Letters, Oct. 12

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 12/10/2022 (1331 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Expose hockey players

Re: Hockey Canada CEO Smith out, board of directors resigns (Oct. 11)

Like most hockey fans, I am watching the self-destructive behaviour of the management and board of directors of Hockey Canada with avid interest, but for a different reason. What I am looking for is real justice to be served against those hockey players that allegedly sexually assaulted those girls.

One of these incidents was reportedly even recorded on a phone video that still exists. Why is there no uproar about this?

Apparently, a number of those players are currently enjoying lucrative careers in the NHL. Why is there no mention of exposing them and having the strong arm of justice deal with them? If they are forced to lose their hockey careers because of this criminal behaviour, so much the better.

What is point of getting rid of the existing management of Hockey Canada if the guilty players get away with sexual assault?

Al Prokopowich

Winnipeg

I have noticed that not once have Hockey Canada officials said anything about implementing a change to address the one thing that brought them to this place in time: they have no plan of action to address the mental, physical or sexual abuse allegations.

If I was on any board of directors and allegations like this were brought forward, the first thing I would implement would be a mandatory education program for all hockey players beginning at the age of 12. In order to play in any hockey league they would have to complete a course on the wrongs of mental, physical and especially sexual abuse of any kind to any human being.

They would have to sign off, indicating they understand the consequences of their actions and any behaviour that violates the code of conduct would result in immediate expulsion. This should also apply to any coach or person of authority involved with the teams.

Louise Hedman

Winnipeg

Safety has a cost

Re: Safety concerns in city at ‘crisis level,’ pollster says (Oct. 6)

I wonder if any of the people who feel unsafe in the city are the same people who complain about having to take an extra minute to show identification when they go to the liquor store.

Gladys Bellamy

Winnipeg

Pesticide ban crucial

Re: Animal welfare groups ask province to withdraw pesticide bill (Oct. 6)

Bravo to the animal welfare groups for their call-out to the government on removing the cosmetic pesticide ban. They correctly state “increasing the non-essential use of these products in Manitoba would be egregiously irresponsible and unscientific” and “would put wild and domestic animals… at risk of illness and even death.”

Not surprisingly, the same is true for humans, especially children, who will experience greater exposure when Bill 22 passes. This government is putting the esthetics of weed-free lawns ahead of the health and safety of children.

In June, 30 health and environmental organizations, including the Manitoba College of Family Physicians, Manitoba Lung Association, Learning Disabilities Association of Manitoba, Manitoba Eco-Network and the David Suzuki Foundation, joined Cosmetic Pesticide Ban Manitoba in writing to Conservation Minister Jeff Wharton and Health Minister Audrey Gordon. The groups, citing serious risks to public health and ecosystems, asked that Bill 22 be withdrawn and that the restrictions continue. To date, we have not received a word of response.

Manitoba would become the first jurisdiction in Canada to roll back restrictions on the sale and use of these toxic products. For shame.

Anne Lindsey

Winnipeg

Trustee candidates invisible

School board elections do not get enough attention, in my opinion. I also think some candidates do not take their candidacy very seriously.

For many candidates, there is no information to be had: no website or social media, no flyers or signs, no contact number, and that means that no statement of policy or platform is available for voters.

I don’t think there could be any rule or law written to address this, but I do think voters have the power to send a clear message: don’t vote for people who don’t think it worth their time to share their beliefs. Those are not the people we want in public office.

Peter Smith

Winnipeg

Russians distort aims

Re: Don’t promote Ukraine vote (Letters, Sept. 30)

Ukraine escalation feared (Letters, Oct. 11)

Paul Robertson’s letter published on Tuesday, responding to Michael Boss’s letter of Sept. 30, seems to be unfamiliar with Russian imperialism and colonialism, and is advancing Russian disinformation and, in that sense, promoting the genocidal war that is being waged mercilessly on Ukraine today.

This illegal, unprovoked war by Putin has nothing to do with Russians having no right to speak their language or being settled in eastern Ukraine. Settlement in eastern Ukraine was a strategy used by Russia to further control and subjugate Ukraine. Use of the Ukrainian language in Ukraine’s history had been forcibly forbidden by Russia.

The Russian mentality is that Ukraine is inferior and Russia has treated Ukrainians and its language as such. The war is a further indication of this. Putin will escalate no matter what because his goal has been to erase Ukraine off the map.

Most Ukrainians speak both Ukrainian and Russian, but one group (Russian) does not need to have more privilege and economic advantage in Ukraine while the Ukrainian language is moved aside and less respected. More to the point, Ukraine’s people have been, and are being, murdered for speaking and being defiantly Ukrainian.

That is not nationalism. That is survival.

Christine Krucko

Winnipeg

Build up, not out

Re: Hitting the pavement (Oct. 8)

Of course Chris Lorenc, president of the Manitoba Heavy Construction Association, sees Shaun Loney’s proposal of no new street construction as “ridiculous” and “counterproductive,” as this will cost his members contracts and money.

The reality is Winnipeg can’t afford to maintain the streets we have now, let alone any additional roads and infrastructure required for new developments. Over the last 20 years, while Winnipeg has expanded out by creating new developments on the outskirts of the city, services in Winnipeg have been spread increasingly thin.

It is time for Winnipeg to start building up and not out, despite the wishes of the heavy construction lobby.

Michael Edwards

Winnipeg

Driver defiance dispiriting

On Friday, I joined a small group of climate activists in a noon-hour demonstration on the west side of the legislative grounds. We held signs for motorists driving on Osborne Street with messages like “Invest in green energy” and “Stop fracking.”

I’ve narrowed my message down to a very simple “Please drive less” because I think it’s something we can all try to do and make a difference in slowing our emissions and global warming.

Many passing motorists nodded or waved and it felt kind of invigorating to be doing something, even if only for an hour, maybe once a week. But sadly, it was also exhausting to see the reactions from certain men (always men!) in oversized half-tons when they read my sign and then revved their engines, sometimes emitting huge clouds of black smoke, in anger and childish defiance.

Then I felt guilty: I just caused more pollution! And I pedalled my bike home, sadly fearing for the fate of our Mother Earth.

But maybe next week, when Fridays For Future Manitoba meets again, there’ll be more of us getting invigorated and fewer drivers being exhausting.

Tim Brandt

Winnipeg