Letters, Aug. 14

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 14/08/2024 (452 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Relieved to see more parity

Re: Elect women — but not just because they’re women (Think Tank, Aug. 13)

As a former elected female politician I thank Rochelle Squires for her comments. I agree merit and accomplishments are more important than gender.

However, I feel women will continue to struggle in politics as often male politicians and senior bureaucrats are threatened by their female counterparts. In my experience, seniors grew up with male political leaders and female teachers. That was their comfort zone. Now I am a senior who continues to speak out when necessary.

I am relieved to see all three levels of government are experiencing more gender parity just like the 2024 Paris Olympics.

Sandy Hyman

Winnipeg

 

Thoughts on bargaining process

I am writing to share some reflections following the recent conclusion of our collective bargaining process with the province of Manitoba. I am president of the Legal Aid Lawyers Association.

Our union, like many others, was engaged in negotiations that we hoped would result in meaningful support for working parents, particularly mothers going on maternity leave. Unfortunately, we were met with unexpected resistance to increasing the parental leave top-up pay that we sought to secure.

This opposition struck us as counterintuitive, especially given the province’s stated goals of population growth and its reliance on immigration policies to achieve this aim. Attracting and retaining skilled workers, including young families, is crucial to Manitoba’s future prosperity. Enhancing parental leave benefits, including top-up pay for mothers, is not merely a labour issue but a strategic investment in the province’s demographic and economic vitality.

The current government has consistently emphasized its dedication to child welfare and support for parents with young children.

However, the reluctance to extend this support to public sector employees through improved parental leave benefits raises questions about the coherence of these policies. If we are to truly prioritize the well-being of families and encourage population growth, it seems essential that our policies reflect a commitment to supporting parents during one of the most critical periods of their lives.

As we look ahead to the next round of collective bargaining in 2027, our union, along with others in the public sector, remains hopeful that the government will take this opportunity to reassess its position.

Supporting working parents, particularly mothers, is not just a matter of fairness; it is integral to the long-term health and growth of our province. We trust that the government will give this issue the thoughtful consideration it deserves in the coming years.

Thank you for your attention to this important matter.

Gary Robinson

Winnipeg

 

Unhelpful move

As I watched the Olympics closing ceremonies in Paris, and how it brings people together from all walks of life, all countries, and many sports, we have witnessed respect, compassion, friendship and love between the participants. Win or lose.

My heart breaks for the devastation and loss of life in Gaza and Israel, but demonstrations that cause turmoil at an event that is meant to bring people together in Winnipeg is not the avenue to travel. Sometimes protesting turns to a bigger problem, because of heated personalities.

Mr. Ramsey Zeid was quoted that protesting in front of the Israel pavilion was to show Winnipeggers that Israel is killing innocent people in Gaza, what about the innocent people in Israel that were ambushed and killed, by Hamas? The problem is Hamas, and Israel has every right to defend its citizens. Mr. Zeid is on only one side, the rest of the world is on both sides.

To end this, do you think demonstrating in Winnipeg at Folklorama and making people fearful about attending is helping Gaza?

Tammy MacIntosh

Winnipeg

 

Personal responsibility

The Free Press has recently published several pieces on the actions, or inactions, of various levels of government to improve road safety.

This is all well and good. However, human behaviour plays a large role in the frequency and severity of collisions. Our individual actions, or inactions, matter.

I would like to see media pieces include information regarding human behaviour such as whether the driver was complying with traffic laws including driving with a valid license, whether people were visible via reflective clothing, whether helmets were worn, and whether seat belts were used. Reports involving stolen vehicles should indicate whether keys were used (which is the case 90 per cent of the time in Manitoba). The intent is not to blame the victim, but to highlight the steps we can all take to improve road safety.

Sometimes, the government isn’t the only stakeholder responsible for our safety. There are quick, cheap and easy steps we can all take.

Michelle Burdz

Winnipeg

 

Nickel-and-dime worries

Re: Houston trip mishandled (Letters, Aug. 12)

Ken Campbell’s Aug. 12 letter to the editor is the latest criticism of the NDP government’s decision to take a group of interested Winnipeggers to Houston to review its approach to the homelessness epidemic being faced seemingly everywhere.

Of course, governments of all political stripes and at all levels can and should be more responsible with taxpayers’ dollars.

However, I find the spate of letters criticizing the Houston trip to be disappointing. But not surprising. And it’s an unnecessary distraction from the real problem.

A fact-finding trip to see other approaches firsthand is a good idea. And since there are multiple stakeholders whose participation in addressing this issue will be of critical importance, taking them to Houston is also a good idea. It ensures they all get the same information at the same time. In a group setting, they have the opportunity to analyze, discuss and debate the various perspectives they bring to the table. A shared perspective is the first step on the road to a shared solution.

Thirty thousand dollars is a lot of money for an individual. But in the context of government spending, it is as they say a “rounding error.” It’s the same cost as government hiring a part-time employee somewhere in the depths of the civil service.

They say that if you want voters to lose interest in, and understanding of, an issue, just add a few zeroes to the cost of it. We ignore million-, and yes, billion-dollar waste but instead, focus on nickels and dimes. Things like the Houston trip have the potential to improve our approaches to homelessness by making them more effective at achieving results and more efficient in the way they do so. That is worth a $30,000 “gamble.”

Let’s keep our focus on what is really important and encourage our governments to do the same.

Robert Pruden

Winnipeg

 

No need for permanent speed reduction

Re: Lower limits a good thing (Letters, Aug. 9)

Laura Sokal certainly does not speak for the majority of Winnipeggers when, in her letter, she suggest that school zone speed limits be enforced all year around (as if motorists are not smart enough to realize there is no school on in July and August).

She also cites “studies” that she has researched that claim lower speed limits are effective in preventing/reducing injury. I am certain that if she did further research she would also find that reducing speed limits to 10 km/h, and getting children to wear bubble wrap would virtually eliminate all injury! But why stop there? Drivers are also at risk, so perhaps we should mandate that all motorists need to wear helmets while in vehicles?

My point is that there is some risk any time you leave your house, but elongating the period that the enforcement is in place would just prove to be another tax grab.

Derek Rolstone

Winnipeg