Letters, June 27

Opinion

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 27/06/2024 (441 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Tory win no rout

Re: Should he stay or should he go? Trudeau at crossroads (June 26)

Yes, it is significant that Conservatives won a seat held for some decades by the Liberals, but it was hardly a rout. Despite the low standing of the federal Liberals, especially their leader, the party won 40.59 per cent of the votes, only 590 votes behind the Conservatives.

For context, voter turnout in 2024 equal to that in 2021 would result in 18,653 more votes. Of those who did vote and excluding 4,044 NDP votes, there were still 2,398 votes spread across 81 other candidates. The Green party alone garnered 1,059 votes helping elect the environment hostile “axe the tax” Conservative party.

Non-progressive Conservatives were also seen as receptive to far right policies. Bernier’s People’s party received 1,432 votes in 2021 versus 234 in 2024. As in the U.S., extreme right voters have dragged once centrist conservative parties towards their mean-spirited agenda.

If Conservatives win the 2025 election, it will result from (small L) liberal votes spread across multiple parties as in this byelection. Perhaps the real story is that the current coalition of Liberals and NDPers beat the Conservatives by almost 10 per cent of the vote, faint support for a Conservative message dominated by negativity, anger, and loathing.

Jim Clark

Winnipeg

Unfair position for parents

Re: Battles required against broken child care system (June 26)

I feel compelled to reach out about the article by Rebecca Chambers “Battles against broken child care system”. Her words perfectly captured the feelings I went through with my son and I thank her for putting it into words so others may begin to understand.

It’s terribly unfair, the positions parents are put in to gain some semblance of inclusion and accommodation for their child.

Monique St. Germain

Winnipeg

Differing definitions

Re: Under threat by war on the other side of the globe (June 22)

This report includes the subhead Jewish, Palestinian Winnipeggers target of increased hate, intimidation. It may be helpful to Free Press readers to have a conversation on what defines antisemitism and hate speech.

While antisemitism is generally understood to mean a hatred of Jews, the Jewish Federation of Winnipeg (JFW) asserts criticism of the State of Israel is a manifestation of anti-semitism. The JFW is on record taking a position of unequivocal support for Israel”s actions. Is it any wonder that since the most recent Israel/Gaza conflict on Oct. 7 and the subsequent calls worldwide for a ceasefire along with an indictment by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) of Israel on the charge of genocide, the JFW claims a rise in anti-semitism?

The JFW does not represent all Jews in Winnipeg. The United Jewish People’s Order (UJPO) , Independent Jewish Voices (IJV) and others oppose the Israeli occupation of Palestinian lands and support the right of Palestinians to self-determination. This is a position that finds favour in most countries around the world. Jews and non Jews alike are derided by pro-Israel organizations for upholding Palestinian rights. We are called “self-hating”, “antisemites” and “Hamas lovers,” hardly words of peace and understanding. In Winnipeg we have reached out to the JFW for dialogue as we see their unequivocal support for Israel as damaging to the entire Jewish community and the cause of peace, but no response has been received.

Racism and antisemitism do exist in our society. The conduct of Israel along with support from some Jewish organizations here only serves to muddle/confuse what antisemitism is and feed those who bear ill will toward Jews.

Rubin Kantorovich

Winnipeg

Policing not the solution

Re: Crackdown on retail crime worth continuing: justice minister (June 26)

I’m not surprised that putting police in places where retail theft is happening is having a positive effect, does not surprise me at all.

But perhaps the knee-jerk reaction shouldn’t be more police and certainly not at the cost of of more than a quarter of a million dollars a month in overtime. Or perhaps it’s how police are deployed that is more relevant here.

For the almost $400,000, could we not create a free store? A location where groceries paid for by that money are given free to needy individuals? This would directly challenge the idea that was proffered in several opinion pieces in the Free Press recently where it was suggested that stealing food is creating an underground economy for people who can’t afford food. OK, let’s address that, instead of providing the resources for a few more constables, let’s buy food for homeless people and provide a location to allow them to take it and eat. If you take away the need for an underground economy then the demand should theoretically go down right?

Perhaps we could spend that nearly $400,000 a month on addictions resources, perhaps create a fund for the future safe injection site, fund another treatment bed, or counselling resources to reduce recidivism and reoffending, or perhaps offer stable housing, anything other than paying overtime to people who don’t need it in this context.

I’m all for paying police, but if I’m paying them I want them showing up to robbery calls, sexual assaults, and murders.

Will Jones

Winnipeg

The price of climate change

Re: Fuel tax cut saving Manitobans millions (Think Tank, June 24)

The Canadian Taxpayers Federation says a two-car family (with one vehicle being a light duty pickup truck–how many families really need that?) could save approximately $440 by the end of September because of the government’s fuel tax cut. The taxpayers’ federation wants the gas tax holiday to continue, starving our Manitoba budget of millions of dollars.

The cost of climate change is much higher. The government of Canada’s analysis estimates that climate-related impacts are costing average Canadian households $720 per year today and will increase to around $2000 per year by 2050. Already in 2023, Canada’s severe weather caused over $3.1 billion in insured damages.

Extending the gas tax cut will only incentivize driving and larger vehicles. So we get steadily increasing bus fares, fewer people taking part in active transportation, more pollution, record-breaking heat and wildfires, and higher costs in the end.

Lori Bohn

Winnipeg

Neglected areas

Re: City told grant cuts will hinder crime prevention (June 18)

Most concerning and disappointing that City of Winnipeg’s recent budget will slash funding to the community grants funding.

This budget sounds like a disaster. All the money tied up in an ill-advised and very expensive road-widening project and a flashy new recreation centre for the suburbs.

What about crime and safety concerns?

What about the maintenance of existing recreational facilities?

What about the ever escalating price tag on the very important upgrades to the north end sewage treatment facility ?

What about transit? Without dedicated bus lanes through the traffic bottlenecks, the new plan is doomed.

What about roadway line painting equipment?

And next year the list of neglected, vital expenditures will multiple and grow.

Marilyn Bird

Winnipeg