Letters, Nov. 28

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 28/11/2023 (914 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Change needed now

Re: Will somebody finally listen? (Think Tank, Nov. 27)

I am listening, but I have no power. I am just another frustrated and disgusted citizen. I am angered and disgusted at the sentences for Tyler Scott Goodman and Laurie Goodman for their involvement in the senseless death of Jordyn Reimer.

Tyler will be eligible for full parole after serving only one-third of his sentence. This means that Tyler will serve only 27 months for the death of Jordyn. Meanwhile, Laurie will be at home, able to run her errands, go to work, and have visitors. There is no punishment there.

My dad was a police officer. I grew up listening to my dad’s frustration at the revolving door of arresting the same people over and over again. He got into policing to help people and rarely felt that he did. Thirty years later, as an adult married to a police officer, I listen to the same frustrations and anger, with sentences dropping and no accountability. Things are not changing, they are getting worse. People have no idea how broken the justice system is. In fact, we don’t have a justice system, we have a legal system. There is no justice.

There is no sentence that will bring Jordyn home. However, there should be a sense of justice and meaningful consequences for killing someone with your vehicle while intoxicated, then fleeing the scene and leaving them to die alone. The justice system is sending a message to the public that it is okay to drive impaired. The consequences aren’t a deterrent.

There is still a very casual attitude about drinking and driving. People don’t see it as manslaughter. A drunk person behind the wheel is like aiming a loaded gun. We all hear and read the stories, say “that’s too bad,” and move on. I don’t understand how the politicians, judges and lawyers who support this system sleep at night.

What if it was their daughter? Why aren’t they listening? Things need to change. The laws are there, but the sentences are not. There needs to be Justice for Jordyn.

Shannon Anderson

Winnipeg

Karen Reimer’s article about the effects of drunk driving and the lack of accountability that exists in our justice system is a powerful statement. She makes a very reasonable argument for increasing the penalties whenever a fatality is caused by a drunk driver.

I urge everyone to read her article and do what they can to support her views until someone with power to change the system listens.

Mary-Lynne Braun

Winnipeg

Stark contrasts

Re: Fanning the flames of antisemitism (Think Tank, Nov. 25)

I take great exception to the article by Mike Fegelman from Honest Reporting Canada. Readers should be made fully aware that this organization is a pro-Israel organization that is headquartered in New York and is known for its questionable attacks on any publication that dares to criticize Israel.

They promote and popularize the notion that any criticism of the State of Israel or its government is anti-semitic, which by definition is ridiculous. Their most recent attack was directed at journalists who photographed the Oct. 7 Hamas attack, claiming these journalists were working in coordination with the terrorists and “part of the plan.”

This lead to death threats and accusations by the Israeli PMO that the journalists were “accomplices in crimes against humanity” The Associated Press, Reuters, New York Times and CNN as well as the Committee to Protect Journalists strongly refuted these accusations. Honest Reporting eventually admitted they had no evidence to support their accusations.

Fegelman’s article is little more than a vitriolic personal attack on Alison Moule for daring to voice her opinion and position on the Israeli-Gaza conflict and her criticism of the Israeli state. It contains very little accurate information and makes sweeping statements that are not supported by any data and frankly not anchored in reality. By comparison, Alison Moule should be applauded, especially given she is herself Jewish, for sharing her opinion and opposition to the extreme civilian death tolls seen in Gaza.

Death tolls the UN has called “unprecedented in modern time.” The New York Times recently echoed this sentiment in its newspaper. Mike Fegelman and his organization are promoting hatred and violence against all who dare to critcize the Israel government. Alison Moule is promoting peace and freedom. What a contrast.

It is disappointing that the Free Press would choose to give such an organization a voice given their extreme bias and reputation, especially given their recent reckless and unfounded attacks on their own colleagues in the news industry.

Rob McConnell

Winnipeg

New creed

Re: Pandemic report with troublesome elements (Editorial, Nov.27)

Preston Manning is confirming what many view as the new Conservative creed.

If the current science or federal laws are inconvenient or don’t align with the extreme views of some conservative voters then the conservative politicians will decide what science they will believe and what laws they will follow.

I guess they have a new and more current definition of democracy, one that does consider everyone, just their supporters.

Gilles Nicolas

Winnipeg

Tories’ misguided move

Re: Trudeau accuses Tories of turning their backs on Ukraine’s needs, announces more aid (Nov. 24)

The Tories’ rise in the polls is not based on what they would do as much as it is an opportunistic criticism of the Liberals’ poor performance on inflation, carbon tax, housing, etc.

Poilievre has been very astute at positioning Tories on ”the right side” of voter sentiment. However, the Tories’ recent rejection of an update to a Canada/Ukraine trade bill, on the grounds it promotes carbon pricing, is a shortsighted misstep.

At this point in time, this bill is largely symbolic with little immediate economic consequence. Nonetheless, at a time when the global focus and support of the Ukrainian conflict is wavering, this move by the Tories ignores the strong sentiment of the 1.4 million Ukrainian Canadians, as well as the majority of like-minded Canadians.

More importantly, it points towards the irresponsible manipulation of Canada’s stated position with regards to its support for Ukraine, strictly for the purposes of political grandstanding.

Stan Prokopchuk

Winnipeg

Re: Manitoba Clinic future linked to province’s review of $1.5-B Tory-planned HSC project (Nov. 22)

We were disappointed to read that the proposed HSC patient tower may now not go forward, according to the NDP spokesperson.

As former patients of HSC, we experienced first-hand the dedication and quality of its doctors and nurses, alongside the hospital’s crumbling infrastructure. Rooms are cramped and often mixed gender, which makes it difficult for staff to navigate bedside treatment and leaves little space for visitors.

The shared bathrooms are a nightmare for patients, especially those with mobility issues as there is no room for assistive devices. Shower stalls have not been updated in decades and prove hazardous.

While a new patient tower may not seem like an immediate need in comparison to the horrid conditions of our ERs, the tower is part of a much-needed solution to the over-crowding and lack of beds.

Needing surgery is difficult enough, but trying to recover without proper accommodations is not conducive to healing. Our physicians and nurses deserve better and so does every patient who walks through HSC’s doors. We strongly implore the NDP to reconsider their current position.

Michelle Chochinov and Lauren Chochinov

Winnipeg