1 week Ago By Winnipeg Free Press
Happy to pay Read this article for free: Already have an account? To continue reading, please subscribe: * Happy to pay Read unlimited articles for free today: Already have an account? Opinion Happy to pay Re: (Dec. 12) I’m a millennial mom in my 30s, raising a young family with my husband in the west end. We own our home and pay property taxes.
Like others, we’ve noticed that things feel more expensive than they used to! But even more than that, services can feel like a competition to access. Buses with standing room only. Boulevard trees taking 10 years to replace.
Swimming and skating lessons requiring a perfect internet connection and lightning-fast trigger finger to sign up for ...
and never mind if you work at 8 a.m. or have multiple kids! So all that said, I jumped for joy when I saw the record high proposed property tax increase (and the increased water and waste levy, which will help inch us closer to composting).
Yes, my family will be paying probably another $100-plus a year. But this is an investment I’m desperate to make in this adopted city of mine I love. For myself and for my kids, I want us to have a beautiful city we can all enjoy and be proud of.
That costs money, and I, for one, welcome the chance to pay it. Teresa Prokopanko Winnipeg Sending a bill Re: (Dec. 12) I have a contentious issue pertaining to our forthcoming property tax increasing and the increases of several of the Winnipeg city services yet to come.
I understand in Winnipeg, the city usually owns the boulevard, sidewalk and a few feet of the front lawn in front of a house. The front property line is typically 5.25 metres (about 17 feet) from the curb.
The city owns the first 5.25 metres from the curb, but the homeowner is responsible for landscaping and maintaining it. This is nice, but I think it is time that all homeowners submit an invoice to the City of Winnipeg for maintaining the 17 feet of lawn in front of our homes.
Sure, the city says we are responsible for this chore but why? It is their property, but we pay the property tax and we maintain it. Something is wrong with this equation. Imagine if all homeowners submitted invoices for lawn maintenance of the 17 feet of property up from the curb.
That would include gas and oil for the lawnmower, string for the grass trimmer and overall tear and wear on the equipment used. Food for thought, Mr. Mayor.
Dan Herzog Winnipeg Factoring in the CRA I am surprised at this point that no one to my knowledge has expressed the far reaching implications regarding the current postal strike. The impact that the strike will have on April 30, 2025! For as we know, the Canada Revenue Agency must be fed. Every year, come February and March, people come to expect their T-3 statements, not to mention T4, T5, dividend and sundry to faithfully arrive by mail so that the joys of the annual income tax owed can be prepared by happy accountants.
Imagine the logistics of banks, investment and trust companies emailing their clients all of the various statements and whatnot to clients who can then either print them, or else redirect them to tax preparers. As one often reads on so many road signs in summer in Winnipeg — expect delays! This does not even begin to take into account many people who do not have access to email. How will CRA cope? Don’t be surprised when CRA lobbies the government to legislate Canada Post back to work.
The day cannot be far off. David Cohen Winnipeg What about them joining us? Re: (Dec. 10) Regarding the poll on how many Canadians want to join the U.
S.: how many Americans wish to join Canada? Maybe Canada could absorb the states that are north of Windsor, Ont.’s, latitude as new provinces.
This would give Canada a large population for economic growth but not the weather and economic issues of the southern states. As a response to the comments about Canada being the 51st state, the president-elect, convict-in-chief Donald Trump, shouldn’t be taken serious about this issue. Bob Robinson Winnipeg Supporting officers Re: (Nov.
18); (Editorial, Nov. 21) I want to address concerns about the Winnipeg Police Service’s pursuit of a second armoured vehicle. While keeping a close eye on public spending is healthy, it’s important to understand the realities our officers face and how public safety challenges are changing.
Firearm-related incidents are on the rise. WPS superintendent Brian Miln has shared that officers face weekly situations where extra protection is essential. This isn’t an abstract statistic; it’s about real lives on the line.
Firearms, while less common than knives or bear spray, pose a far greater risk to public and officer safety. Dismissing an armoured vehicle as a “shiny new toy” misses the point of the protection it provides. Some may argue that the current vehicle’s limited use shows a lack of necessity.
But even in those 34 firearm-related cases, how much risk was avoided, and how many lives might have been saved? Officers need this protection — it’s a daily reality for them, not a luxury. The civilian-style design of the new vehicle also shows an effort to address concerns about militarization while maintaining safety. Plus, it’s funded by the province’s criminal property forfeiture program, so it doesn’t detract from other resources, like social programs.
Public safety is the foundation for tackling bigger issues like homelessness and addiction. If our communities aren’t safe, solving these problems becomes even harder. Supporting officer safety supports keeping everyone safe.
Let’s keep these priorities in mind as we debate the best ways forward. Marc Robichaud Winnipeg Trusting Canada’s leaders I find the manner in which the president-elect of the United States speaks about Canada as a nation and, by extension, me as a Canadian citizen despicable and almost unworthy of a response. Tragically, the madness which has resulted in this man’s election cannot be ignored.
The blatant and extreme dishonesty and disrespect that is his way of being, the vindictiveness and disregard for rule of law makes dealing with this person as political leader of our neighbouring country a significant challenge. Of course, our prime minister, his ministers, diplomats, provincial leaders, civil servants at all levels and members of business communities and others have been and will continue to be attempting respectful diplomacy and various strategies for grappling with this dangerous man and his supporters. Dialogue past and present, with other politicians, business leaders and others in the U.
S. is on, and may very well be the most effective approach. There is hope born from long-standing positive relations.
Nevertheless, working directly with the incoming president and what is appearing to be an equally questionable assortment of characters is unavoidable and necessary. Dealing with bullies requires standing up to them and standing up boldly with confidence and resolve. Provocation, no.
Steadfastness, clarity of communication and determination, yes. If this means financial or other forms of sacrifice, I am willing to do my part. Democracy and self respect come with a price and this may be a time when we as Canadians need to support our political and business leaders in ways beyond that to which we are accustomed.
I, in no way, wish to defer to a bully and a madman ...
and I do not wish that for the country I call home. I will put my trust, with vigilance, in those of our Canadian leaders who are willing to work together for Canada. I will also have some faith that good relations with our southern neighbours and friends will, in the end, result in moderation and good sense.
Garrett Loeppky Winnipeg Advertisement Advertisement.
