Letters, Oct. 7

Opinion

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 06/10/2022 (812 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Russell ‘exceptional journalist’

Re: Free Press journalist, author Frances Russell dies (Oct. 4)

I was saddened to learn of the death of Frances Russell. She was an exceptional journalist, one of a long line of writers for the Free Press who have brought truth and insight to the public affairs of Manitoba.

She was deeply rooted in our community. I first met her when we were students at United College (University of Winnipeg) and shared classes in history, political science and English. It was there that I encountered her sharp intellect, clear writing style, belief in the cause of social justice and a commitment to a free press.

Over the years we shared space in the realm of politics, me as a participant, Frances as a chronicler. She was a force to be reckoned with — tough, informed and with a special knack for getting to the heart of a subject and cutting through political bafflegab.

Then there were the times at Victoria Beach when we could kick back with her and husband Ken Murdoch and discuss the incongruities of life and the protection of Lake Winnipeg.

She made a difference and will be missed.

Lloyd Axworthy

Winnipeg

Claims about Murray refuted

Re: Murray continues to deny sexual harassment allegations (Oct. 3)

One of Glen Murray’s colleagues drew my attention to a news story in your paper about his time at Pembina Institute. As the president of Regenesis Group. Inc., I was present at the retreat that seems to make up a large part of the article.

I want to be on the record as the retreat’s keynote speaker and a participant in that planning conference. I can assert without reservation that Glen was professional and a great host. He did not drink excessively or behave inappropriately. I was present with him for much of the event.

What I witnessed was a well-organized conference within an organization that represents Glen’s ideals. This event and his effort are typical of the leadership I have seen from him over the years we have interacted.

I have great respect for Glen and can attest to his good character. Every city would benefit from the calibre of leadership he offers.

Bill Reed

Arlington, Mass.

Face it, we need revenue

Re: Gillingham’s gambit could pose threat to Murray (Opinion, Oct. 6)

Scott Gillingham is the only candidate with the courage to tell us what some are unwilling to hear: we need more revenue to finance many of the city’s pressing needs.

Many of the city’s challenges arose from wilful disregard of the city’s needs by our former premier, although the provincial property school tax credits, as Dan Lett points put in this column, do give the city some wiggle room.

However, Gillingham, as a councillor, and the current mayor quietly persisted in many initiatives, including house cleaning at city hall, to improve our city, its quality of life and finances. We need to continue in this direction.

Bill Stewart

Winnipeg

Opinion on graves offensive

Re: ‘Unmarked graves’ unproven (Letters, Oct. 5)

Letter writer Al Perrin criticizes Mayor Brian Bowman for saying the “unmarked graves” of residential school children have been found at the site of former Indian residential schools, when so far the possible graves have not been unearthed and investigated.

After all the hurt, all the trauma, all the crying from generation to generation, Perrin talks about “not one body has yet been exhumed.” What for? More humiliation of Indigenous peoples? Does Perrin lack compassion?

Ronald Dalloo

Winnipeg

No one ever talks about the non-Indigenous residential school attendees and the suspected graves.

It is well documented that many children from the surrounding areas attended residential schools and also died from various causes. They, as well as staff who ran the schools, may also be buried there and need to be included in the overall equation.

I applaud the Indigenous community and the slogan: All children matter. In my opinion, everyone matters.

Karl Lang

Navin

End government sale of liquor

Re: MLL quietly tweaks policy of no minors inside Liquor Marts (Oct. 5)

The Manitoba liquor commission claims it has driven down the thefts from people running out of the store with stolen merchandise. That’s great news, but it comes at the cost of the law-abiding public.

We are forced to wait outside in all sorts of weather while we get our identification scanned by a lackadaisical clerk who is in no rush to speed up the process. Once we have made a purchase and go to the cashier, we are now forced to bag our own merchandise.

The federal government, airlines and every other public retail outlet has removed most COVID-19 protocols. Why can’t the Manitoba liquor commission do the same?

We don’t have government-run stores for the sale of cannabis and prescription and non-prescription drugs. It is time to give control of selling all liquor products to private retailers. We don’t need government-run operations driving up prices at the same time as being inefficient.

Dwayne Capon

Winnipeg

Fears about MAiD realized

Re: Woman with ALS chooses assisted suicide after failure to get more home care (Oct. 4)

It is tragic when a relatively young woman with a severe disability chose to die because she believed the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority home-care program could not meet her needs. However, the blame for inadequate home-care resources does not rest solely with the current government.

Successive provincial governments, both Conservative and NDP, have significantly underfunded home-care services in Manitoba. Many of the policies and procedures currently in place in delivering home care were there well before the Progressive Conservative government was elected in 2015.

Advocates in the disability community here in Manitoba and nationally have long argued the introduction of Medical Assistance In Dying (MAiD) would mean people who need care and support would find themselves choosing MAiD because they could not get needed support from the health-care system. This tragedy confirms this is true.

Irwin Corobow

Winnipeg

Better highways cost more

Re: Lake Agassiz’s muddy legacy (Letters, Oct. 3)

To the recent letter writers expressing concern about the quality of Manitoba highways, the high-quality highways they refer to in North Dakota are part of the U.S. interstate highway system and, as such, are heavily funded by vehicle and gas taxes, both state and federal. They are also given the highest priority for maintenance.

If you want better highways, no additional engineering is required; just ask the politicians responsible to increase your taxes to cover the cost of the quality of highways you want.

Kevin McGregor

Winnipeg

Parks are not dumps

I can’t believe this needs to be said, but apparently it does: to people who live near public parks, these are not your personal waste-disposal areas.

I walk my dog through parks almost every day and have seen all kinds of dumped stuff, including leaves, excavated soil, tree stumps, grease and oil, dog poop and food scraps. I saw someone dump their grass trimmings over the fence as I walked by.

Come on, people.

Jason Sudyn

Winnipeg