Letters, March 12

Opinion

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 12/03/2025 (205 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Prioritize education

Re: Taking action on youth gang activity (Editorial, March 7)

I was pleased to see the headline Taking action on youth gang activity, only to be disappointed and frustrated with the article. While more spending on “youth leisure, recreation and diversion programs” was identified as a need, there was not one reference to the need for these kids to be in school.

School is an existing resource. Education is and should be a basic requirement for minors to be in attendance. If schools lack adequate funding for “recreation and leisure,” please enhance such resources within the education system. An education is key to lifting children out of a life of poverty. The truancy rate in gang-ridden areas of our city is outrageous.

Please collect accurate data on this issue, because an illiterate population is exploding and, yes, their only recourse for an income will be gang activities. Please get all stakeholders to the table to come up with an education-first plan, because parents nor CFS agencies nor the limited number of school truancy officers seem to be able to get youth to stay in school and out of trouble.

Beverly McIntyre

Winnipeg

Daudrich’s contradictions

Re: A different version of Wally Daudrich (Think Tank, March 11)

Perhaps it’s best to start on a positive note, by thanking Dorothy Dobbie for reminding us that all of us as human beings are multi-faceted, that there are many aspects of each of our natures. I am glad to hear, for example, that PC leadership candidate Wally Daudrich “gives generously of his own money to dozens of causes in Winnipeg.”

I take issue, however, with her statement that Daudrich “objects to the incursion of the state into personal decisions over your health.” She cites this as the basis for his objection to teens being able to express their individuality by, for example, choosing their own pronouns at school without this being reported to their parents by their teachers.

(There isn’t room here to adequately explain how a blind support of parental rights can have disastrous effects on children’s rights.)

My question is this: how does Daudrich’s objection to “the incursion of the state into personal decisions over your health” fit with his anti-choice stance? Frankly, it doesn’t. Not only does Daudrich believe “the state” should become involved in this “personal decision” over one’s own health, but he in fact has stated that one of the first things he would do as premier would be to rescind Bill 8, the Abortion Protest Buffer Zone Act. Not only does he believe the state should be able to interfere with that personal decision, he has no objection to women being harassed while in the midst of that difficult personal decision.

He also wants the state to intervene to make it more difficult for those requesting assisted suicide. Daudrich’s confusing approach to the question of state interference is not unique in the right-wing world; clearly, people like him have been influenced by the rhetoric seeping north across our border.

Dobbie says that one of the basic tenets of the Conservative party has been a “respect for all people.” Well, maybe not all — maybe just the people who behave the way conservatives dictate they should.

Leslie Johnston

Winnipeg

Fee hikes painful

Re: Councillors, homeowners voice concerns about impact of looming garbage, sewer fee hikes, tax increase (March 10)

As a retiree on a fixed income, I have concerns about a 5.95 per cent property tax hike, but am gobsmacked by a whopping garbage fee increase! Add to that the substantial sewer rate increase… I can’t help but wonder why the city is encouraging expansion and increased density of housing when our infrastructure is already failing — not only garbage and sewer, but roads, schools, health care, policing and emergency services.

If only I could simply exact an increase in my income to cover my budget shortfalls.

Dawn Tecter

Winnipeg

Our city deserves better than to have the city council doing hidden “taxes” by raising sewer and garbage fees. This city needs funding.

It needs funding for the crumbling infrastructure that councilors have rejected for many, many years before I even moved to the city. I as well as many other Winnipeggers love this city, we want it to thrive. The sewer and garbage fees increase adversely affects the lower income members of our community.

If council knew it needed more funding, it shouldn’t have been so cowardly and raised property tax more. To be honest, I don’t think the increases which average $40/month are a crazy amount more to be paying, I just wish the city would be honest about it.

Parker McCabe

Winnipeg

Regards to the hike in the per-home garbage fee, I’ve always wondered how cost-effective it is to have the garbage and recycling truck each go up (one way) and then down (the other way) on my backlane on pickup day. Obviously because of the design of the trucks, there’s no other way to do it.

However, it means twice the amount of gas is used compared to the previous way it was done, when both sides were picked up at the same time, utilizing two workers at the back.

Lois Taylor

Winnipeg

Helping kids reach their potential

Re: Living up to the belief that every child matters (Feb. 5)

As a pre-service early childhood educator (ECE), I am encouraged by the Manitoba government’s recent commitment to establishing a universal school nutrition program under “Nello’s Law.” This initiative is a crucial step toward ensuring that all children, regardless of socioeconomic background, have access to nutritious meals in school. This article highlights an essential truth: children cannot learn effectively if they are hungry.

The impact of nutrition on childhood development and academic success is well-documented. Research from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2014) shows that students with access to proper nutrition perform better academically, exhibit improved concentration and behaviour, and have stronger long-term health outcomes. Furthermore, early childhood nutrition plays a critical role in cognitive development, emotional regulation, and overall well-being (CDC, 2014).

The article also brings attention to the reality that many families in Manitoba are struggling with food insecurity. With rising costs of living, many children come to school without breakfast or lunch. Implementing a permanent, provincewide meal program ensures that no child is left behind due to circumstances beyond their control.

Beyond the academic benefits, universal school meal programs reduce stigma associated with food insecurity. When meals are available to all students, children from low-income families do not feel singled out. Instead, they can participate fully in school life without the stress of hunger or shame.

Investing in school nutrition is an investment in our future generations. When we ensure that students have their basic needs met, we empower them to focus on learning, develop healthy eating habits, and reach their full potential.

I strongly urge policymakers and educational leaders to prioritize this initiative, ensuring that funding and resources are allocated for its long-term success. Manitoba is setting an excellent example, and I hope to see other provinces follow suit in making nutrition a fundamental part of public education.

Danielia Georges

Vaughan, Ont.