Have your say

Currying favour

As a Free Press subscriber, I have always made a point of reading staff columnist Dan Lett, as I have found his articles interesting and insightful. Why? Because they have a common underlying theme.

In all the years of Lett writing his opinion pieces, I can't recall one where he was critical of the premier of the day, whether that was Gary Doer or now Greg Selinger. Not one article. Are these two men saints who can do no wrong, or is there another goal afoot? After all, Lett is the in-house Free Press provincial legislature expert.

To be fair, Lett never praises the premier of the day, either. Instead, he ingratiates himself with the premier by two means: first, by attacking and criticizing the premier's opponents; and, second, by criticizing and attacking the premier's opponents. Through this method he curries favour, as he did by attacking yours truly in his May 8 column, Respect for political process a matter of time.

For on that same May 8, Lett was entertaining Premier Selinger at a well-advertised breakfast gathering at the Free Press News Café, a business enterprise of which Lett is part owner. What better way to prove your loyalty to the premier and ensure ongoing access to the government spoon-fed information system and premier-controlled cabinet communications office than to attack someone that Selinger and his staff despise.

After all, a little city councillor is expendable in the cause of securing ongoing access to the man whose massive government now controls, directly or indirectly, the daily lives of so many Manitobans, including Lett himself.

It's good to see that Lett has not forgotten the importance of independent and objective journalism. That is, assuming he actually believes what he writes.

COUN. RUSS WYATT

Winnipeg

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I normally enjoy Dan Lett's column but I take umbrage with his one about Coun. Russ Wyatt.

Everybody in the city already knows that Wyatt is being hypocritical. Lett didn't have to waste time, energy and paper writing about it.

JOHN ALKSNIS

Winnipeg

Lawless on the money

Re: King Richards the Lion Heart (May 8). Gary Lawless's column about the trade of Mike Richards to Los Angeles was right on the money.

What were they thinking? It's been said that the large majority of Philly fans at games wore Richards' or Carter's name on their jerseys. We here in Kenora were stunned by the trade but are thrilled to watch our local hero play yet another round toward the Stanley Cup.

Bad move, Philly. Go, L.A.!

LINDA DELAMERE

Kenora, Ont.

End the anonymity

Re: Animus toward Jews (Letters, May 8). The solution to Michael Melanson's angst over an online poster's remarks is simple -- require anyone leaving a comment to identify themselves by name, so demonstrating the courage of their convictions. Why not?

All too often I have found myself targeted by anti-Ukrainians and various other bigots, bullies and malcontents, hiding behind pseudonyms and silly names. There's no justification for allowing this, assuming people want to engage in a genuine dialogue rather than just spew.

LUBOMYR LUCIUK

Kingston, Ont.

Heartbreaking switch

Re: Ukrainian boss takes wrong road (May 7). This Economist article contends that Ukraine is moving in a direction away from being an independent state toward being a puppet regime of Russia. I am heartbroken to see such a switch after 20 years of political and economic growth toward independence and prosperity.

I see that President Victor Yanukovych has no vision for Ukraine to move forward, to have ties with the West or to become self-sufficient. The European Union is willing to accept Ukraine as a member, to assist in the development of its economy and to recognize Ukraine as a state moving towards self-governance. The present barrier within Ukraine is the close relationship with former Soviet republics that are very pro-Russian supporters.

It is about time to kick that soccer ball in the right direction with European partners like Poland, away from the Putins of Russia and Lukashenkovs of Belarus. The European Union will skilfully turn Ukraine around and save many goals being scored against it. Hopefully the UEFA European Football Championship Tournament, which is scheduled to take place in Ukraine next month, will set the stage for that kickoff so that Ukraine becomes part of the European Union.

PETER J. MANASTYRSKY

Winnipeg

Advertising a waste

Re: Whistle blown on free tickets (May 8). This issue, not unique to Manitoba politics, happens far too often at all levels of government. Ministers Steve Ashton, Gord Mackintosh and Andrew Swan are all well-paid cabinet ministers, with extraordinary pension benefits.

They accepted free tickets to Jets games and only agreed to pony up after they were caught (shades of federal minister Bev Oda).

These tickets came from the Manitoba Liquor Control Commission (MLCC), a Crown corporation that pays $250,000 a year to advertise inside the MTS Centre. This raises a question: Why does the MLCC need to spend public money advertising products it has majority control over with little competition from private stores?

Their 2011 annual report lists $841,000 in advertising and communication expenditures. Considering the fiscal state of Manitoba, this money could be better spent on servicing the debt or other programs.

TERRY MEINDL

Teulon

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The additional issue here is why the Manitoba Liquor Control Commission (or any other Crown corporation) is spending $250,000 on advertising.

What are they advertising? That their prices are lower than the competitor? Oh wait, they have a monopoly; there is no competitor!

It's bad enough that the province is a liquor retailer. Do they also have to throw money away on advertising that serves no purpose?

RENE VINCENT

Winnipeg

Banning the tanning

Re: Fake and bake no more for teens: MP pushes for tanning bed age limits (Online, May 8). The Canadian Skin Cancer Foundation fully supports MP James Bezan's private member's bill to ban the use of tanning beds and booths for Canadians under the age of 18.

Research has demonstrated that those using a tanning bed before the age of 30 have a 75 per cent greater risk of contracting melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer. It just isn't worth it.

We would also like to remind people, with summer upon us, to play safe in the sun: Avoid the sun between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. or when the UV index is 3 or higher; wear long sleeves and pants, hats and sunglasses; and use a sunscreen of SPF 30 or higher whenever you are in the sun.

LEONA YEZ

Canadian Skin Cancer Foundation

Edmonton

Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition May 10, 2012 A13