Letters, April 15

The naked truth

Re: Donald in Wonderland — apologies to Lewis Carroll (Letters, April 11)

David McLaughlin’s take on the classic children’s story is entertaining, well written and captures the essence of some of the strange recent events from a land not so far away.

On a related topic, famous author Hans Christian Andersen spun the tale of The Emperor’s New Clothes nearly 300 years ago. Aside from the symbolism in its title, it goes without saying that its lessons about collective ignorance, blind faith, honesty and the “naked truth” continue to be relevant.

Carol MacKenzie

Winnipeg

Travel expenses

Re: “Pothole fix” (Letters, April 11)

I’m in total agreement with Mr. Ackerman that we have an ongoing issue with potholes that no one can seem to find an answer to. However, an additional road tax of $100 dollars on top of what taxpayers dish out now is unreasonable and just not affordable to most. Some of those taxpayers are finding it hard to pay the gas for their vehicles just to make it to work.

Taking a bus or riding a bicycle as an alternative is much more difficult with children. As well, we know if in fact there was such a tax those in charge of collection would find other ways to foolishly spend that money.

Maybe we as taxpayers should question how and why our prime minister can spend $524,000 for him and his pals for in-flight food while he travelled the globe in year one. An average family lives on approximately $17,500 for food in that same year. $16,800 for a two-hour trip to Washington for in-flight drinks with 55 of his best buddies, and for what… nothing ever gets accomplished, no new answers on how we can improve our way of life on this side of the border. I’m sorry, potholes are a problem but giving more money to a group of individuals that has little regard for everyday struggles is not the answer.

Don Liebrecht

West St. Paul

Speaking up for park

Re: “A plea for the park” (Letters, March 31)

I want to write in support of the letter written by Denise Desrosiers. As a longtime North Kildonan resident and daily user of Kilcona Park for the last nine years, I was touched by the thoughtfulness and truth expressed in the letter in support of our beloved Kilcona dog park.

There are many improvements that could be made in the park that users would support. Cutting the park in half with a road and fences in favour of cars and trucks over people and dogs is certainly not one of them. We have been told that the purpose of the road is to create access to the Harbour View complex, which has basically been allowed to rot for the last 20 years. We support the revamping of the Harbour View site, just don’t build a road through our park when there is already perfectly good access to Harbour View off of Springfield Road.

The data and any community consultation that may have initially supported the building of this road is close to 15 years old… times have changed. As a group, we have spoken in opposition to the road at a city council committee meeting. We have been interviewed by the Free Press, CBC Manitoba and CTV Winnipeg. We have posted an online petition (Google “stop the road Kilcona Park”) that has close to 2,500 signatures and many thoughtful comments.

Kilcona dog park has been in operation for 28 years. As many are aware, it was once a city landfill. The park in that time has come to heal itself, with Prairie grasses, Prairie wild flowers, pollinators, song birds and other wild life. It is a gem, a serene special place, a bit of rural Manitoba in the middle of the city, that doesn’t need embellishments other than good stewardship for people and dogs to enjoy.

If there are environmental groups or any other concerned citizens who oppose the crass intrusion of a road through Kilcona Park, please contact the mayor and your city councillor to make them aware of your concerns. It is a municipal election year. Stop the road.

Tom Moody

Winnipeg

The tools exist

Re: Stalked? Scared? Sorry (April 11)

It’s troubling that the experience of “Emma” in obtaining and enforcing a protection order is presented as though it’s an anomaly. The long known reality is that it’s difficult to obtain a protection order and it’s challenging to be taken seriously when making complaints that the order has been breached.

The characterization of a justice system impotent to act meaningfully is even more galling. Manitoba was once a leader in legislation geared toward managing exactly these concerns, creating the Domestic Violence and Stalking Act (DVSA) in the late 1990s. Designed to dovetail with the criminal harassment provisions of the criminal code, the DVSA strove to recognize that behaviours that may on their surface be innocuous can have alternate meanings in the context of stalking and domestic violence.

The goal was to have orders tailored to specific situations, better exhibit patterns of behaviours and provide early intervention involving various stakeholders in working collaboratively to support victims and hold perpetrators accountable.

Since the implementation of the DVSA, the homicide rate has only continued to increase and many of the recommendations made in its founding document (The Lavoie Inquiry) have either not been implemented or have been discontinued. The article’s focus on mental health resources for perpetrators is understandable but misguided. Most stalkers and abusers aren’t mentally ill and their motives are not obscure, they want control and they won’t stop trying to get it until there is a consequence that bears a cost greater than continuing the harassing behaviour.

The current legislation contains the tools to respond appropriately to complaints of domestic violence and stalking. That it is poorly enforced stems from either a lack of knowledge or absence of will.

Sarah Mitchell

Winnipeg

Dynacare disaster

This monopoly on our health care is a travesty.

Patients and doctors have no choice but to use the services of Dynacare in order to address their needs.

Making appointments is difficult and impossible if you aren’t connected to the internet. Even then you’re subjected to a crowded space often without available seats. People do their best to be kind to one another and the staff. But it is not easy.

Today I once more experienced this untenable situation. The technician who drew the blood was professional and when asked if this was a particularly bad day, she replied it was sometimes worse. Her explanation was simple. Dynacare pays $8 less an hour than in clinics and hospitals. So they are understaffed and we, the patients and doctors, have nowhere else to go.

Why aren’t there other options? Does this one company have an ironclad contract?

Currently I am waiting for test results which have been ordered by two specialists and my family doctor. My excellent doctors have clearly expressed frustration with the timeline of these results, saying they are not reasonable. Again, no choice with only this private company delivering medical information.

When this change happened with Dynacare being the only game in town many questioned it, but now we seem to be resigned to this poor customer service. We must voice our concern over this lack of quality medical care. We need choice.

Eileen Gibson

East St. Paul