Letters, Dec. 16

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 16/12/2023 (683 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Speak up for better justice

Re: Time to review drunk driving sentences (Editorialm, Dec. 5); A punishment that fits the crime (Think Tank, Nov. 30); Solutions exist for crime of impaired driving — will somebody finally listen? (Think Tank, Nov. 27)

Karen Reimer’s cry is for someone in power to listen and help.

We need change! There is no deterrent in Manitoba for driving impaired, speeding while running multiple stop signs, killing an innocent, beautiful young woman, fleeing the scene of the crash, hiding out for almost 24 hours, turning yourself in only to lie to the police and then putting a family through hell by waiting one year to plead guilty. All while you are free to live in society and go about your days as if nothing has happened.

Then comes the sentencing. Judge McKenzie talked about the laws changing and becoming stiffer. That the Canadian criminal justice system was trending towards much harsher sentencing and then what happened. Tyler Scott Goodman is finally sentenced, however due to our laws may only serve one-third of his sentence. A whopping 28 months. Wow! Would this be acceptable if it was the Crown or the Judges family member who was killed?

The judge was the only one with the power to say, “It is unacceptable that the Crown is only going for six years”. He could have made history and been a pioneer for justice and imposed a sentence that was harsher and reflected the gravity of the crime. He could have set precedent and sent the right message to the public. He could have said impaired driving will no longer be condoned in Manitoba and no longer come with lenient sentences. But he didn’t.

How do we the public help Karen’s family get someone to listen and to do something about it? How do we help future families as it is inevitable there soon will be another family going through this nightmare? These lenient sentences provide no deterrent to make people fear the consequences of driving impaired.

Jordyn Reimer deserves justice. Jordyn’s family deserves justice.

Let’s unite as Manitobans and stop this wrong. Faith in the justice system is being eroded by this leniency. Let us all let the justice minister and the premier know we are united and demanding change. Go to their website and tell them what you think!

Use your voice and insist that sentencing reflect the gravity of the crime. After all, Jordyn no longer has her voice.

Heather Tabin, Winnipeg

Think of others, get jab

Re: Hospitals strained by respiratory viruses forced to cancel surgeries (Dec. 15)

Yet again those who have been waiting for surgeries an procedures need to wait because people refuse to get a flu or COVID shot.

I am sick and tired of those of us who try to take care of ourselves and the general public by getting shots so illnesses spread not getting the care we need because of this. Yes you may still get the flu and you may still get COVID if you have been vaccinated but if you do, studies have proven it will be less severe.

I do not understand why you would rather sit in an emergency room for 14 hours and be sick for weeks rather than get a shot. I also do not understand why you need to go to emergency, unless you are severely ill, and need to be hospitalized, to confirm that you have the flu or COVID and you should go home and rest.

Stewart Jacques, Winnipeg

Look to K-9s for help

Re: One car, one cop (Letters, Dec. 9)

The cost of using police control is extremely high if two officers work together. In some other countries police are accompanied by a large, trained dog, most frequently a German shepherd or Malinois.

Not only are dogs cheaper than trained humans, but they have the ability to scent around corners and other hiding places, they can more easily enter smaller spaces, and are faster and more agile than their human handlers. It is well known that most criminals are far more intimidated by a large, threatening dog than by an armed human.

The death of a dog at the hands of a violent perpetrator is a terrible loss, but that loss is not as devastating as that of a human. Two officers can travel in one car for foot patrol with two dogs, but cover separate areas while still communicating, thus saving the cost of not only salaries, but also a second patrol car.

The presence of a large German shepherd or Malinois is a great protection and crime deterrent, thus saving more money, which in turn buys peace of mind for citizens. These canines don’t have to be imported at a high cost but are bred right here in Canada by knowledgeable breeders and prepared for work by professional puppy raisers and qualified service dog trainers, all of which is still cheaper than a police officer’s salary and which obviates the need for another pair of patrol officers.

Susanne Olver, Winnipeg

Addiction about illness, not willpower

Re: B.C. chief coroner leaving her office frustrated and disappointed (Dec. 14)

Addictions are medical illnesses, often brought about by poor social conditions, unemployment, homelessness, and poverty. Medical illnesses are usually treated by medical staff, more often than not with medication.

Imagine if your son or daughter fell ill and needed medication. Would you seek this medication from experienced physicians, or from a street dealer? It makes sense that good medication would be helpful to the infirm, rather than the latter. Hence, it would be good practice to treat opiate addictions with pharmaceutical grade agents, rather than dirty drugs, in a strictly controlled environment. Also very important is addressing poor social conditions, homelessness, and other contributing factors. This is the responsibility of good government. Addictions are the result of these circumstances and not a matter of poor will power.

Doctors, nurses and social workers should be responsible for providing good medical care. Politicians should confine themselves to addressing important social factors.

David Hallatt, MD (Retired), Winnipeg

Let tax changes stand

The previous government estimated that by simply raising the provincial Basic Personal amount for the 2023 Tax Year, 47,000 taxpayers should have been removed from the tax rolls. These are the “working poor” and those in “gentile poverty.”

Yes, it also helped other taxpayers but that simple change was a direct benefit to the less well-off. In 2024 this lower income group will get the Deduction raised by another five per cent, knocking off more taxpayers from the rolls. Further the first tranche of taxable income (currently $36,842) at the 10.8 per cent rate will be raised to $47,000. This will give them a two per cent reduction of taxes on about $10,000 of taxable income. Not a lot of money, but it all counts when trying to make ends meet.

And it’s time to drop the education tax on property and move the whole cost of education onto the provincial government and its tax field. School taxes on property were imposed back in the days when people rode horses to go to town and barter was a favorite method of economic exchange. Local governments were responsible for running some sort of schooling system for local children.

Property taxes were an effective way to get cash because non-payment resulted in seizure and sale of the assets. Compliance was usually 100 per cent. Those days are over. Property taxes should be for payment of services to property such as roads, water supplies, sewage works, etc. Education is a benefit to all of society and should be paid for by the population through general taxes such as income and corporate taxes. It’s time to move into the 21st century.

Andrew Dickson, Winnipeg