Letters, March 11

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 11/03/2024 (914 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

More rural news please

I’m OK with the Free Press dropping the “Winnipeg” part of its name, as long as you commit to taking up the void left by the closure of too many community newspapers throughout the province.

The collapse of small newspapers is largely the fault of advertising revenue disappearing into the likes of Meta and Google, and readers ignoring the value of community journalism. The information gap left in smaller towns is impactful with a deficit of professional journalism working on local issues.

Cities, towns, and communities with a viable and thriving local newspaper benefit greatly from their presence. Social media giants are not interested in the local issues in small towns, but are happy to provide a platform to anyone, regardless of bias or skill set, whether real, unhinged, or eventually content generated by some AI algorithm. For a community and a democracy to thrive, we need trained journalists working in all branches of media with a responsibility for thorough and accurate professional coverage.

We appreciate your paper and commitment to quality journalism. I’d like the Free Press to also commit to having at least one page per day dedicated to a story relevant to news from another city or town in the province, especially ones that have lost their local newspapers. Even better would be to foster a network of journalists in those same smaller communities to meet your standards and submit stories. Perhaps advertisers from those places will reward you for the effort, and your readers will learn more about the issues important to others throughout the province.

Brian Hydesmith

Winnipeg

Time to make a deal

Re: ‘They’ve given up that dignity’ (March 7)

I’m writing in regards to the strike that is happening with the health-care workers at Ten Ten Sinclair Housing units.

I find it absolutely disrespectful, disgraceful and almost criminal in regards to the apparent lack of respect and caring that is being displayed by the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority while not negotiating with Ten Ten Sinclair employees. The fact, as far as I understand, that they have been without a contract for four years is totally appalling and should not happen.

I realize that the current government has only been in power for a short time, however the people who depend on the caregivers are some of our most vulnerable in our society. If there is any shred of decency and caring left in our government and the WRHA, please in the name of humanity please get this issue resolved.

Steve Smith

Traverse Bay

Keep the concourse

The announcement about crossing the street at Portage and Main was that it will soon be permitted. What the announcement should have been is that it will soon be mandatory to cross Portage and Main above ground.

I don’t especially want to cross Portage and Main outside, especially in the winter. The underground walkway is a Winnipeg treasure, allowing pedestrians access to all the main downtown buildings. Let’s think twice before we close it down.

John Duvenaud

Winnipeg

Against safe injection sites

I am writing to express my strong opposition to the proposals for creating safe consumption spaces in Winnipeg. Advocates for such initiatives argue that they would provide a controlled environment for drug use, but I firmly believe that they would only serve to further encourage and normalize drug use in our community.

Allowing drug use to occur with impunity undermines the rule of law and sends the message that compliance with legal standards is optional. Drug use and dealing are criminal offenses, and as long as they remain so, concepts like safe consumption and the provision of needles to addicts should be vehemently opposed. Instead, we must prioritize strong enforcement of drug laws and the punishment of both users and suppliers to maintain the integrity of our legal system.

Moreover, the notion that safe consumption sites address the root causes of drug use is misguided. Illicit drugs permanently alter the state of mind of their users, often leading to desperate and dangerous behaviour. Addiction recovery and reducing drug supply are crucial components of combating drug abuse, alongside addressing underlying issues such as poverty and homelessness.

I fear that those advocating for safe spaces fail to grasp the true complexities of the drug epidemic facing our community. Many of them, ensconced in their privileged positions, seem disconnected from the harsh realities of drug addiction and its devastating impact on our neighbourhoods. It is troubling to see large charity CEOs earning exorbitant salaries while failing to adequately address the pressing needs of those affected by addiction.

In conclusion, I urge the Winnipeg community to reject the establishment of safe consumption sites and instead focus on comprehensive strategies that prioritize law enforcement, addiction recovery, and addressing the root causes of drug abuse.

Jessica Taylor

Winnipeg

Unhappy about pool decision

Re: Pools targeted for closure cheaper to operate (March 4)

I would like to address the question of costs re: closing or keeping open various aquatic facilities as proposed in the upcoming city budget.

I note that the Eldon Ross Pool in the Brooklands area is in a disadvantaged area. According to the graph in this article, cost per visit at City of Winnipeg swimming pools, Eldon Ross costs $45 per visit. However, I heard on the news that this pool is only open three days a week. The expenses are seven days a week. I go to Sherbrook Pool five days a week and it costs $25 a visit. Fort Garry Lions is $34; Transcona Centennial is $32. And on and on.

Surely it is not fair to suggest a pool that is only open three days a week should be compared to ones that are open seven days a week. I am worried because the budget proposals suggest Sherbrook Pool should be put under review for four years. Going five days a week, I observe that city fees charged at Sherbrook are too high three days a week. People come on cheap and free days. They stay away on more expensive days.

I had proposed to our city councillor last October that Sherbrook lower the fees to loonie/toonie five days a week with two free days. The expenses would stay the same, but attendance would increase. The city should not be gouging pool users in inner-city neighbourhoods. It is no accident that recreation facilities like libraries and pools are targeted in inner city areas, while, in more affluent areas where people have cars and can drive to different facilities, their facilities are not threatened. I live in Wolseley and we have been fighting these backward attitudes for 40 years. Please invest in the children and families living in the inner city where they need facilities close by and where bus transportation is inconvenient. I am looking to giving up my car when I turn 80 and I need a pool with warm water for my arthritis. Pan Am is not an option.

I am disappointed that Mayor Scott Gillingham has chosen to target inner city facilities and put them on the “chopping block.” I hope that residents of Winnipeg with a conscience will let him know their opinions on these possible closures.

Ruth Swan

Winnipeg