Letters, Jan. 21

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 21/01/2025 (351 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Stop the blame game

Re: Homeless plan stokes fears (Jan. 20)

Prior to the last provincial election, the NDP pledged to repair the damage the PCs did to our health care, among other things. Fifteen months later we’re still reading about wait times and individuals dying in emergency or being misdiagnosed and released. The article about the living conditions in some Manitoba Housing residences contains details which anyone would find appalling.

When the provincial government is asked about these situations, it seems whether it is Health Minister Uzoma Asagwara, Housing Minister Bernadette Smith or any other member, they play the blame game on how the PCs caused these problems.

After 15 months in office, I think it’s time to quit the finger-pointing and take responsibility for the things they haven’t fixed.

Harry Peterson

Winnipeg

Save disability benefit

Re: Disability benefit at risk unless quick action taken to approve regulations: advocates (Jan. 18)

There are many Manitobans with disabilities that have a significant physical or mental health-related impairment; in addition, many have a low income.

The Canada Disability Benefit’s regulations still haven’t been approved.

This program was to provide up to $200 per month to eligible aged Canadians with disabilities to help those struggling to keep a roof over their head and food on the table. The Canada Disability Benefit program was to come into effect July 1. Unfortunately, that will not be the case!

Throughout Canada, advocacy groups in conjunction with disability organizations were spearheading this project to create a more inclusive and fair process in assisting Canadians. Over the years, I have been affiliated with people who had a qualifying disability that impacted their activities on a daily basis. These Canadians that I have been in contact with throughout those years, and others, contribute to our society in many ways.

Disabled Canadians deserve dignity and equality. They simply cannot be left behind.

Please, let’s not let this be a dismal failure.

Peter John Manastyrsky

Winnipeg

Misguided plans

Re: Committee votes to set aside cash for Arlington Bridge (Jan. 17)

Despite the nearby Salter and McPhillips streets rail crossings, Coun. Janice Lukes favours taking on $30 million in debt to replace the Arlington Bridge as a “trade corridor.” Meanwhile, the city has no money to clean up burned-out Main Street properties and acquiring vacant homes for refurbishment as supportive housing. Our mayor favours fining property owners when arsonists strike.

Council has grand plans for new transit routes but riders are unable to use bus shelters in winter due to their city-tolerated use as homeless shelters.

It’s sad that taxpayers have to hear these well-intentioned but misguided plans rather than creative, effective ideas to meet the inner city’s growing safety and housing needs.

Wayne Manishen

Winnipeg

Curl Canada must do better

Re: To hell and back (Jan. 16)

I have been an avid curling follower since I saw Ernie Richardson and his team win his fourth Brier in Brandon in 1963. I’ve always enjoyed the venerable old roaring game. But I wonder what has happened to the civility and respect usually accorded to what was once the friendliest game to play and watch.

I am totally baffled by what happened to Briane Harris over the last year. Testing positive for a “trace” of Ligandrol picked up by a kiss from her husband and consequently being immediately banned from the Scotties followed by a year of trying to exonerate herself and get back to playing the game she loves is beyond comprehension.

“Trace” is the operative word. We all remember the East German swimmers and others whose body shape indicated they were pumped full of performance-enhancing drugs. How can a trace amount enhance performance? Why not set a level where once that level is crossed, it could enhance performance? The actions of Curling Canada, and the delay by the Court of Arbitration for Sport to bring down their verdict in this case, make me suspicious as to what actually caused this situation in the first place.

Questions I have that I’ll never know the answer to are these: did Briane or one of her teammates inadvertently say something or cross paths with some vindictive person in Curling Canada who determined the team needed to be punished? Was the Einarson team just so successful over the past few years that someone decided they needed their lofty position taken down a notch, all the while knowing how much of an effect it would have on the team and the daily life of Ms. Harris?

I would have expected better from Curling Canada and the Court of Arbitration for Sport. It certainly could have been handled a lot more diplomatically. For the sake and future of the sport let’s not ever see this happen again.

Larry Gompf

Winnipeg

In praise of Martin

Every Saturday, after our Free Press is delivered and it is time to dissect the paper, I ask, “Is there a Nick Martin?” We look forward to reading his critique of famous, infamous and genuinely unknown mystery authors. His observations, of gruesome murders, dysfunctional detectives and shady characters give just enough to make us want to get that latest title. Nick has an uncanny ability to steer us through a complicated plot and knows when to put on the brakes before giving too much away.

We are amazed at the number of books he reads and how entertaining his reviews can be. Keep up the great work and we will be waiting for the next mystery to unfold (but not revealed, eh?).

Mary Prentice

Winnipeg

Wasted opportunity

Re: Sutherland Hotel destroyed by fire (Jan. 16)

It’s unfortunate the province or city did not buy the Sutherland Hotel. There were about 60 rooms in that hotel that could have been renovated for the new proposal in getting people living in encampments into proper housing.

It would have been economically and socially more efficient as the various health and social agencies that will be involved in the transition for the previously homeless could deal with multiple people at the same location. But not all is lost as the core still has hotels such as the Manwin Hotel, the Mount Royal, and the King’s that are all vacant.

As well, these hotels are close to the numerous outreach programs like Siloam Mission, The Lighthouse and Our Relatives’ Place which could help in the transition from homelessness.

Alfred Sansregret

Winnipeg

University wrong to scrap language program

Re: U of W kicks women’s soccer team, English Language Program to curb (Jan. 14)

The University of Winnipeg’s decision to cut its English language program is shortsighted and wrong. They rationalize the cut by saying the program is outside of their core programming. This tells me a few things.

It tells me they don’t recognize that their language program is a major recruitment channel for the university; that by primarily relying on language proficiency tests for international student admissions, they will limit the number of countries from which to recruit and, consequently, reduce the diversity of the student population; and they don’t understand that proficient English with understanding of Canadian culture and context is the most essential skill for their students to be successful in their studies and to find employment after graduation.

Cutting the language program will exacerbate the decline of international students, limit the diversity of their student population and produce poorer results for students and the university.

Gary Gervais

Winnipeg