Letters, Oct. 21

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This article was published 21/10/2023 (1069 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Support the innocent

Re: “Difference between government, people” (Letters, Oct. 20)

Thank you, David Bergen, for so eloquently explaining the difference between criticizing a government and a people. I for one am trying to understand what is happening in the Middle East. I only feel support for the innocent citizens, especially the children, on both sides of this brutal war.

Maureen Graf

Winnipeg

Think outside box

Re: Today is a new day in our province (Oct 19).

It is indeed a new day in the province and it could be a new way for Winnipeg Transit and indeed the whole province.

A look at the City of Winnipeg 2022 Budget Update and specifically at the 2020-2023 Multi Year Transit report (from City of Winnipeg website) you can note:

Operating budget $212.3 million.

Passenger revenue 32 per cent or $67.9 million.

Changing to a “free ride” policy would require say $68 million per year to be replaced by government taxation of some sort (at all levels). How can this be done?

If we are serious about tackling climate change, there should be no qualms about contributions by the city (property taxes), provincial and federal governments (various ways to tax). The latter could simply redirect the so-called carbon tax rebates towards financing this free ride program.

Done properly this new approach would help fill the buses and greatly reduce the use of automobiles. This in turn would reduce emissions, reduce traffic, and reduce wear and tear on our roadways. Win-win-win.

It is time to think outside the box. Time for governments to stop being hypocrites when they speak of climate change solutions and when they speak of being fiscally responsible. Status quo is definitely not fiscally responsible. Time to act responsibly is now.

Giovanni Versace

Winnipeg

Enough with MP antics

Re: New Speaker puts MPs on notice over unruly, toxic behaviour in House of Commons (Oct. 18)

Having seen the actual video of the speaker being called out by the less-than-honourable leader of the opposition and other MPs there is clearly not going to be any room for decorum anytime soon. Cheap shots and name calling while hiding behind parliamentary privilege to make outlandish claims and attacks is what we can expect.

Honestly, I would like to see changes to parliamentary privilege if this is the direction things are going in. Like with most rules written so long ago, its authors probably never conceived of how it could be used as a weapon to inflict harm instead of a shield to protect open and honest discussion. But this isn’t a playground where you can say whatever you want and then hide behind the teacher. Actually, I think recess has more rules and children on a playground more respect for one another and those rules, either written or generally accepted, under playground etiquette.

And what is with Andrew Scheer? I swear that he couldn’t give a eulogy at his grandmother’s funeral without that smug arrogant smirk on his face. Every time he stood to read from the rules of order, it just went to show that the new speaker is holding himself to a level he expects from everyone else in the house by maintain his composure and being respectful. Something he was not receiving in return from anyone else in the opposition seats. Especially Scheer and Poilievre.

It was embarrassing to witness the children ganging up on the new schoolmaster. I really don’t believe this is what people want to see from any elected official, but if I were a member of the party doing it I would be even more embarrassed.

I don’t trust someone with my vote so they can waste it scoring cheap points to earn high-fives from other frat-boys in the caucus chamber. But Scheer and Poilievre’s hands must be quite raw after today’s displays in the House of Commons. Maybe tomorrow it will be towel snapping. And all while hiding behind a misused and abused Parliamentary Privilege so few in the Commons are worthy or deserving of.

Brian Spencler

Winnipeg

Where’s the good news?

I’m personally exhausted seeing our society being portrayed by our negative reflections which we are relentlessly exposed within our media. It seems that most sources focus 90 per cent or more of their day to day front page news coverage on “bad” news. They are taking simply advantage of the fact people are instinctually “ambulance, fire truck and police car chasers.” Why? Because it sells newspapers, increases viewer/listener-ship, etc. The bottom line is… it increases profits.

I know that my self confidence and efficacy would slowly deteriorate if I only saw an “ugly” face in the mirror as I started off each day. My analogy is: “What would our children turn out to be if parents continually rubbed their faces in every negative thing that they did each day … instead of focusing on reinforcing their positive attributes?”

Too often we ignore and/or take for granted the real things that matter the most… the wellness of our families, friends, communities and indeed the Earth itself. I suggest that our media must focus much more attention on reflecting the overwhelmingly caring, generous and helping nature of our society and the goodness of the majority of our citizens.

Rick Lambert

Winnipeg

Risks in continuing strike

Re: Hope in ample supply among striking MPI workers, labour leaders on eve of government change (Oct. 18)

MPI workers have been on strike 50 days and this not only marks their challenges but the unnecessary hardships for thousands of MPI claimants that are depending on essential services. I’m referring to people who have bodily injuries receiving work-loss compensation and injury treatment like physiotherapy.

I see MPI injury claimants daily as a physiotherapist and I see first-hand how their claims are currently being mismanaged or paralyzed. These are essential services that should not be jeopardized due to strike action.

MPI management surprisingly, have done the right thing and offered binding arbitration as a path forward and the MPI union has unfortunately refused it (perhaps without a vote?). Union leaders and MPI staff should be doing heel clicks with this opportunity.

I asked a union member leader on the picket line: why the MPI union has refused binding arbitration? She said they were concerned who the arbitrator(s) would be and that binding arbitration will not be advantageous for their contract. I explained that both parties must agree to the appointed impartial arbitrator(s). (Especially if it’s built into the previous contract). Then, after both sides have presented their position, the arbitrator(s) makes a binding decision. This is the only fair and reasonable process to resolve labour disputes that are essential services, including health care and education.

Going to the table now without arbitration is pie-in-the-sky. There is some hope with both parties being forced by law into binding arbitration by Oct. 27. The arbitrator(s), however, can then be appointed and not necessarily agreed to, which is not ideal. The MPI union will gain nothing more and risk achieving less by continuing this strike. Binding arbitration is not a panacea, but it is absolutely better than a drawn-out dispute and all the ensuing hardships and crash of workplace morale.

Kelly Milan

Winnipeg