Letters, Sept. 4

Adult ed can be the future — now

Re: Reimagining education in Manitoba (Think Tank, Sept. 2)

In an increasingly mad world, where decency and humanity are at risk, driven by the endless din from the leader of the free world, Canada is reimagining itself. Our federal government is expediting dozens of nation-building projects valued at a reported $192 billion.

The goal of nation building is to strengthen Canada’s economic resilience and independence. We all want peace, a good home, a secure income and hope for a stable future for our children and grandchildren. Nation-building projects are a hopeful means to this end.

The missing link to nation building is an educated workforce. The Pembina Institute reports there are more than 97,000 vacancies in the skilled trades alone, with another 1.2 million expected to open by 2031. Without reliable and sustainable funding to educate the next 50 years of skilled workers, nation building will remain an unfortunate pipe dream.

Jim Silver reminds us that about 192,000 Manitoba adults have “… literacy levels sufficiently low …” they are unable to fully function in society. Ironically, we have reams of evidence to prove categorically that, given the opportunity, this group can and do succeed. Adult basic education programs have helped 25,000 adults achieve a mature high school diploma since 2003. That’s almost 2,000 adults a year freed from a life of certain poverty, or more explicitly, 2,000 tax-paying citizens annually contributing meaningfully to the fabric of society.

Herein lies the answer to the missing link. We have 192,000 adults who, by and large, are ready to roll up their sleeves, ready to return to school, ready to contribute to society. They just need a hand up. Presently, adult basic education receives about two-thirds of one per cent of the provincial education budget. Imagine the nation building we are capable of accomplishing if we bumped the funding to five or even 10 per cent.

As we approach International Literacy Day on Sept. 8, I join Jim Silver in reimagining education in Manitoba.

Michael Bennett

Winnipeg

Lamenting loss of community

I would have sworn on my life that the new building at the corner of Kenaston Boulevard and Grant Avenue was going to be another Tim Hortons and was surprised to see the golden arches appear there the other day. I was further surprised to see that this location would be eschewing an eat-in area altogether in favour of serving take-away only.

While this fact alone may not seem like a big deal, it signals a larger trend in our society of deeper and deeper isolation. We are losing our community spaces at a worrying rate. As a child, I remember loving McDonald’s PlayPlace. It is a love that is shared with my children, and they love going to meet other kids at the few remaining PlayPlace locations. (As a side note, they would probably also love to go to the library on a Sunday.)

We need to be encouraging elements of society which enrich our communities. We are becoming increasingly reliant on the myopic world created for us by social media and AI chatbots, and, even more concerningly, our children are in tow. It seems that every day we are being encouraged to forget we have neighbours and that we rely on other people for everything we do.

In order to break the trend of social isolation, we need to be willing to prioritize community over convenience.

Kieran West

Winnipeg

Speaking sense

Re: Leaders must make trade war, not snarky words, the priority (Sept. 3)

I don’t always agree with Dan Lett, but his opinion pieces contain a commodity we desperately need … common sense.

The focus for Canadian politicians should be hammering out an acceptable trade relationship, not hurling playground insults.

Will it be easy? No, but nothing about Donald Trump is easy. Unfortunately many Canadians are more interested in punishing Trump (whatever that entails) than in establishing a reasonable negotiating strategy.

American voters will likely take care of Trump in the midterm elections, and we may be faced with a chastened Republican administration.

Let’s keep our eye on the ball and hope our politicians avoid the temptation of increasing their polling numbers by hurling insults. The United States isn’t going anywhere, so we’d better approach things in a serious manner.

Thank you, Mr. Lett, there’s an adult in the room.

Kurt Clyde

Winnipeg

Redefine long-term care

Re: Long-term care best when public (Think Tank, Sept. 2)

Noah Schulz’s op-ed should be required reading for anyone promulgating legislation or regulating long-term care in Manitoba or, more broadly, in Canada. Privatization of long-term care homes results in bad endings.

It results in the use of poorly trained and poorly paid workers with the consequences of high turnover rates and poor care for the residents — who are our loved ones and perhaps soon may be ourselves. It results in cutbacks in care and programs to line the pockets of individuals and corporations motivated by greed, not the welfare of those who require care. It results in companies such as All Seniors Care firing 70 health-care aides in what has all the appearances of union-busting, with full knowledge of the negative impact on residents.

It is my sincere hope that our government legislates these money-grubbing organizations who profit from creating misery into obscurity.

Tom Pearson

Victoria, B.C.

Pete’s pettiness

I have refrained from commenting on Canada-U.S. relations for many reasons — partly because my own consumption of news has decreased significantly over the last while, but mostly because, frankly, who the hell cares what I think about this?

I do think it’s important to stand up and be heard — and that is why I want to add my voice to the chorus of folks condemning U.S. Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth for his recent social media post that very obviously drew attention in a negative way to the physical stature of two Canadian cadets at a military training course.

To be a cadet at this course means the participants were somewhere between the ages of 12 and 18.

To poke fun at someone as young as 12 is the very height of cruelty. And to do it from the office of the U.S. secretary of defence is a disgrace.

It’s sad to see an administration that is so consumed by grievance and pettiness using its time in office this way.

This too shall pass, but I feel for the cadets who were the subject of that pettiness. Canada is with you in your hurt and anger.

Rob Pankhurst

Winnipeg

Mayoralty race gets heated

Re: Klein in, gloves off in mayoral race (Sept. 2)

Kevin Klein’s entry into the mayoral race is “good news for Winnipeg voters” (Klein’s bid adds spark to dull race, Sept.2), an opinion not shared by Mayor Scott Gillingham.

Mayor Gillingham called Klein “toxic,” but did not provide evidence to support that description. On the other hand, there is evidence to suggest that Gillingham’s governance has been toxic, as reflected by the recent comments of councillors Sherri Rollins (Fort Rouge – East Fort Garry) and Brian Mayes (St. Vital).

Does such a person deserve another term?

Other than raising property taxes at will, Gillingham has also failed to come up with a visionary fiscal plan for the city.

Gillingham harps on Klein’s brief association with Nygard, although Klein has never been accused of impropriety. Klein was effective as a councillor, and is a credible candidate, according to Christopher Adams.

Now Klein needs to convince us that he is the best choice for mayor.

Shashi Seshia

Winnipeg