Letters, Nov. 2

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This article was published 02/11/2023 (714 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Waiting game must end

Re: Changing health-care delivery (Think Tank, Oct. 31)

I agree with Dr. Philippe Erhard on the need for consolidated comprehensive patient-centred bricks and mortar clinics. Patients receive timely diagnostic treatment by specialists and supportive health with expertise in their condition. It is cost effective, we are in the office anyway. Streamlining services would improve a very fractured and fragile health system.

As Dr. Erhard states “Family physicians lacking expertise … or overwhelmed by work, will have the opportunity to make a quick referral to the clinic … Ideally, self referral should be offered as well…”

There have been rumblings about a Manitoba Centre of Excellence for Complex Chronic Diseases specializing in, but not limited to, myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS), fibromyalgia, long COVID, post-lyme, etc.

I gave this name to the clinic based on similar centres in other Canadian cities. Manitobans deserve better. As Dr. Erhard states we need the front lines and the political will to reform health-care delivery to suffering Manitobans.

Our precious limited energy is invested in the waiting game for the next referral, the next test, the next treatment and the worry that this next specialist will understand the complexities of our illness. There are good clinicians in Manitoba but finding them is half the battle.

Bev Friesen

Manitoba ME/CFS Support Group, Inc.

Winnipeg

Adaptation key on the road

I had to chuckle when I read the comparisons between Manitoba road clearing and North Dakota’s. People expect the maintenance departments to predict the weather, now.

Sometimes, it is just better to stay off the roads in bad weather. Last Saturday, our town, Warren, which is 15 minutes north of the Perimeter on Highway 6, was dumped on to a level of over a foot while Winnipeg just got a dusting of snow. So, yes, there can be a difference in a matter of miles. This reminds me of a trip we decided to make to visit friends in Georgia in 2018.

We headed out on April 1 — that should have been a clue!

There was no snow here in Manitoba so we had switched to our summer tires, emptied our winter gear out of the car and planned a pleasant drive there. Everything was fine until we hit the South Dakota border and then all hell broke loose. A spring snowstorm hit with a vengeance. We saw one snowplow the entire way through the state. There were no sanders. Traffic slowed to a crawl. Quite a few slipped into the ditch.

At one point, we had to pull over into a parking lot because the ice had built up in our wheel wells. The only thing we had in the car to clear it away was an umbrella which broke in our attempt to remove it. No boots, no mitts, no winter wear.

Climate change is going to give us these surprises, so we had better learn to adapt.

Cathy Coss

Warren

511 woes

I was one of very few who ventured onto Highway 75 last Saturday, travelling from Winnipeg to the U.S. For me, the failure began with the Manitoba 511 system. As of 8 a.m. Saturday morning, the 511 site had not been updated since 5 p.m. on Friday. However, the North Dakota 511 system reported winter conditions/safe roads so I went with that and set out.

As has been reported, Highway 75 surfaces were treacherous. I was very fortunate to fall in behind a semi whose speed remained between 18-32 m.p.h. Behind me was another vehicle and behind that person, another three semis. We formed a little caravan. We stayed a safe distance from each other and maintained the very slow speeds. There was no passing! Much of the time we all drove with passenger side tires on the sometimes-bare shoulder.

What was most astonishing was that the North Dakota highway — a couple of hundred yards from Highway 75 — was almost clear of snow and ice!

I’m 80 years old. I can’t believe the Highway 75 road surface was that dangerous, or that I managed to make it to the border. My children are in turns impressed and admonishing.

Thank you to my companions in the ‘caravan’ that day and to whatever angels guided us.

Manitoba drivers should not have to depend on angels to get them safely to their destination.

Tish Murphy

Minneapolis, Minn.

High cost to settle strike

MPI workers have been offered a 13 per cent raise over 4 years, an $1,800 lump sum payment, and two weeks “recognition pay.”

In addition, over 60 per cent of employees will be eligible for an additional 3.5 per cent increase. Yes, Premier Wab Kinew certainly has the back of the MPI workers. It’s just too bad the premier doesn’t realize that he represents all Manitobans, not just those who belong to unions.

Perhaps if he did, he would have the back of vehicle owners who are going to have to pay for these raises.

James Petsnik

Winnipeg

In need of a recall

Re: Cabinet door closes, simmering backbench argument opens (Oct. 30)

If there was ever a time that we needed a recall election provision then overlooked cabinet minister Mark Wasyliw is certainly making a case for it.

I really don’t think a lot of the people who voted for him are going to appreciate him going back to work as a lawyer when he is been elected and paid exceedingly well to serve them in their constituency.

Keith Gordon

Winnipeg

Wasyliw misses point of job

Dan Lett’s commentary on the Mark Wasyliw mess was excellent and should perhaps be required reading for all MLAs as they work to understand the breadth and weight of their lofty jobs.

Come to that, the article should probably be read by all prospective candidates for elected office at all levels, prior to them deciding to file their papers.

Had Mr. Wasyliw received Mr. Lett’s counsel in advance of his decision to stand, would it have borne on his deliberations? Might he have checked his ego and walked away if he had fully understood the sizable gap between how much of himself he was ready to give to the job and what the job would actually require of him for it to be done well?

The most unfortunate aspect of this sticky situation seems to be how completely Mr. Wasyliw cut corners in his process of due diligence and ended up in a very uncomfortable situation indeed.

Surely a person of his experience and professional credentials should have been equipped to ask the right people the right questions to verify his assumption that he could essentially be an MLA off the side of his desk.

If ever there was a predictably full-time (and more) gig, it would seem to be that of representing citizens’ needs and interests and contributing to the sound management of a complex jurisdiction under the constant fire of a well-armed opposition.

But what do I really know? I’m just one of those citizens.

John Trevor

Winnipeg

Shining light on issue

Driving along in my car I noticed something that could be a problem in many cities and towns in our country. It looks like a majority of our traffic lights have been converted to LED light bulbs.

Because the new LED bulbs do nor radiate nearly as much heat as the old style bulbs do and depending on which way the wind and snow are blowing I know see that our traffic lights could very easily be covered over with snow and, with no heat coming from the bulbs, the red, green and amber lights at times are covered with snow and appear to not be working.

I noticed this one day last week as I was driving downtown. This should be noticed by all who use our roads for travelling and one that could create a problem with traffic.

Please drive with care and be aware of this anomaly.

Ken Butchart

Winnipeg