Letters, Aug. 16

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This article was published 16/08/2023 (1122 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Room for joy

Re: Bring back political joy (Think Tank, Aug. 15)

John Wiens must have been the best teacher ever and as this article demonstrates, he still is.

Yes! Politics can, and must, be sources of real accomplishment and joy! Politics is noble work. People who choose to stand for political office are heroes. This is how politics in a democracy is meant to be.

Which is why it is so vitally important that we change the way our elections are run. Canada is one of the ever-shrinking group of democratic countries in the world that still uses the “first past the post” voting — a winner-take-all system which serves to disenfranchise citizens and is possibly the biggest reason politics in Canada is riddled with angst and deceit and anger rather than joy and productive problem solving.

A citizen-based organization called Fair Vote Canada has been working to bring about electoral reform in Canada and is currently recruiting people — us — to help our politicians move Canada to a better way.

I encourage everyone to get involved. In September, parliamentarians will vote on a motion to refer the task of choosing a better process to a National Citizens Assembly on Electoral Reform.

We can and I believe, must inform and encourage and support our Member of Parliament to vote to pass Motion M-86 in September.

Google fairvote.ca or email anita.nickerson@fairvote.ca for more information about how citizens can rescue our democracy from its present dysfunction and bring joy into how we govern ourselves.

Bill Martin

Gimli

 

Time for recall law

Re: Letters to the editor, Aug. 15

Today’s ‘Letters’ demonstrate a serious problem in our city/province. While citizens are polite, thoughtful, and articulate, the first letter, from Brian Dyck — ‘Premier needs climate reminder’ — politely asks for rational, intelligent attitudes and responses from our premier/government. The letter from Lori Tighe — ‘City must do better’ — again seems to expect a rational intelligent (possibly caring) response from civic government. The last letter — ‘Whose rights matter?’ — from Irwin Corobow, asks for fair and rational administration of city noise bylaws.

Unfortunately our so-called democratic system is failing to provide accountability by politicians.

Having been elected in campaigns that more resemble ad campaigns that rely on unsubstantiated and vacuous declarations that have little factual basis — high school student elections often discuss more factual and meaningful issues — and despite their lack of qualifications and lack of connection to the realities of the citizenry, our elected “representatives” hide behind bureaucracy and, as a last resort, cite privacy laws as a way of avoiding any meaningful interaction with electors.

So I ask: Why would those writers — and so many more citizens — continue to address politicians with polite, well-thought-out ideas and suggestions when there is so little evidence those politicians are listening?

What Manitoba and Winnipeg need is recall legislation that threatens politicians with loss of their jobs when they fail vast numbers of citizens. It is indisputable that Stefanson, and Pallister before her, would have lost their jobs on their abysmal records in health care, if not many other issues.

Time to treat politicians, both provincial and civic, with the degree of respect they treat the electorate.

One more question: have any of the so-called leaders of the opposition even thought of suggesting recall legislation? Thought not!

Shane Nestruck

Winnipeg

 

Call a spade a spade

Regarding all the articles on the closure of Manitoba liquor marts — why are we calling this a “labour dispute”?

By labelling a strike a “labour dispute” there is an implicit blame attached to the workers. But aren’t they just acting within their legal rights to improve incomes and working conditions? A strike is always a last resort for workers who know they may not recoup the lost income from being on the picket line.

We might as well call it a “management dispute.” After all, usually management holds most of the cards in this game of brinkmanship. As we have seen over and over in Manitoba, managers continue to get raises even when workers’ salaries are frozen for months or years.

Managers don’t lose their incomes during a strike. And they know they can usually outlast workers who have bills to pay and mouths to feed.

If we want to be neutral about a strike, why not call it a contract dispute? After all, isn’t that what the fight is all about?

Rachel Morgan

Winnipeg

 

Fewer funnies

One of the more enjoyable aspects of reading the morning paper for me has been the comics page.

However, it seems that the Free Press has discontinued many of its staples. Please bring them back.

Garry Hindle

Winnipeg

 

Show premier business’ woes

As I read daily how the MLL strike is affecting the business of private brewers, venues and anyone who relies on the sale of liquor to function normally, I have only one suggestion. Take this to the governing PC’s and lobby for a fair wage for the striking workers.

The wage increase that the MGEU is asking for is very reasonable as it is exactly what the premier and her ministers got as well — the only difference is that base salary plays a big role in a percentage increase.

Funny, as a taxpayer I don’t recall anyone asking for my opinion on how much of a raise we should give to this disastrous, failing, and as a last-ditch effort, free-spending-to-buy-your-vote government.

Mike Kraynyk

East St. Paul

 

Striking staff deserve better

Re: Manitoba minister attacks NDP and union in video about liquor stores strike

When you go to a liquor store in Winnipeg, unlike any other city in Canada, you are held in an anteroom after being “buzzed in” by an employee who requests a piece of government-issued photo ID that is scanned to determine if you will be allowed enter to the store. These security measures were put in place after regular and brazen liquor thefts escalated to the point where shoplifters became increasingly violent towards liquor store staff, ultimately resulting in a severe injury to a helpless employee.

With this knowledge, the current government still thinks it would be a good idea to expand liquor sales to “grocery stores, your local corner store,” which are already experiencing unprecedented levels of shoplifting. The same local corner store where an employee risks being gunned down with a shotgun for trying to stop a shoplifter from stealing a soft drink. Corner store access to liquor may work in other jurisdictions, but given the unique demographics of Winnipeg, and based on very recent history, it would undoubtedly fail here.

There are much better ways to invest in Winnipeg’s future, which should start by building up those who are downtrodden so that they can contribute to, rather than extract from, the limited financial resources of the city.

The Manitoba Liquor Marts, with their now streamlined entry process, provide a safe and friendly environment with excellent service, and its employees deserve a fair working wage. This is more than warranted when individuals in high positions, with so much money they “forget” about millions of dollars in assets they possess, can give themselves and their cronies 3.3 per cent yearly increases while performing abysmally at their jobs, as evidenced by poor approval ratings.

Brad Doble

Winnipeg