Letters, March 13

Opinion

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 13/03/2025 (203 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Appreciating women

With another International Women’s Day behind us, acknowledging and celebrating the accomplishments and contributions of women is more critical now than it has been for many years. Disturbing and dangerous political leaders are taking extreme right-wing positions on the value of diversity and inclusion, threatening women and other diverse people in terms of career mobility and societal recognition.

Now, in retirement, I watch from the sidelines with concern and, frankly, fear that my younger colleagues still in the workforce will experience even more segregation and discrimination than women of my generation felt, and conquered. I challenge you, men and women currently holding the reigns of political and corporate power, to make sure that the business world continues on the DE&I path, recognizing that diverse teams are more innovative, creative, profitable and successful.

Joan Hardy

Winnipeg

Consequences not unexpected

Re: Councillors, homeowners voice concerns over looming fee hikes (March 11)

Joyanne Pursaga’s article outlines some dire financial consequences for homeowners that are a direct result of politicians having made self-serving decisions to reduce residential taxes. In the past, this made them look good but it sacrificed the future well-being of the utilities managed by the water and waste department.

I am referring to the “dividend” that council has taken, and continues to take, from utility revenues to artificially reduce homeowners’ tax rates.

Had city council kept their meddling hands off utility revenue, there would have been an opportunity to create reserves to fund future forecast costs, and to dampen the rate spikes that are now being forecast. This is a well-known fact and the feigned surprise we are now seeing at a political level is artificial and disingenuous.

Further, while the rich and poor both subsidize these dividends through payment for water, sewer and refuse services, the less fortunate in modest dwellings shoulder the same burden as those in the McMansions who have more resources.

This, to me, is disgusting.

Councillors and the general public often complain that some civic services should be run more like businesses. Council has taken the few departments in the city that are rate-based (like a business) and turned them into cash cows, to our collective detriment.

Tom Pearson

Winnipeg

Stopping blade sales right move

Re: Online retail giant Amazon stops bladed-weapon sales to Manitobans in wake of new law (March 11)

I applaud Amazon for refusing sales of machetes and other long-bladed weapons to Manitoba addresses. Not only have they allied themselves with Manitoba in the fight against horrific crimes that are committed with these weapons, but in so doing they have demonstrated corporate responsibility that is nearly unparalleled. Now if only gun manufacturers would follow suit.

Randy Clinch

Winnipeg

Picking apart a portrait of Daudrich

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

In her March 11 article, Dorothy Dobbie referenced Erna Buffie’s How did the Conservative Party come to this?

I read both articles, and I question Dorothy’s. First, she labelled Erna’s as “virulent and inaccurate.” Well, that’s a matter of opinion Dorothy, and given your long-standing support for the Conservative Party, it comes as no surprise.

For the majority of my life, I voted Conservative like my parents and family members. Your name was mentioned many times. But in recent years, I stopped voting for them because I started seeing a Conservative Party I no longer recognized.

And that brings me to the questions I have regarding your comments, Dorothy, in your article, as follows.

To the idea the party has values with “more vision, insight and sincerity, not to mention a a track record to back it up.” Really? The last provincial election gave us the worst campaign ever run by the Conservatives in the history of Manitoba, as stated by Charles Adler, longtime Conservative voter himself. In my opinion, one word describes their “joker card” game in their campaign: “disgusting.”

To her claim that conservatives are for freedom of expression and thought and respect for all people, Dobbie missed a part in that comment. It should have read “except when it comes to banning books from libraries, pro-choice and women’s bodily autonomy rights, and the rights of all people with respect to their sexual orientation.”

And if Daudrich “objects to incursion of the state into personal decisions over your health,” then he should be pro-choice, and he, like most conservatives, is not. “Pro-choice” is as personal and confidential as you can get when it comes to women’s health care.

Regarding the idea that conservatives stand for hiring “on merit rather than some artificial standard based on divisive labelling and categorizing,” Dobbie knows very well the correct wording is Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI), something American Republican conservatives don’t think is important either. For the record, taking DEI into consideration for hiring does not eliminate “merit” qualifications. Rather, DEI is in place to limit the biased attitudes in hiring, making the hiring process more fair.

If Daudrich’s “belief is in democracy and freedom, both rooted in the history of his family who escaped totalitarianism” then he should be able to recognize when governments limit people of their human rights based on conservative “Christian” values and opinions, it’s a direct link to totalitarian ruling … which is becoming the way of our American conservative neighbours.

As for his idea to build a second port on Hudson Bay that will benefit all the people down south with billions of dollars in new jobs … Dobbie does know that we’re in a trade war with those down south thanks to their “conservative” excuse for a president who wants to make Canada their 51st state, right? I tend to think most Canadians these days are not fond of the idea of us helping benefit the billionaires down south.

Dobbie’s comparison of Daudrich to Pierre Poilievre, who is a copycat to the mannerisms and ignorant comments from the same playbook as U.S. President Donald Trump, is no compliment. Furthermore, her reference to Poilievre being “good looking and having a beautiful wife” are not qualifications for a good party leader. In fact, on the contrary, his smug attitude, rudeness and arrogance is a better comparison to the president next door.

And finally, Daudrich trusting Dobbie to chair his campaign doesn’t make him less a misogynist. She may want to look up the definition of the word. This may come as a surprise to her, but guess what? Misogynists can have wives and daughters, too.

Darcia Albrechtsen

Winnipeg

Governments must co-operate on reform

Re: Trudeau pushes for RCMP reform during final days in office (March 10)

The discussion around RCMP reform is nothing new.

Since Norman Inkster’s tenure as commissioner in the ’90s, there have been ongoing conversations about modernizing the force to address evolving threats while balancing federal and contract policing responsibilities. Reports have been written, recommendations have been made, and yet the same challenges persist.

This latest report once again highlights the need for a policing model that effectively addresses national security and serious criminal threats. It also raises questions about the future of contract policing and how provinces and municipalities will adapt if changes are made. As always, the key to meaningful reform will be the level of commitment from all levels of government and the willingness to follow through on long-standing discussions. That hasn’t happened in 30 years.

Marc Robichaud

Winnipeg