Kudos to those who took the time to protest human rights abuse at the legislature last week. What seems most bizarre about the entire affair is that while I applaud the rights of pro-China demonstrators to counter the affair, where in modern-day China would anyone be permitted to protest its government policies in the first place? Those who claim that democracy and human rights do indeed factor into Chinese life ought to consider the obvious.
Dan Donahue
Winnipeg
More money not enough
Re: Investing in lives, May 8.
I want to begin by agreeing with aboriginal leaders that say the 20-year-old funding formula used by INAC's child and family services program needs to be updated. Our government believes that prevention-focused changes are required because the program was neglected by the previous Liberal regime for 13 years. Funding has increased dramatically thanks to our government. Investments under the Liberals stood at $193 million in 1996-97, while in 2006-07 our government committed $450 million. And the 2008 budget has committed an additional $43 million over two years to continue to improve child and family services on reserve.
However, more money alone won't fix this problem. Real changes are needed to improve the system. In fact, steps are already being taken that will address many of the auditor general's recommendations. We are working with ready and willing provinces and First Nations partners who are committed to implementing changes in child and family services on reserve to help build healthier, stronger First Nations communities. We have a tripartite partnership with Alberta and other provinces are looking at this model as a template to build from.
My department is moving towards a targeted funding approach which is based on provincial legislation and standards. Agencies providing services will develop business plans based on community needs and priorities, with the goal of decreasing the number of children taken into care. This means agencies will have more flexibility to deliver improved services.
Our government is committed to making the necessary changes to this vital program by working closely with the provinces and First Nations communities. We will ensure that improved programs and services are delivered for First Nations children.
Chuck Strahl
Minister of Indian Affairs
Ottawa
We applaud Dan Lett
Re: We parted with our locks as a symbol of hope, May 6.
We applaud Dan Lett, one of the Free Press's "Hairless Twelve," for commending CancerCare Manitoba on its bold adoption of a provincewide electronic patient record. Whether a cancer patient is treated at a teaching hospital in Winnipeg, in one of its four community hospitals, or in any of the 16 hospitals in rural Manitoba that provide chemotherapy, the electronic patient chart is at the fingertips of the health care team -- doctors, nurses, pharmacists and others -- to ensure that the same critical information is available to all. No other province has anything like it.
Electronic charts are a powerful tool in preventing the poor communication that Lett so eloquently describes in his mother's care. CancerCare Manitoba has gone one step further by making the same electronic chart available to family physicians in more than 20 clinics around the province. This is another Canadian first.
Helping ensure good information flow between health professionals really is a better way to fight cancer and Manitoba is leading the way.
Dr. Jeff Sisler
Director, Primary Care Oncology
Mark Kuchnicki
Director, Health Information Services
CancerCare Manitoba
Teachers' society responds
Re: Retired teachers suffer, May 3.
The letter from Kai Arnot contains so many factual errors regarding teacher pensions and the Sale Report that it must receive a response.
First, the Manitoba Teachers' Society will not be holding a plebiscite on teachers' pensions. MTS requested the plebiscite be held at a meeting of the Teachers' Pension Task Force -- a group that includes representatives from government and the Retired Teachers' Association of Manitoba. The cost of the plebiscite is not being paid by active or retired teachers.
Second, teachers in Manitoba were never promised a cost-of-living increase in their pensions. Many retired teachers believe that they were given a guarantee. This is an unfortunate, though widely held, misconception.
Third, the Sale Report does not put a 10-year moratorium on future changes. The report suggests that there be further discussions in five years to review the status of the plan.
In addition, active teachers, the ones who pay dues to the MTS, have already seen a large increase in their pension contributions. Contributions were raised at the request of MTS by 18 per cent in September of 2005 and the MTS has asked for a further increase of about the same amount. Active teachers are paying a lot more than retired teachers did -- for the same pension benefit.
It is unfortunate that steps were not taken 20 years ago to rectify the situation we face today. Unfortunately our plan, like most plans everywhere in the world, is now facing a demographic crunch. Like most compromises that reasonable people make, the Sale Report will not give everyone everything they want. It will, however, at least begin to address a situation that has long needed addressing. It will also double the COLA available for this year alone. That can't be a bad thing.
Pat Isaak
President
Manitoba Teachers' Society
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