Letters, May 4

Vision problem

As storm clouds darken on our horizon, we are in desperate need of a vision for the city and the province that we can support, uplift our spirits, give us a sense of purpose and goals and invigorate the community. But our political class can’t seem to focus on the core issues facing our community. Housing for the homeless isn’t a grand strategy, it’s a fundamental obligation.

We need vision and leadership. I’m afraid the mayor’s enthusiasm for a new 7-11 and the province’s musing about increasing taxes are a big miss. “Make no little plans.” The alternative is a continuing slow drift to social instability and irrelevance.

Harold Westdal

Winnipeg

The liquor issue

In past years, the annual value of U.S. alcohol imports to Manitoba was about $80 million. In Ontario, the LCBO had been the largest single customer for American alcohol with yearly purchases of $965 million.

The U.S. had been the fourth-largest wine supplier to Quebec with annual sales of $66 million.

Most provinces except for Alberta and Saskatchewan have removed all U.S. alcohol from their shelves. U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick recently termed this action “insulting” and “disrespectful.” His criticisms were supported by U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer. Thus CUSMA negotiations seem to be at an impasse.

I suggest that Premier Wab Kinew do a 180-degree shift and agree to put most of the wine and other U.S. spirits back on the shelves. Ontario Premier Doug Ford could do the same for the LCBO and new Quebec Premier Christine Frechette for the SAQ.

However, all items would now have a prominent, clearly-marked surtax roughly equal to the current illegal sectoral tariffs, e.g. 50 per cent on aluminum, steel, and copper, 25 to 35 per cent on softwood lumber, etc. I believe that Saskatchewan now sells U.S. alcohol with a surtax of about 25 per cent, although not clearly labeled as such.

Each province controls the distribution and pricing of all alcohol products. Apparently, CUSMA regulations do permit temporary counter-tariffs during trade disputes.

If and when U.S. President Donald Trump and Lutnick agree to reduce or cancel sectoral tariffs, premiers Kinew, Ford, and Frechette could promptly apply corresponding changes to the surtaxes.

As Kinew argued, “No tariffs, no threat of tariffs and you can have the booze back.”

Charles S. Shaver

Ottawa, Ont.

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Re: Health care delayed, health care denied (Editorial, March 31)

The systemic decline of our Manitoba health care has been building and escalating for years. My personal understanding of the severity of the situation goes back to when my husband and I moved to Winnipeg in November 2023, my husband in urgent need of care. At the time, I played down the stress of our long wait time in the crowded emergency because I was so grateful for the excellent care he received once he was admitted at Health Sciences Centre.

I have continued to stand up for our health-care system because of the incredible, sometimes heroic actions of our health-care workers. My husband and I are among the fortunate who have an amazing group of health-care professionals, from our family doctor to our team of specialists. We both have complex health challenges, but we also have family support and the financial means to fill in the gaps. Other Manitobans aren’t so lucky.

Recently, my experience at Grace Hospital emergency changed my opinion that our floundering health-care system is managing under the strain. We’d brought a family member in acute need of care who was suffering from complications related to brain cancer into emergency. It was 11 p.m., and I’d felt a misguided seed of hope, the waiting room almost empty, the screen indicating a seven and half hour wait time, that he would receive immediate and effective care.

At 9 a.m. Sunday, after 10 hours of waiting, we were told that our family member was next in line. But new arrivals kept trickling in, people who needed care, but clearly weren’t in an emergency, or even urgent situation, but who felt they had no recourse, no better options. Two doctors to serve over 50 people needing care.

Five more hours ticked by and our family member was still in the hallway and still hadn’t been seen by a doctor. We were all exhausted, but the hardest part was having to witness our loved one’s severe pain and agitation. It was almost unbearable. We all did our best to advocate for him, but the answer was the same: “We’re doing everything we can.”

Everything wasn’t enough. I am well aware of the system limitations, of the severe lack of resources, and of their protocols and procedures. The health-care workers know that non-urgent cases are clogging the system and adding to the wait times but have no power to do things differently. Our broken healthcare system is in crisis at all levels, but it’s our hospital emergency rooms where the situation is most urgent. When I read the statistics in the Free Press editorial Health care delayed, health care denied I realized my concerns are valid.

The editorial stated, and I quote: “There is no single fix for a health-care system under strain. But there should be a clear priority: reducing the delays that are now demonstrably costing lives.” Our case ended up being one of the fortunate ones. After four days in a crowded emergency cubicle, our loved one was admitted to a room where he’s receiving comfort care.

He’s still not in a proper hospice or palliative care facility because they are full to capacity. The doctors, nurses, social workers and entire palliative care team are doing their best to make him and our family comfortable, but it just doesn’t feel good enough for a family already suffering through the agonizing process of end of life, of grief and loss.

I believe the people of this province agree with me when I say the state of our healthcare system is horribly unacceptable. Tell me, dear reader, am I misguided? Will you join me in my appeal to our government to make immediate and wide-sweeping reforms? I believe our premier is a reasonable man, who wants to do the right things, but I know there is pressure on a thousand points and sometimes it’s the squeaky wheel that gets the grease. I urge you to use your voice and your vote as instruments of change.

Lynda Faye Schmidt

Winnipeg

On daylight time

Recently our premier has mentioned going to a single time zone for the Prairies, which would mean Manitoba would be on standard time all year. It’s an interesting concept, however I expect most Manitobans do not understand the impact in the summer months. If this was implemented, June 21 (the longest day of the summer) sunset in Winnipeg would be 8:40 p.m., Regina would be 9:13 and Calgary would be 9:54.

Sunset in Winnipeg every other summer day would be even earlier. Manitobans would lose one hour of daylight time all summer long. This would have a negative impact on all youth sports and our ability to enjoy our short summers. Summers are short enough, at least let us enjoy the extra hour of daylight.

Jack Murray

WInnipeg