Letters, Oct. 19

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 19/10/2023 (1058 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Stop the madness

Re: Hundreds dead in hospital blast (Oct. 18)

The bombing of the Al-Alhi Hospital in Gaza was completely unacceptable. I visited this place of healing in December 2022, part of a delegation from the Anglican and Lutheran communities in Jerusalem and Canada. We were impressed with the excellent health-care services offered and the growing collaboration between Al-Alhi and the Lutheran run, Augusta Victoria Hospital in East Jerusalem. We were about to open a chemotherapy treatment in Gaza, so desperately needed.

No matter whose rocket it was that inflicted this horrific assault on innocent civilians, mainly children and those seeking a safe place in the middle of the war, the madness needs to stop and stop now. Canada, together with other nations, must advocate for a ceasefire and the opening of humanitarian aid to Gaza. Never again should we witness such an atrocity.

What we observed is a clear violation of international law. It is time that the rule of law meant something. Diplomacy must be win, before more innocent victims are claimed.

Robert Granke

Winnipeg

Use your (stronger) words

Canada’s vainglorious, self absorbed, Prince of Canada, Justin Trudeau, has had the temerity to declare the bombing of a Gaza hospital which killed hundreds of patients, “unacceptable.” The pompous UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Turk, offered that the bombing may be a “violation of international law.”

Really? That’s the best they could come up with? The actions of both Hamas and Israel, have been abhorrent, disgusting, abominable, and despicable — before, during and after the bombing — no matter which party actually lit the fuse to the bomb that destroyed the hospital.

“Unacceptable?”

“Maybe a violation”?

Tell it to the widows and orphans of the dead.

Robert Sproule

Winnipeg

Tragedies all around

Re: UN aid chief says six months of war in Sudan has killed 9,000 people (Oct. 16)

We have seen many front page and other articles and opinions regarding the atrocities in Israel and the Gaza Strip. The world is outraged, as it should be. Over 2,000 killed. It is absolutely terrible.

At the same time, in your newspaper tucked away on the bottom of page A5, is a short article on the situation in Sudan while two generals fight for power. Daily airstrikes and shelling in densely populated areas. This has been going on since mid-April. Civilians “have known no respite from bloodshed and terror, rape and sexual violence.” Millions of people displaced, communities torn apart, vulnerable people with no access to lifesaving aid, and it has left 25 million people (more than half of the country’s population) in need of humanitarian aid. On top of this, 1,000 or more cases of suspected cholera in Khartoum.

Why is there not daily outrage with this situation which is every bit (if not more) dire than that in the Middle East? This could also be asked of many other countries that barely get a mention day to day. It really does seem true that some lives are more important than others, although I refuse to believe this.

Wally Baergen

Winnipeg

Mask mandate

Re: Province imposes mask mandate for health-care staff (Oct. 17)

The province has ordered health-care staff working with patients to wear medical masks. This is the same policy that has been in place for the past few years when there was a shortage of proper respirators. As I understand it, masks were allowed when there were not enough respirators available. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) deemed that if masks were used in well-ventilated areas with personnel six feet apart, there was a potential to reduce worker risk. The United States Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) thought masks were better than nothing and inspectors looked the other way. This seems to be the policy in Manitoba.

Since there has been an adequate supply of respirators for the past year why is Manitoba not requiring health care to comply with the Workplace Safety and Health Regulation, Part 6 for respiratory protective equipment? Saying that Shared Health is following “evidence and leading practice” is not good enough to protect health-care staff.

First, there is no evidence that a loose-fitting mask made of a non-filtering material will protect the staff, it only marginally protects the patient. Second, following the misguided example of managers elsewhere absolves no one of their responsibility to protect staff.

Give health-care workers the same respiratory protection under the Workplace Safety and Health Act that welders get. A welding shop where masks were handed out to protect welders would likely result in a right to refuse work and a call to Workplace Safety and Health. Where is the nurses union? Health-care staff should have the same level of workplace health protection as welders have and should not be exempt from the Workplace Safety and Health Act. The exception would be where a risk analysis carried out by a competent person concluded that there is little or no risk.

Then the use of respirators for administrative or psychological reasons could be acceptable.

John Elias

Winnipeg

Supply system ensures stability

Re: Grocers to offer discounts, price freezes on food, but Champagne offers little detail (Oct. 5).

Canadians are proud of our nation’s unique policy framework that provides families with a steady supply of high quality, locally produced, dairy, poultry, and egg products. Canada’s supply-managed sector prevents shortages of products and stability, while avoiding the vulnerabilities of international and foreign supply chains.

We were deeply troubled by the baseless and biased views on supply management by a former commissioner of the Canadian Competition Bureau that were carried in your publication. The views expressed in the article are contrary to long-standing Government of Canada policy.

Supply management balances the market power between many thousands of small family businesses and a concentrated processing and retail sector. The system also ensures stability and an adequate food supply within our country, all while driving economic activity and innovation within all Canadian provinces. It’s a system designed to support the interests of Canadians — and it has been doing so for more than five decades.

That’s something to be proud of.

David Wiens, President, Dairy Farmers of Canada

Roger Pelissero, Chair, Egg Farmers of Canada

Tim Klompmaker, Chair, Chicken Farmers of Canada

Darren Ference, Chair, Turkey Farmers of Canada

Brian Bilkes, Chair, Canadian Hatching Egg Producers

Jets face tough situation

Re: Kings crush Jets in more ways than one (Oct. 18)

Mike McIntyre wrote that the early returns on Winnipeg jets attendance numbers are “concerning”

Various factors play into this, I feel. The quality of the Jets team for the last couple years looks similar to this season — it seems to be they will be fighting right to the end for a wildcard spot again. The cost of going to see a game is very pricey for the average person, especially with the way inflation is now.

The location of the rink is not the greatest for parking and safety reasons. Had the rink been built in another location that is more parking and personal safety friendly, it would have helped with the problem they are having now that the honeymoon is over.

All this does not bode well for the hockey club going forward.

Good thing one of the owners has very deep pockets.

Ron Robert

Winnipeg