Letters, August 12

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 12/08/2022 (1320 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Silencing the crickets

Re: City begins first mosquito fogging since 2020 (Aug. 8)

Just an observation from Windsor Park about the resumption of the mosquito fogging program.

Aug. 9, 9:30 p.m.: enjoyed the sound of crickets, not any mosquitoes until dusk. Then fogging truck goes by.

Aug. 10, 9:30 p.m.: no crickets.

Enjoy your summer.

Gary Billson

Winnipeg

Fourteen friends who care

Re: WRHA aims for ‘home is best’ long-term care philosophy (Aug. 8)

It was difficult not to burst out laughing in response to the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority’s plan to exhibit “system-wide commitment to the ‘home is best’ philosophy.”

Another individual and I are “family” for an elderly woman who has no relatives in Manitoba. She is currently in acute crisis, secondary to both physical and psychological challenges.

When the need for home care first arose, the response to our request for services can only be described as stunningly inadequate. At this time, home care can provide only basic support — morning and evening care, and escort services to her meals. This is not sufficient to meet her current needs.

To bridge the gap, I am currently co-ordinating the visits of 14 of her friends to ensure she is safe and not left alone for extended periods of time. This situation has been going on for four weeks, and will likely continue for months.

I know this is unsustainable, but no other options seem available. We dare not risk another hospital admission lest my friend end up in a facility in some other part of the province where no one can visit her. Accessing for-profit home care assistance is very expensive and beyond the means of many elderly people.

I heartily endorse the concept of “home is best.” However, the brave new world described in the Free Press article is doomed to failure unless significant fiscal and human resources are dedicated to its realization.

Given the track record of the current government, I am not holding my breath.

Marion McKay

Winnipeg

Murray not ‘quitter’

Re: ‘Habitual quitter’: Murray challenged to commit to full term as mayor (Aug. 10)

Mayoralty candidate Don Woodstock wants candidate Glen Murray to commit in writing to serve a full term of office should he be elected, because Murray cut short his second four-year term as a previous Winnipeg mayor to run for the federal Liberals in 2004.

As the former media manager for Murray from 1998 to 2002, I can remind Woodstock that Murray actually served the citizens of Winnipeg for 14 years: two full terms as city councillor and an additional six years as mayor. That takes commitment, so the derogatory term “quitter” is not accurate.

Diane Poulin

Winnipeg

Abortion legality misstated

Re: Respect and the right to abortion (Opinion, Aug. 10)

Molly McCracken states that she was motivated to write her column to repudiate Free Press columnist Carl DeGurse’s candid questions in his previous column on the morality of abortion. She alleges that DeGurse and opponents of abortion falsely claim abortion can be done up to a full-term pregnancy.

It is a fact that Canada has no abortion law. In legal terms, that means abortions in Canada can be performed up until the moment of birth.

When opponents of abortion dare to speak out, we are labelled intolerant. Regardless of our beliefs, our tax dollars continue to fund abortions through the health-care system. There is no choice for us.

Irene Howard

Winnipeg

Using COVID-19 as excuse

Re: Business, labour groups divided on new minimum wage (Aug. 10)

For years, the business community kept blaming 9/11 for its shortcomings. In fact, some still are.

How long will businesses use the COVID-19 excuse for their mismanagement and failed ability to provide a living wage for their employees? My guess it will be even longer than 9/11.

Brian Short

Winnipeg

Monkeypox ineptitude familiar

Re: Monkeypox vaccine unavailable (Letters, Aug. 10)

The proper rollout of the monkeypox vaccine campaign required co-ordination with health-care authorities and unified political effort to mandate the strategy in order to avoid the frustrating experiences of correspondent Will Franklin and others.

Perhaps Premier Heather Stefanson was rushed on her way to her next feel-good photo-op and just forgot to sign off on the strategy. Or perhaps Health Minister Audrey Gordon lost the documents and requisitions she needed to authorize it somewhere in her sofa.

We’ve seen this sad movie before. It’s no prettier now. Enough of this incompetence!

Stewart Fay

Winnipeg

When forests burn

Re: Urgent to stop forest fires (Letters, Aug. 10)

Reading Robert J. Moskal’s letter, it is evident he does not understand the burning of trees in a forest fire is different from the burning of fossil fuels.

Forest fires are a “carbon neutral” release of CO2 because the trees recently sequestered CO2 from the air while growing and give it back when burnt. Fossil fuels are releasing carbon as CO2 from plant matter that has been buried for millions of years.

As a result, fossil fuels greatly upset the natural balance of CO2 in the atmosphere, which is the root cause of climate change.

Michael Dowling

Winnipeg

Rethink bus routes

Re: Light rail transit pushed back into city conversation (Aug. 8)

We do not need to be securing a big slice of federal transit money for light rail transit at this time. In the city, we need our buses on a more frequent schedule.

Also, bring back buses on routes that have been cut. The No. 93 bus in South St. Vital only runs from Tuesday to Friday. Also, the No. 10 Wolseley bus does not run down Arlington Street and Westminster Avenue to downtown because some people don’t like the bus traffic, although they also feel it is OK to have seniors walk for blocks to catch a bus on Portage Avenue to get downtown.

Someone in the planning department of Winnipeg Transit needs to rethink routes again.

Sandra Coutu

Winnipeg

Parental loyalty misplaced

Re: Mom charged with lying to police to protect son (Aug. 10)

This is preposterous! The mother of an alleged drunk driver was reportedly untruthful with police, and even misled them. As well, the driver was allowed to go free until his case is heard.

The parents of the victim are outraged, and so they should be. They’ve lost a child in the most cruel and inhumane way.

The justice system seems more concerned about the perpetrators than the victims. In cases where loss of life is the result of negligence, there should be no bail allowed.

Ken Campbell

Winnipeg

I have heard parents say, “There is nothing I wouldn’t do to help our kids.” For some parents, misplaced loyalty to their children dictates that they lie and otherwise enable their kids to avoid facing the consequences of their poor choices.

I have a friend who became a very successful adult. One day, when he was a teenager, he asked his father if he would appear in court with him if he ever got into trouble. His father replied in the affirmative, stating that he would, and when the judge pronounced his sentence for the son, he would stand up and say, “Double it, your honour.”

We need more parents like my friend’s father.

Mac Horsburgh

Winnipeg