Letters and comments, March 12

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 12/03/2018 (2955 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Safe and secure

Re: Metal detectors screen visitors to question period in legislature (March 8)

I was present in the visitors’ gallery at the legislature on March 7 and experienced the new security measures in place. I was asked for identification upon entering the building and had to sign in after my information was recorded. I was also screened for weapons through a metal detector before entering the visitors’ gallery.

I felt safe in knowing that the Manitoba legislature has these security measures in place and would like to thank Myrna Driedger for instituting this so all Manitobans can safely watch our provincial government in action.

Lisa Tarko

Winnipeg

 

Fight for equality

Re: Money talks, but more needs to be said and Women’s Day a reminder to keep fighting (March 8)

Both the editorial and Candace Johnson’s article highlight the continuing injustice endured by women in our male-dominated society.

Thanks largely to their opposition to the disastrous U.S. participation in the Vietnam War, two fighters for social justice came to Canada: Marty Dolin and his wife, Mary Beth Dolin.

Marty’s recent passing has been followed by well-justified tributes to his dedication as a democratic socialist pursuing social and economic justice for all.

Mary Beth, as labour minister in Manitoba, spearheaded the fight for economic justice for women, demanding pay equity for women.

While Manitoba law did provide equal pay for equal work, the work traditionally expected of women was and continues to be undervalued.

Having inherited Mary Beth’s pay equity cause following her tragic early death, I was awakened to the extent of the injustices that have for too long prevailed regarding the recognition of the value of work most often carried out by women.

As minister of labour responsible for the development of the pay equity program envisioned by Mary Beth and other courageous women, I often found it difficult to arouse enthusiasm among male legislators. We did establish pay equity for government and Crown corporation employees.

Since our goal was to later include the private sector, I held briefing meetings in my legislative office.

Not surprisingly, the private-sector guests were not enthusiastic. However, one businessman stayed behind following the exodus of all others. He told me that he appreciated the effort we were making for economic justice for women. He then told me this story: he and his wife, on a trip to the British Isles, toured an old heritage cotton mill in Scotland. A door leading to the factory floor had a strange hole in it. He asked the tour guide to explain the significance of this unusual cutout and was told that when women were working in the mill another family member, usually a grandparent, would bring an infant child to the mill door through which the mother could breastfeed her child.

When I introduced our pay equity legislation in the legislature I told this story. It is worth repeating, and thus this letter is in tribute to Mary Beth Dolin and all the women who seek justice.

Al Mackling

Winnipeg

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The Manitoba Women’s Advisory Council’s publication The Status of Women in Manitoba, March 2018, reports that women in Manitoba are less likely to be employed full-time and more likely to be employed part-time. They are also under-represented in the STEM sectors, under-represented in all trade occupations and under-represented in leadership roles, as elected officials and within senior rankings of law enforcement, the military and the private sector.

These gaps can never be resolved, and there will never be full equality for women, as long as there is no universal access to quality, affordable, accessible child care.

Manitoba has been without a comprehensive child-care strategy for two years, and the number of children waiting for a licensed space has grown to over 16,000.

The 2018 provincial budget provides an opportunity for the government to announce an early learning and child-care plan that is bold, robust and visionary.

Pat Wege

Winnipeg

 

Resigned feeling

Re: Mayor won’t say why he backs fire chief (March 8)

Mayor Brian Bowman, I think it is about time you did the honourable thing for this city and tendered your resignation. It is beyond me how you can back a fire chief who has cost the taxpayer money. So, if you are afraid to ask for his resignation, as I am sure most people in a management/authority position would do, you should submit yours.

Between this, the Veolia water treatment plant debacle and the wasting of taxpayer money on the idea of reopening Portage and Main, I think it is time for you step aside.

When you were first elected, I did feel that as a young mayor with fresh ideas you would be good for the city. Unfortunately, that feeling was sadly misplaced. There is more to being a mayor of a city than just glad-handing the special-interest groups that come your way; sometimes you need to make tough decisions, which, unfortunately, you seem incapable of doing.

Dave Price

Winnipeg

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It’s a pity that our city councillors are so young they cannot remember what chaos there will be when you add pedestrians to the mix of traffic at that corner. It will be a nightmare and will not add anything to making downtown friendlier. Fix up the underground!

Patricia Mullins

Portage la Prairie

 

Resolve policies for MAID

Re: St. Boniface Hospital preps emergency department expansion (March 7)

It is ironic to me that our provincial government is providing public funding to expand ER intake capacity for emergency patients at St. Boniface hospital, an institution that will not provide Medical Assistance in Dying (MAID), after eliminating similar capacity at the Victoria Hospital where MAID was available.

Premier Brian Pallister, it is well past the time when you should have properly resolved the issue of publicly funded faith-based institutions flouting the law. The clowns are truly in charge of the circus.

Tom Pearson

Indian Wells, Calif.