Letters, July 9

Supporting Canadian authors

Re: Elbows up, even when you’re holding a book (July 7)

What a great information piece on the The Big Five publishers which, as Stephanie Paddey points out, rarely support Canadian authors unless they have a proven track record of making money. New, never-published writers need not apply unless they have an aggressive agent. Winning prizes gets small publishers and their unknown authors noticed by readers and The Big Five, but there are only so many prizes to go around.

Hence the need for independent publishers who are supported by independent bookstores. Canada’s “national” bookstore chain does not typically stock new authors unless they pen a bestseller. It’s hard to get to bestseller status if the only bookstore in some smaller cities belongs to that chain. A chain that might not stock books in its Maritime stores written by authors or published by companies in, say, B.C. even if the subject matter might be relatable.

If the big chain’s stores don’t stock the books, we order online from a behemoth owned by a supporter of the U.S. president and our money goes south. Therefore, books offered by Canadian independent publishers that are printed by small Canadian presses and sold in Canada’s many independent bookstores is where we should be shopping. A call to any independent bookstore will get you most books. They will take your call and your credit card information, order the book and mail it to you when they get it.

Instead of supporting the Big Five by buying books written by errant princes or a hillbilly that became vice president, read the stories of ordinary Canadians who, in their own way, have contributed substantially to this country or who are writing about our landscape, traditions, and people.

Rosalie Tennison

Winnipeg

Breath of ‘fresh’ air

Re: Following our noses (July 5)

What’s missing from that list of scents in the city? Three very obvious ones:

1. Weed;

2. The Burns plant in St. Boniface (is that what we still call it these days? It’s been a while…); and

3. Disappointment.

Murray Moman

Winnipeg

Understanding rural voters

Re: Unrest in the west (July 5)

While I don’t agree with all of the premises put forth by Conrad Sweatman, he did write a very thought provoking article. While some don’t understand the cause of the political divide between Winnipeg and southern Manitoba, you only have to take a ride west on Highway 2 and keep in your mind that each of those farms on either side of the highway are a business, some smaller and some larger, but each a business.

Each farmer is the chief executive officer of their business. Their concerns are ones of the cost of doing business verses the financial reward of producing a product. They are far removed from the concerns of urban blight, urban crime or urban transportation that are far removed from their daily lives. Their small towns are service centres catering to the needs of these small businesses.

They willingly support their local school and hospital and the maintenance of their roads, but like any other business person their responsibility is to challenge laws, regulations and taxes that aren’t to their benefit. With this comes an independence of thought not shared or understood by the majority of urban dwellers who are beholden to someone else for their livelihood.

A government that understands this and champions their cause and recognizes their independent nature will win their vote.

Stan Tataryn

Winnipeg

Not impressed by new system

Winnipeg Transit’s changes are a disaster. Previously, routes requiring one or two transfers now need three or four.

Even worse, transfers are incredibly inconvenient for the elderly and disabled, often involving crossing multiple intersections and long walks, especially hazardous in winter. The system seems designed to exclude those who pay fares — seniors and the disabled — while ignoring the many who ride for free.

Without improvements to bus stop locations, seniors will suffer financially and face exclusion and what feels like deliberate indifference.

Ilana Schulz

Winnipeg

Premier’s error

Re: Premier stands by Fontaine over ‘hot mic’ comments about ASL interpreter (July 4)

Premier Wab Kinew has made a mistake. In his attempts to make any situation “that’s not a win” a learning opportunity, he has minimized the fact that Nahanni Fontaine has crossed a line in acceptable behaviour for the minister of Accessibility.

Fontaine has skills that may be well suited to her other two portfolios. However, her remarks and actions regarding the ASL interpreter indicate a serious lack of understanding on the importance of ASL as a lifeline to societal inclusion for Deaf people and their families. Winnipeg clinical social worker and therapist Cassandra Bell who is deaf, calls for a minister of accessibility who understands accessibility. She recommends that someone with lived experience who has a disability could fulfil that role. I agree.

The role of the official Opposition in a democratic government is to hold the government accountable in matters of public interest. When the legislature resumes, I trust this role will be upheld.

Elaine Mordoch

Winnipeg

Time to grow up

Obby Khan is accusing Premier Wab Kinew of being slow to call a byelection in a traditional Tory stronghold.

Enough, both of you …. enough of the sideline strutting and political posturing …. you both have a job to do — do it with dignity and respect for the positions you hold in our legislative assembly and as public servants.

You both work out of the same building …. grab your phones, your calendars, meet for a coffee and come up with a reasonable, responsible, fair plan on which you can both agree — surely you both have more pressing matters on your plates. Don’t make this about politics, make it about getting your job done — now!

Be responsible, caring human beings.

Cris Kemp

Winnipeg

Street Links deserves support

I was dismayed and frankly confused as to the reason, to read that funding from the City of Winnipeg was no longer being granted to St. Boniface Street Links, an agency with a proven track record of not only supporting people who are homeless and on the streets but also providing shelters for people with a number of presenting conditions, with critical wrap-around services that make the chance of their success in staying off the streets considerably more likely. What a short-sighted decision!

Ruth Livingston

Winnipeg

Cameras beneficial

I have been driving for a living for over 40 years and can tell you without a doubt that our streets are getting less safe all the time.

People are in such a hurry and take stupid chances all the time. I would have no issues with a camera at every controlled intersection, at least on the main routes. That is where most of the major collisions take place. I would even go so far as to put them at all controlled pedestrian corridors, as it seems almost nobody knows what the rules are there.

As far as the tax-grab argument goes, it is only a tax on people who don’t obey the rules and I have no problem with that.

Ken Warkentin

Winnipeg