Letters, July 11

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 11/07/2022 (1425 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Patient ombudsman needed

Re: NDP presses province for care home licence review (June 22)

Comments on the need for a patient ombudsman are right on the mark. Currently, the needs of a badly broken health-care system take precedent over the needs of a patient. Any thought of using the Manitoba Hospital Appeal Board to adjudicate claims is a waste of time and effort, as the jurisdiction of the board is very narrow in scope and does nothing to advocate on behalf of the patient. You are completely on your own.

Our recent experience with the WRHA home-care program illustrates a system that manages within very narrow parameters, with no recourse if there is disagreement with the health authority. If equipment needs fall outside the “approved list,” too bad, it’s not available. No explanation is given as to why, regardless of the medical need.

Worse still, there’s no place to go to appeal the decision. Any question around the interpretation of a Home Care Family Managed Care contract is met with a legal response that precludes even questioning the health authority’s interpretation of that contract.

Don’t even bother appealing to the Manitoba Hospital Appeal Board; it is outside their jurisdiction.

So, who do you appeal to? The answer is no one.

The appointment of a patient ombudsman would go a long way in making the regional health authorities more accountable and assisting patients in navigating a confusing, arbitrary health-care system.

Brian Peto

Winnipeg

Anger can be justified

Re: Editorial cartoon (July 7)

Your editorial cartoon shows Pierre Poilievre flanked by two gorillas labeled Anger and Hate.

In regard to anger, what should be noted is that public anger exists but it is justified anger. When we see how all levels of government mismanaged COVID-19, and the cost of living skyrocketing, it should be no surprise that anger exists.

No politician can create public anger out of thin air. Poilievre is tapping into that anger and he should be doing so if that anger is justified. You imply that he is responsible for the anger, which is absolutely ridiculous.

As for hate, I am not aware that Poilievre is directing hate against any group in Canada. Is it the view of the Free Press that conservatives are hatemongers simply for expressing their views in public?

Kurt Clyde

Winnipeg

First Nations app laudable

Re: App helps connect dispersed members of First Nation (July 4)

The new app gives First Nations members access to news, job postings and event information. What a great idea! But I wonder if all the people who could use it have access to a cell phone and Wi-Fi?

I suppose most places now have free Wi-Fi hotspots that would allow such an app to connect to the internet, but the issue of cell-phone ownership and use costs is a real one for many.

A cell-phone loan program could be initiated in each reserve. The office would purchase several cell phones on a group account and reserve members could request them for a specific period of time and purpose. Job hunting is one such purpose: the user would have to show evidence of active job searching to be able to extend the loan period. And a person going to attend a wedding in a distant city might need to use the cell phone to make arrangements with relatives and friends for accommodation, rides, etc.

Of course the group user account would have built-in restrictions on use for things beyond the intention in the application, and the user would have to agree to pay the charges for any extra fees above the group rental or damage to the phone. But if no one abuses the program it could be a real help to keep members connected with their community.

James Wingert

Winnipeg

Replace Victoria Day

I am in full support of a holiday for Truth and Reconciliation/Orange Shirt Day. I just don’t think Sept. 30 is the best time for it.

In the spirit of the day and in the aftermath of the Canada Day protests at the legislature, I think Victoria Day should be renamed Truth and Reconciliation Day. This would show the acknowledgment of Queen Victoria’s role in the residential schools/treatment of the First Nations People and help make the history known.

Jillian Ainge

Winnipeg

Borrowing money can be wise

Re: Tories spend beyond our means (Letters, July 7)

James Roberts expresses the opinion that we stop perpetuating the myth the provincial Tories are “tight fisted” on spending, and he says this government is spending far more than we can afford. My suggestion to Roberts would be that, if your roof is leaking, take out a loan and get it fixed. It will cost you much more in the long run if you don’t.

Gary Robson

Winnipeg

COVID-19 tests needed

Re: System on the brink of catastrophe (July 5)

It appears our Progressive Conservative government believes the writing on the wall. Having achieved their goals of supporting their base by lifting most pandemic mandates and giving tax breaks that benefit mostly their wealthier supporters, they have given up fixing our health system. Either that or they have incompetent people in charge.

Regardless, it seems they have lost hope they can turn things around for the next provincial election. This seems to be their plan B in action: let their failed and disastrous plans to make our health system do more with less get to such a low point that our next provincial government, the NDP, will be mired in quicksand trying to restore it.

Just as when Heather Stefanson was health minister, our current health minister Audrey Gordon is missing in action, as is top medical authority Dr. Brent Roussin. The provincial website may indicate COVID-19 cases are down, but they no longer do enough testing to reveal the true numbers. We know from experience that COVID-19 tends to spike in the fall as people spend more time inside with others.

Gary McGimpsey

Winnipeg

COVID-19 lawsuits ludicrous

Re: Health system employees sue province over COVID-19 workplace mandates (June 29)

I am beginning to think people are losing their minds over what they deem to be an infringement on their “rights.”

We are on the downside, at least for now, with our battle with COVID-19. Now the anti-vaxxers think it is a great idea to sue our government for imposing rules and safeguards to help protect vulnerable people at serious risk.

People who decide to not follow the rules are subject to consequences, and the mere idea that they should be compensated for failing to follow these rules is ludicrous.

These health-care workers should know that if they chose not to follow these temporary rules designed to protect people’s health, there would be consequences.

Alice French

Winnipeg

City EV chargers not useful

Re: Mayoral candidate promises 500 EV charging stations (July 5)

Concerning Shaun Loney’s candidacy for city mayor, I think his plan to establish publicly funded charge points for electric vehicles (EVs) is not that useful. Modern EVs have sufficient range from being charged overnight to not need city-provided charge points for travel in town.

People who rent should have a reserved space for charging their cars, and the city should require landlords to provide such a service to tenants if requested.

It would be more useful to get more electric buses on the streets, as they are quiet and non-polluting.

Michael Dowling

Winnipeg