Letters, Sept. 27

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 27/09/2023 (982 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

‘Stand firm’ wrong message

Oh my! A landfill search might cost $184 million. Of course it might not. In either case the value of doing a search remains the same. Priceless. The cost of not doing it will never be paid in full.

On a brighter note: $250 million for freeways to the edge of town? No problem!

Gordon Kidder

Winnipeg

I am truly saddened and embarrassed that we have a premier who would use the deaths of three young woman to bolster her election chances. I hope that those who do not favour the search have the decency and humanity to find this being used as a wedge issue really disgusting. How much lower can she sink.

Linda Taylor

Winnipeg

Premier Stefanson, I am writing today to express my utter disgust at the way in which you are using the ‘Search the Landfill’ issue as a divisive political tactic. I was despondent enough that you were able to “ just say no” to even discussing searching for these peoples’ loved ones, and now you are using it to gain votes. Just when I thought you and your government had done enough damage you have managed to take it up a notch. Disgusting.

I’d vote for complete anarchy before I would ever give you another opportunity to take our province into deeper chaos. Find your heart, Heather.

Allison Moore

Winnipeg

What is lost in the debate over the landfill search is that although it is important that these women be found to bring closure for their families, what is more important is how we as Manitobans value the most vulnerable people in our community. What is on display here is these women do not matter, marginalized people do not matter, homeless people do not matter, so feel free to ignore them or, even worse, exploit them.

The $187 million is not about recovering the bodies, it is about the value we place as a society on the most vulnerable members of our community and what is the level of our commitment to correct the problems that have led to their victimization at the hands of people who viewed them as worthless.

Every time we drive past a person living in a bus shelter, living in a tent community, walk to the other side of the street to avoid a homeless person with a drug addiction, turn the page on an article about a marginalized person who is murdered, gone missing, or who is a victim of abuse, suicide or a drug overdose, we perpetuate the view that these members of our community have no value and it is best to look the other way.

We can do better.

William Hill

Winnipeg

Dear Heather Stefanson, you are a “white” woman who is in a position of influence and power.

I, too, am a “white” woman, a senior with Manitoba roots, who will never understand what it means to be non-white. But, because we are white, we are still safer and have more agency than most non-white persons.

Please consider if one of our family was scattered about in a garbage heap or otherwise discarded. Archeological fossils receive more care and respect.

Why not our Indigenous sisters?

Almina M. Logie

Cayley, Alta.

 

Combative messaging

The provincial PC’s slogan is “Fighting for Manitobans.” They use the term “fighting” often when interviewed.

They are fighting, but not FOR Manitobans; they are fighting WITH Manitobans.

They are fighting with the MPI workers, with nurses, with teachers, with liquor store employees and also with the federal government.

Wab Kinew and the NDP’s approach is “Let’s work together.”

Which approach do we want in our province?

Vote!

Cindy Burkett

Winnipeg

 

Don’t forget homeless

I would like to see help for homeless people in Manitoba to be an important election issue. Every day, I go to a local city recreation centre and encounter homeless people in the parking lot.

This happened yesterday. The homeless people I see look very unhealthy and are probably hungry and thirsty. I believe charities cannot provide what they need without government support. Experts suggest the most important support is housing. Many of these people suffer from mental illness and addictions. They need help.

People should not be sleeping outside in Canada. If there is $184 million in government spending available, it should be used for clean and safe housing for the homeless. Let the memorial to the murdered women be housing for homeless people who are still on the street.

Ruth Swan

Winnipeg

 

Tory climate positions lacking

Re: It’s all on fire—what’s the plan? (Think Tank, Sept. 26)

Kudos to Peter Denton for highlighting the sad scarcity of climate-change commitments in the current election, particularly by the Progressive Conservative party.

Whenever I encounter people with PC leanings discussing climate change, they tend to be one of two types. One displays an amazing absence of understanding of climate warming and what must be done to address it. Another exhibits fervent belief in the greater importance of chasing quick economic gains without regard for the resulting effect on the climate and the welfare of future generations.

In short, I find them typically to be either ignorant or heartless. When we experience further, more severe climate impacts, I hope such attitudes change.

Until then, I plan to vote for the party that best understands and cares, and that will take the required, urgent climate action.

Calvin Brown

RM of St. Andrews

 

Tackle root causes

The campaign slogan “Fighting For Safer Streets” saddens me. It saddens me because it won’t fix what has become broken in our society. Unfortunately, this approach does not and will not work.

I do not feel safe being in downtown Winnipeg now. And I do not believe that we can ever have enough police officers to make it better.

Liberal leader Dougald Lamont identified the only way to do that. I completely agree with his statement that we need to address the root cause of crime.

The root cause of crime is inequity and poverty.

Fighting the dispossessed is cruel and ineffective.

Depriving our people of a safe place to live, enough to eat, equal access to an education and good health care leads to despair, anger and desperate behaviour.

We know this. We know that if a family favours one child and deprives another it will lead to a bad ending for both.

We need to end poverty. Now.

Bill Martin

Gimli

 

An under-discussed issue

With all of the election talk of giving money for health care, it is very upsetting to me that Manitoba does not cover the cost of supplies for total laryngectomies.

I had a total laryngectomy (removal of voice box) in January, 2020. I am paying between $3,000 and $4,000 a year for supplies which enable me to speak, none of which are covered. All of the supplies for laryngectomies are totally covered in all the provinces except Manitoba and B.C.

Saskatchewan allots the patient $6,000 per year, Alberta $7,000 a year.

I am on a senior’s pension and have to watch my spending. Why can’t Manitoba help with the supplies as other provinces do?

Len St. Marie

Winnipeg