Letters, July 26

Opinion

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 26/07/2024 (436 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Too much mayor

Re: “Mayor shuffles councillor out of portfolio”, July 25.

Mayor Scott Gillingham thinks it’s time to refresh his inner circle and make changes on the executive policy committee (EPC).

I’ve got a better idea, why isn’t EPC scrapped altogether?

Winnipeg has the distinction of having the most undemocratic governance model in all of Canada. We see democracy challenged throughout the world and we need a structure that is democratic that the citizens can trust.

Under the current model, the mayor holds all the cards. This is Winnipeg’s third consecutive conservative mayor, and he has surrounded himself with like-minded councillors. Under this mayor’s leadership, we will continue to see service cuts, facilities closures, higher taxes and no improvements to a democratic governance model.

Mike Davidson

Winnipeg

 

Wrong choice

I think Rich North (“Buttigieg Dems’ best VP bet”, July 24) is sadly mistaken when he suggests that Kamala Harris should select Peter Buttigieg as her running mate.

Indeed, I think it would guarantee her defeat.

Yes, Peter Buttigieg is a very smart and talented individual and was the mayor of South Bend, a city of a little over a 100,000 people. However, in a state (Indiana) that has a population of close to seven million people and is solidly Republican, I hardly think he would be able to turn the “Republican stronghold” into a blue state.

It would be much smarter for Harris to choose a U.S. senator or state governor of a swing state as her running mate.

Also, contrary to the lookism, ageism ,racism and sexism expressed by North, even if Harris chooses a running mate that is not “handsome” and is an “old” “white” “guy”, it would still be a better pick than Buttigieg. I just don’t think that the U.S. is ready for the “most progressive” duo that has ever run for the White House.

J. D. Marion

Winnipeg

 

Proud of students

The students in the Gaza solidarity encampments breathed life into a vision of what the university could and should be.

They developed an analysis of the current genocide of the Palestinian people by the state of Israel, and how life on the Canadian prairies feeds this horror — from official Canadian support for Israel’s devastation of Palestine and its people, to the financial investments of our institutions which profit from this machinery of death.

They connected this analysis and their struggle to other struggles, from Kanaky to Congo to Turtle Island. From their besieged encampment, they marshalled this analysis into a demand to end institutional complicity in this genocide.

In a world of overlapping humanitarian and environmental crises, the students rebuffed the idea that the university should reproduce the status quo, bravely deploying reason to construct a world that confers life and dignity upon all.

As academics, we are incredibly proud of the university students who led the way; we owe them an immense debt of gratitude.

Last week’s ruling from the ICJ (and recent estimates from The Lancet) have confirmed the story that Palestinians have long told and which the students amplified. The question now turns to all of us: do we have the courage recognize, name, and describe the unfreedoms we visit on Palestine, and deploy that knowledge for a free Palestine?

Dr. Jonathan Donald Jenner, Assistant Professor

University of Manitoba

Dr. Mark Libin, Professor,

University of Manitoba

 

Move to mitigation

I have been reading the news about the forest fires with dread this summer. A recent trip to Wandering River for a family reunion was tinged with extreme heat and poor air quality warnings on our weather app.

On Sunday, our visit to the Cold Lake air show was disappointing as most flights were grounded.

Now we hear that in Jasper, families are evacuated, businesses face incredible losses, and treasures like the Maligne Lodge seem to be destroyed.

While I know our challenges are many and our resources limited, our governments at all levels need to make mitigation more of a priority, otherwise each year we will lose more treasures like Jasper.

Donna Alexander

Winnipeg

 

Consequences for police errors

Re: “I feel like my life is ruined”, July 23

Once the pride of Canada and a source of admiration from law enforcement agencies around the world, the RCMP has devolved into a version of the Keystone Cops, but with much more sinister outcomes for their incompetence.

All across this country, the RCMP have been involved in incidents that question their credibility.

From allegations of rampant sexual abuse to the horrific mishandling of the massacre of 22 people in Nova Scotia, the RCMP have become an embarrassment to the citizens of Canada.

In the past, the term, “The Mounties always get their man” was commonly used to describe their efficiency as a law enforcement agency.

They “got their man” in a recent investigation into sex trafficking in Portage la Prairie… only it was the wrong man.

A completely innocent citizen has had his life destroyed by being falsely accused and charged in the case.

Scott Taylor can never again regain the life he had before the nightmare began with a raid on his house and his subsequent arrest. It’s time for some life-altering experiences for the RCMP officers involved in the case. Fire them all!

Wally Barton

Winnipeg

 

On letters

Re: “Of letters, sausages and a bounty of fish”, July 22

Your editorial about letters to the editor failed to mention one significant reason for which you will not print a letter.

If a letter writer’s point of view is considered politically incorrect by the Free Press, the odds are that it will not get printed.

Indeed, recent letters of mine dealing with contentious subjects have not been printed, I can only assume, for that very reason.

Presenting a rationally-written letter that deals with a controversial subject in a civil manner is not “hate” (a word often used to discourage civil discourse of some controversial issues).

Different points of view have a right to be aired in order to have a healthy debate in a democratic society. The Free Press has a right to publish its point of view and its readers should be accorded the courtesy of expressing a contrary opinion.

If you are truly “committed to publishing a diverse selection of letters from a broad cross-section of (your) audience”, then please do so.

Gilles Roch

Winnipeg

 

Teachers owe duty of care

Re: “NDP should hold fast on teachers’ discipline”, (July 24).

Being a retired teacher, I was very disappointed when reading Wednesday’s editorial regarding the Manitoba Teachers’ Society’s attempts to restrict the scope of the proposed new law regarding teacher discipline.

I have always been a supporter of unions and the protections they provide to their members and, at times, served on MTS committees.

However, I believe that it is important for union leaders to maintain a broad perspective when making decisions that affect groups other than their own membership.

Any legislation that attempts to enhance the safety of students should be fully supported by the MTS. In this case, protecting their members should not take precedence over the first rule in its own Professional Code of Conduct; “A members’ first responsibility is to the Member’s students.”

Brent Corrigan

Winnipeg