dollars. Juan Carlos de Pablo, an Argentine economist, has what he calls “the Noah’s Ark theory.” He says that for Ar- gentines, the U.S. dollar is like Noah’s Ark. Whenever there’s a storm — meaning politi- cal or economic instability, inflation or fear of crisis — people rush to the ark (the U.S. dollar) to protect their savings and survive. When the waters are calm, some may step off the ark and use pesos for transactions, investments or consumption. But deep down, everyone knows that the ark (the U.S. dollar) will always be there as the ultimate refuge. Over time, the local currency becomes a mere transactional token while real savings flee to perceived harder assets. That same dynamic, once confined to Argentina, now echoes globally as investors rush into gold and even cryptocurrencies to protect them- selves from governments that debase their currencies. History shows the political dangers, too. Hyperinflation doesn’t just wipe out savings; it destroys faith in democracy. The Wei- mar Republic of the 1920s is the starkest example. As wheelbarrows of banknotes lost value by the hour, ordinary Germans lost confidence not only in money but in the insti- tutions meant to safeguard it. According to many historians, out of that despair rose Adolf Hitler, who rode the anger of ruined citizens and the instability of collapsing currency into power, first with a coalition of extremists and ultimately as dictator. The real danger isn’t only the mon- ey printing. It’s the erosion of central bank independence. Argentina lost that decades ago. Now, the United States flirts with the same mistake. Donald Trump’s repeated attacks on the Federal Reserve — demanding lower rates, threatening to replace its leadership, hinting he would bend monetary policy to political ends — are straight from the Argentine playbook. Once the guardians of money become servants of politics, credibility unravels quickly. The lesson is clear. When trust in money erodes, it doesn’t return easily. Argentina’s peso once carried the weight of gold; today, no Argentine saves in pesos. That credibility gap is the true cost of “Argentinization.” Canada should pay careful attention to this most of all. A century ago, it mirrored Argentina’s promise. Today, it toys with deficits as permanent policy, carries one of the highest household debt burdens in the developed world, and risks sliding down the same slope. The “Argentinization of the world” is not a destiny. It’s a warning shot. Nations can still choose stability over populism. But history’s message is unforgiving: once politicians bully their central banks, ignore Gresham’s Law and allow inflation to spiral, the cost is not only economic collapse, it can also be political and societal catastrophe. Martin Wayngarten is a chartered financial analyst establish- ing proud new(er) Manitoban roots. MIKAELA MACKENZIE / FREE PRESS Setting low or zero fares on Winnipeg Transit is a matter of fairness and equity. ADAM JOHNSTON MARTIN ZEILIG MARTIN WAYNGARTEN ;