Letters, Oct. 15

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 15/10/2024 (589 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Violent crime

I stopped reading Niigaan Sinclair on May 16 when he covered the stealing of meat from Foodfare on Portage Avenue. His assertion that meat thieves, sometimes incorporating violence, might be providing a service by allowing “poor people” access to cheap meat shocked me.

This was the first time I had ever read that stealing was a solution to a problem. He ended that column with: “It may just be more than racism.”

Against my better judgment I read Shampoo, rinse, repeat: that’s Manitoba’s criminal justice system, Oct. 9, in which he revisits the same theme. The fault does not lie with the people highlighted in the “Most Wanted” posters, but rather the problem lies within the system.

The oldest and simplest justification for government is as protector protecting citizens from violence.

As someone concerned with violence of any kind perpetrated in our city, I feel all citizens of Winnipeg have the right to a fair warning of dangerous individuals especially if an added context reads: “Take no action to apprehend.”

Is there any other way to identify these individuals other than a picture and name? Does this serve a purpose or merely reinforce a racial stereotype with half the pictures identifying Indigenous youth? RCMP Insp. Shawn Pike acknowledges that “when we engage with the public and ask for help, the public will respond, and they come through.”

Mr. Sinclair has written about this unfair treatment since 1980 and it’s something he feels strongly about. My disappointment in the article is that he merely points out that the system, replete with racial overtones, is not working, but he gives no advice or attempts to advocate for a solution.

Rodger Spelmer

Winnipeg

To piggyback on Niigaan Sinclair’s theme of repeating the same actions and expecting different results (Shampoo, rinse, repeat: that’s Manitoba’s criminal justice system, Oct. 9), his comments reflect that he too is stuck in this mindset.

Specifically, deflecting responsibility for our actions onto another group (police) that for some reason has a vendetta against us; refusing to accept that the responsibility for the consequences of our actions is in fact ours.

How dare we suggest that those perpetrating, in his words, “brutal crimes” be held to account? There must be a conspiracy among police, the justice department, politicians and the general public against this group of violent offenders.

Is it possible that the percentage of our current prison population in fact represents accurately (or at least closely) the percentage of the population engaged in perpetrating these crimes?

Not a topic that we actually want to address it seems. And yet, failing to do so prevents us from effectively finding solutions.

Addictions groups work precisely because the person in need is willing and able to say, “Hi, I am Joe and I am an xxxxx.”

Without this step, change and, therefore, help is impossible.

Restorative justice — a much better option to our current punishment based system in my opinion — has as an integral component of both the accepting of responsibility for one’s actions, and the desire to make things right.

Mr. Sinclair offers no solutions and no alternatives, instead repeating the same tired trope that Indigenous men are targeted unfairly and incarcerated unjustly. This attitude perpetuates the problems we face.

There is undoubtedly some truth in his statements. Yet the old adage holds true, “if you can’t do the time, don’t do the crime.”

He would do well to spend more time counselling and teaching those at risk, and less making excuses.

Rick Koss

Winnipeg

No tests

Re: Free COVID tests in Manitoba now a thing of the past, Oct. 10.

I guess I may as well not bother to get the latest COVID vaccine because, according to Manitoba’s chief provincial public health officer, “The testing for COVID is really only important for people who are at risk for severe outcomes.”

I guess Dr. Brent Roussin forgets all the people who have died from COVID, and continue to die, and how so many of those were not in the high-risk category.

I, for one, want to know if it’s the flu or COVID, because that may determine whether I should get further medical attention, and it also determines how long I keep away from others.

You are contagious with the flu five days after symptoms, whereas it is eight days after symptoms with COVID.

And how foolish that those at high risk can go to a clinician to get tested, because Roussin said stay home if you are unwell — so which is it?

One would think our top doctor would be better than this, and one would think the province should find better ways to save money.

Maybe we can bring back the 14 cent tax on gasoline to pay for the distribution of free tests.

Stewart Jacques

Winnipeg

Insanity, really

Re: Judge delays transgender woman’s sentencing, Oct. 10

Nine appalling words stood out from this article: “She will continue to be in a male institution.”

Is our society still so ignorant as to put a trans woman in that position? Are we so heartless?

Neither the judge, who seems to want a longer sentence, nor the lawyers who have asked for a relatively short one, seem to realize the cruelty of incarcerating a trans woman among men. How can they be so unaware?

Star Moar has been mistreated throughout her life. While in custody for the last eight months, she has been bullied and abused because of her gender identity. Putting her in a male penitentiary now could amount to a death sentence — for a “crime spree” in which no one was actually hurt.

Next to this news report was Niigaan Sinclair’s column about the cyclical failures of our criminal justice system.

His concluding words apply equally to the system’s treatment of Ms. Moar: “It’s insanity, really.”

We have to do better than this.

Justin Jaron Lewis

Winnipeg

Regulation needed

Livestock producers, especially hog farmers, like to claim their industries are highly regulated and therefore environmentally sound. However, a major two-year scientific study tells us intensive livestock operations pose environmental and health risks because they aren’t regulated enough!

Manitoba pork producers say they follow strict manure management regulations which minimize environmental risks to soil, air, water and human health. Again, the study disagrees.

The study originated from an Iowa workshop, under the research team leader, Peter Thorne, a toxicology professor. The workshop included American, Canadian and European environmental scientists.

The study presents a sobering picture of the health risks to Manitoba residents, as well as air and water quality.

The study summarizes that industrialization of livestock production over the past decades has not been accompanied by an equivalent modernization of regulations to protect the health of the public.

Manitobans deserve better.

John Fefchak

Virden