Letters, Sept. 30

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 30/09/2022 (1344 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Don’t promote Ukraine vote

Re: Putin’s war won’t end as he envisioned (Editorial, Sept. 27)

Although much of this editorial’s description of the state of the unjust war in Ukraine is accurate, I was appalled by the suggestion that this war might be settled beginning with “an honest referendum under international supervision.”

Of course, Ukrainians and most western nations would like to see this tragic fiasco come to an end, but the notion that a referendum in the regions the Russians want to control should take place is obscene and comes from a deep and dangerous misunderstanding of what is transpiring in Ukraine.

The suggestion that the ethnic Russian/Russian-speaking segment of the Ukrainian population should be granted a voice in carving up this territory ignores several essential facts.

First, the current borders of Ukraine have been intact for at least a century, with the majority of the territory home to indigenous Ukrainians for several centuries before that. Even under the Soviet “Union,” the state referred to as the “Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic” occupied the current borders including Crimea.

Second, when the Soviet Union crumbled in 1991, the territory that was the Ukrainian SSR became the independent nation of Ukraine. That was 31 years ago.

Third, the primary reason there are so many ethnic Russians living in that territory is the Holodomor. Stalin’s murderous collectivization policies in the 1930s led to the “ethnic cleansing” of that territory and repopulation by Russian citizens who occupied the homes and property that were left unoccupied because millions of people in that area were starved to death or outright executed.

So, the thought of “bending a little” to mollify a vicious dictator and give him a “small victory” (that, in fact is not small — it represents the industrial heartland of Ukraine) makes my stomach churn and my blood boil. I have no doubt there are many people, including about 50 million Ukrainians, who feel the same way.

Michael Boss

Winnipeg

Re: Should the West call Putin’s nuclear bluff? (Opinion, Sept.28)

The column by Gwynne Dyer was enlightening, consistent and well documented in regards to what Vladimir Putin is doing to Ukraine. Putin is mobilizing an additional 300,000 troops, and trying to use fake referendums in Russian-occupied parts of Luhansk, Donetsk, Zaporizhzhlhya and Kherson provinces to stabilize his dominance.

Then Putin goes further and proclaims these four regions as Russian territory with forceful propaganda. I don’t think any of us living in a democratic society would like someone taking over our property and proclaiming it as theirs.

Putin is an authoritarian kleptocrat who doesn’t care about Russia’s national interest and is focused on his power and wealth. By the looks of things, Putin’s ambition is to strengthen his popularity and ensure democracy will not prevail in Russia and the surrounding former Soviet countries.

Peter J. Manastyrsky

Winnipeg

Turkey feasts unappetizing

Re: Manitoba expected to have plenty of turkeys for Thanksgiving (Sept. 28)

Like the majority of the animals killed for food, turkeys are purposely bred into a life not worth living and raised in a manner that is leading to the increase in antibiotic resistance and checks off all boxes for conditions that could give rise to the next pandemic.

Animal agriculture is one of the most destructive industries on the planet. So while stories of the climate emergency, species loss, water scarcity, bird flu, zoonotic disease and the collapse of our health-care system increasingly make their way into mainstream media, it is reassuring to know the menus for feasts will find no shortage of bodies of beings that experienced nothing for which to be thankful for.

Debbie Wall

Winnipeg

Let seniors stay in homes

Re: Potential Lions Place sale sparks fears of seniors priced out (Sept. 26)

I understand the genuine fears of the tenants. It would be the depth of cruelty for them to be evicted from homes they have lived in for decades.

Whoever the buyers of Lions Place might be, I ask them to consider that they will eventually be the age of the people living in that assisted-care facility. Would they want to face eviction because someone wanted to buy their home for the purpose of making more money from it?

I ask that tenants be allowed to stay in their homes at their current rent even while newer tenants move in. It would speak favourably of the new ownership.

Joanna Oznowicz

Winnipeg

Motkaluk antic unseemly

Re: Motkaluk pledges arts council funding (Sept. 27)

There’s an old saying, “Desperate people say and do desperate things.” So goes the campaign for mayor by Jenny Motkaluk.

Her latest antic was not wearing a mask at a debate at the University of Manitoba, where masks are mandatory. She defiantly stated at the forum that she would no longer be following COVID-19 safety recommendations.

Attention-getting? Maybe. Desperate at being at four per cent in the polls? Most likely.

Walt Roberts Winnipeg

Give caregivers CPP break

Re: Canada must act now on dementia (Opinion, Sept. 29)

I would like to focus on the caregivers in this article. The federal government needs to change how family caregivers of people with dementia are treated.

I retired from my job to look after my mother during her last four years, keeping her in her home. I never wanted to be compensated for looking after her, but I don’t think people should see their pensions decrease year after year from not contributing to the Canada Pension Plan.

Mothers are exempted from the CPP calculation during their child-rearing years, and I believe adults looking after their loved ones diagnosed with dementia should get the same exemption.

Will Franklin

Winnipeg

Seek funding for archives

Re: Home for archives essential (Letters, Sept. 23)

I echo letter writer Dan Furlan’s call for the City of Winnipeg to address the need to relocate our city archives to a permanent home.

It has been reported that one of the reasons that Canada has dropped on the list of top countries for quality of life is its reticence to protect its heritage. Is Winnipeg unable to negotiate with other government levels to protect our civic archives?

This matter has been given short shrift too long.

Jane Fudge

Winnipeg

Encourage low-cost culture days

Re: At $48 for family of four, Assiniboine Park attraction will Leaf many out (Sept. 27)

I understand concerns that entry fees might prove a barrier to some Manitobans who want to visit the Assiniboine Park Conservancy’s new indoor horticultural attraction, especially considering tax dollars funded such a large portion of the capital costs.

A reduced-cost or zero-cost day once per month seems like a good option for all publicly funded facilities. This would include museums, but also professional hockey and football games. Let’s not forget how many public dollars, and ongoing subsidies, have gone into building the homes of our professional sports teams.

Taxpayers have different opinions regarding the value of large capital expenditures of public funds for non-essential projects such as the Leaf and football stadiums. I view them all as parts of a package to enhance the quality of life for Manitobans and visitors.

Michelle Burdz

Winnipeg