Letters, Sept. 28

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This article was published 28/09/2022 (1390 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Affordable housing key

Re: ‘Affordable housing’ myth (Letters, Sept 26)

Kim Trethart writes: “Taxpayers simply cannot afford to look after those who will not help themselves.”

This statement is incorrect on two levels. First, the premise that people remain in poverty due to a lack of will or effort is false for the vast majority of low-income people. People remain in poverty not for lack of trying to escape it but because a) poverty traumatizes the brain and body, pushing the nervous system to a point of collapse and causing parts of the brain to literally shut down, and b) our social and economic structures exclude low-income people from meeting their basic needs, let alone accessing opportunities for employment and growth.

The second part of Trethart’s statement that is false is the assertion that “taxpayers cannot afford” investments in affordable housing. It is a longstanding myth that we have to choose between fiscal responsibility and social responsibility. Fortunately, the folks at the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives have refuted this myth and created an alternative budget that addresses all our city’s needs, including provisions for affordable housing with supports.

Increasing our supply of affordable housing stock is imperative. Even if someone with an empty stomach, chronic sleep deprivation, myriad untreated health problems and zero life stability is able to find employment, the fact is that there is next to no housing supply available that they could afford on minimum wage.

What is unaffordable is continuing to punish those in poverty, blame them for their own predicament and force them into living situations which strain the health-care system, fire/paramedic service and justice system to a completely unnecessary degree.

Samantha Klassen

Winnipeg

Finland is on track to eliminating homelessness. Its “Housing First” concept gives people experiencing homelessness small apartments and counselling, without preconditions, and the majority make their way back to a stable life.

A number of European cities are studying this model. Perhaps Winnipeg should also study Finland’s success.

Bill Schick

Winnipeg

Publicize teachers’ misdeeds

Re: Alarm sounded over school divisions’ silence (Sept. 26)

I applaud Free Press reporter Katrina Clarke for gathering information regarding teachers in Manitoba disciplined for sexual crimes. The numbers are staggering.

What’s disappointing is the lack of transparency, and the secrecy when it comes to informing the public about these misdeeds.

There should be a body outside of the Manitoba Teachers’ Society that is responsible for overseeing allegations of teacher misconduct that are sexual/physical in nature. The public has the right to know.

Ken Campell

Winnipeg

Proactive policing needed

Re: Poor optics when police feel unsafe downtown (Opinion, Sept. 24)

Carl DeGurse’s column describes how police feel it is unsafe to walk a block or two from headquarters to their personal vehicles.

This situation is pathetic and absurd. Years of seeing downtown business windows boarded up or taped, trash bins and letter boxes overturned, motorists ignoring traffic signals and aggressive drunks all over downtown, and what is the police response? They feel unsafe.

The solutions have been stated many times. We need an independent police review board, control over a bloated police budget and a return to policing that is proactive instead of reactive.

Talis Ozolins

Winnipeg

Letters published on Sept. 27 belittle our police for wanting secure parking, pointing out that other citizens would like that security, too. What has been omitted is that police are being targeted specifically because they interfere with the criminals.

For example, if a police officer is to testify in court about a crime committed by a gang member, there is a serious risk that the gang will try to attack the police officer to prevent that.

No matter where in the city the police headquarters was situated, secure parking would be an issue.

James Wingert

Winnipeg

We wonder why crime is running amok in Winnipeg. Could it be because we do not enforce rules?

I drove past the legislative building on Monday and noticed the encampments were still in place, even though the occupants were told a month ago they had to leave.

Also, Manitoba has not enforced payment on the majority of fines issued for breaking public-health rules during COVID-19.

It seems to be a free-for-all with even off-duty police afraid to walk to their own vehicles downtown. Imagine the feelings of those of us who do not have the police skills and experience to defend ourselves.

Until we make it clear that breaking the law and committing serious crimes will have consequences, things are only going to get worse.

Stewart Jacques

Winnipeg

Carbon tax inflationary

Re: Leaders’ first showdown delivers little clarity (Editorial, Sept. 24)

I hate to harp on the topic, but must admonish the editorial board for essentially propagating misinformation in this editorial.

Stating that the carbon tax “clearly is not (inflationary), because its proceeds are returned to consumers …” sounds like it should be true, but is not true, in two ways.

Firstly, the point of a carbon tax is to deliberately increase fuel prices. Increasing fuel prices, however, pushes up the consumer price index, hence inflation goes up, too. This is not just my academic opinion, but directly confirmed by Bank of Canada governor Tiff Macklem.

Secondly, data from Greenhouse Gas Pollution Pricing Act annual reports show Manitobans pay more in tax than we receive in incentives, this even before considering GST, which, never talked about, is applied on top and does not come back at all. Manitobans thus lose more and more net disposable income, inflationary too, but more subtle.

Robert Parsons

Winnipeg

Digitize some archival material

Re: City archives deserve a proper home (Opinion, Sept. 21)

There was no mention in the article about further digitizing the archives. The City of Winnipeg archives website says only a fraction of available records are available in digital format. This should be given a higher priority, as it would eliminate the cost of storage of physical records and provide improved access.

For any physical records deemed worthy of retaining because of significant historical value, could the legislation be amended to allow their storage at any of the museums and libraries mentioned? I would think those facilities already have the security and procedures in place to properly preserve them, and it would be more cost-effective than purchasing, maintaining and staffing a dedicated building.

Mike Reid

Winnipeg

Beetle Bailey objectionable

The Beetle Bailey cartoon strip is an insult to anyone who has been ridiculed for fitting a stereotype others have portrayed as being of a lower intelligence.

The image and expressions of the strip’s character Zero seem meant to indicate that he is less than everyone else, and a ready opportunity for ridicule. Cartoons like this are cruel, objectionable and unkind.

The writers of Beetle Bailey should be called to account. If they do not stop portraying people this way, the cartoon strip should be discontinued by the Winnipeg Free Press.

Bill Martin

Gimli