Letters, Nov. 4

Ideology muddies MAID debate

Re: Lack of MAID for mental illness troubling to some (Oct. 28)

The lack of medical assistance in dying (MAID) for mental illness should be troubling for many, as it demonstrates yet again how a minority can impose on all Canadians their ideological objections. Many presenters who argued against MAID for mental illness also reject MAID for physical illness, often for religious reasons.

And the Liberal government gave an ideal opportunity. The co-chairs of the committee were known to oppose extending MAID for mental illness, which seems to have contributed to what dissenters on the committee allege was an imbalance that favoured like-minded opponents in those invited to present to the committee.

The abundance of disagreement about MAID demonstrates just how deeply flawed is the argument for “lack of consensus” and the decision of the committee to side with those opposed to MAID for physical and mental illness. As shown in the article, a “lack of consensus” that mental illness is irremediable is also odd, given a similar debate exists about physical illness.

On the basis of ideology and faulty reasoning, the committee and proposed legislation limit options for people like Lisa Marr. But they are told not to worry; after all, improved mental health care in an imaginary future is promised, something useless and cruel for those afflicted today.

Moreover, nothing about MAID prevents government from pursuing better mental health services, presumably something sought for decades and probably for even more decades to come. No need to force people today to suffer or choose ugly options with fraught outcomes.

Jim Clark

Winnipeg

Jets fans deserve better

In 1992, a U.S. political strategist coined the phrase, “It’s the economy, stupid.” A variation of it applies to the Winnipeg Jets board of directors, and that is, “It’s the general manager, stupid.”

The average tenure of NHL general managers is nine or 10 years. Kevin Cheveldayoff’s new contract runs through 2029, which would makes him the GM for 18 years!

I’ll give him a pass for the first five years after moving the team from Atlanta, but the last 10 years have been mediocre at best. The last five years have been terrible.

Keeping him around is an insult to the loyal, supportive Jets fans who deserve a lot better.

Patrick Clarke

Winnipeg

I wonder how discussions go at True North Sports and Entertainment’s boardroom level after a Jets season like 2025-26, when we ended up nearly dead last in the league.

There must be questions such as: How do we get better now? How do we sell our fans on this team if we try and retool on the fly? How can we keep our fans for the future? Do we really need to do anything unless it’s forced on us?

The answer only came to that last one, and it was unequivocally “no.” Jets general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff promised us that season was an outlier, that we’re better than our record, that we aren’t going to let this happen again on our watch. And yet… here we are.

Not only has the club lied to the fans, it has lied to itself; this team is fundamentally cooked. Goalie Connor Hellebuyck demanding a trade is only one of several symptoms that have become too obvious to ignore. This team needs to return to its draft-and-develop strategy; throwing picks away on short-term fixes didn’t work. It rarely ever does, but certainly not when you’re a market no one wants to play in.

I get that Chevy and head coach Scott Arniel are the easy scapegoats here. Both should be fired — neither is capable of leading us out of this hole — but the truth is that firing them now, while certainly satiating the fans’ appetite for vengeance, won’t make a lick of difference. What must be done is a total, ground-up rebuild.

Hellebuyck wasn’t the first to go and he shouldn’t be the last. Josh Morrissey and Kyle Connor both need to be moved for picks and high-end prospects; Dylan Samberg too.

Then you need to have a heart-to-heart with Mark Scheifele. I think we’d all like to see him retire as a lifelong Jet, but if we go this route it’ll be an anguishing final few years of a storied career. The Jets should make sure he knows what’s coming and offer him a trade to a contender where he has a real chance of winning; he’s owed that after everything he’s given this franchise. If he wants to stay, great — but if he’s OK with going, we need assets in return for him while he still has value.

Hand the reins to Brayden Yager, Viggo Björck, Elias Salomonsson and Sascha Boumedienne and build a new core over the next five years. Will it painful? Yes, undoubtedly — but what do you call what we’re going through now?

At least with a full rebuild, there’s hope on the horizon. I don’t see anything resembling hope with the current approach.

Will Jones

Winnipeg

Ad not the issue

Re: Ad was ‘election interference’: Klein (Oct. 31)

I agree that this ad certainly raises questions of the possibility of deceptive intent behind it, a smearing tactic that’s become far too common in our political world.

In fact, society can learn a valuable lesson from mayoral candidate Noah Redden, who ran a successful smear-free, non-attacking campaign on a little budget. For someone young with little political experience, you’d never know it based on his multiple thinking-outside-the-box ideas, recommendations and possible solutions — all of which should seriously be considered.

And the refreshing part? He ran his campaign without taking the bait of discrediting another candidate, something both Scott Gillingham and Kevin Klein seemed incapable of doing.

But the reason Klein lost can’t be blamed on any discrediting ad from CUPE. Just a little research on Klein’s own publicly available information reveals his alignment, in one form or another, with positions held by U.S. President Donald Trump.

Considering what this president has done and the despicable inhumane human being that he is, I would think that should be enough to want to distance oneself from any association with him, especially someone seeking any public office. If a candidate can overlook similarities with a world leader most Canadians are disgusted with, then that reveals the trueness of their heart.

What you believe someone should be as a human being should be your cornerstone in all areas of your life, including when seeking to be elected mayor.

Darcia Albrechtsen

Winnipeg

Fresh faces, fresh voices

Re: The ‘Gang of Nine’ and business as usual at city hall (Nov. 2)

As a now-retired teacher of 40 years, I have often heard and used the expression “lifelong learner.” It is a principle that applies just as well to public service as it does to education.

I have every confidence that the newly elected councillors, working alongside veteran members of city council, will be able to handle the inevitable learning curve. My greater wish is for the mayor and those councillors who have already been at the table to practise the equally important art of listening. New voices bring new perspectives and new approaches to the priorities identified by voters.

If experienced and newly elected members can work together with open minds and mutual respect, they can help build a renewed vision for our city while focusing on what matters.

Jules Rocque

Winnipeg