Letters, June 28

Opinion

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 27/06/2022 (912 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Lay charges in police HQ scandal

Re: Email trail intertwines city, real estate company on police HQ project (June 24)

It is quite obvious, based on the Free Press investigation by Ryan Thorpe, that there needs to be criminal charges laid.

I’m a Winnipeg taxpayer, and I demand these people be held accountable. I don’t give a damn that, traditionally, politicians don’t get tried and put in jail.

It is quite obvious that we Winnipeggers have been robbed. The people who robbed us need to be tried and jailed if found guilty.

Also, I want our money back!

Brad McKay

Winnipeg

Tell us why prosecutions avoided

Re: Transparency lacking at Manitoba Justice (Opinion, June 27)

James Turner’s column raises legitimate questions regarding the lack of transparency from Manitoba Justice. There is no reason Manitoba could not follow the B.C. example and provide “clear statements” to the public regarding decisions not to prosecute.

Turner’s piece uses the decision not to lay charges arising out of the RCMP investigation into the construction of the Winnipeg police headquarters, to make his transparency point. He could have chosen many cases, such as the fact fashion mogul Peter Nygard faces multiple sexual assault charges in Toronto, Montreal and New York, but none here in Winnipeg, his hometown, where many women allege misconduct on his part. The silence from Manitoba Justice is deafening.

Paul Moist

Winnipeg

Monitoring of MDs concerning

Re: Oversight of MDs improving (Letters, June 25)

Letter writer Wayne Manishen uses the adjective “relentless” to describe reporter Katrina Clarke’s criticism of the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Manitoba (CPSM). I think a better adjective would be “legitimate.”

Clarke has raised real and serious concerns about how the CPSM functions, particularly as it pertains to its investigations of physicians who have sexually abused their patients.

Let’s not forget the CPSM’s mandate is the protection of the public and, as one past president of its board said, the “moral owners of the College are the public.” As such, I welcome Clarke’s articles that examine how the CPSM can create better and safer outcomes for members of the public.

Mac Horsburgh

Winnipeg

Speirs’ humour welcome change

Re: Heroism, not mine, saves day from pizza inferno (Opinion, June 25)

Doug Speirs’ column made me laugh. And that laughter was sorely needed, especially after reading everything that is going on right now in the U.S., in Afghanistan, in Ukraine and with the issue at the Forks. Thanks, Doug, for brightening up a gloomy day. I am so glad there was a happy ending to your story. I truly could not have taken another horrible ending.

Betty McInerney

Winnipeg

Volunteer patrol suggested

Re: Crime creates a gap in politics (Opinion, June 24)

Royce Koop’s column struck a chord with me. I worked downtown for 40 years and, many years ago, I was almost the victim of a mugging when two thugs tried to push me down a flight of stairs in my parkade. I was athletic in those days, managed not to fall and ran to safety.

I have thought about the issue of violent crime in Winnipeg for a long time, and there certainly isn’t an easy solution.

Gangs are principally an offshoot of the “war on drugs” and thrive on the misery of addicts. Making and supplying drugs to addicts on a nominal/no-cost basis might ameliorate the situation, and make gang membership somewhat less attractive.

Police resources are limited and they cannot be everywhere at once. A corps of intensively trained volunteers might help with the random street crime seen in our city. Such volunteers would be carefully vetted, trained in the use of firearms and would circulate in plain clothes in areas subject to muggings.

The existence of the Bear Clan patrols shows there would be a large enough pool of volunteers to draw from.

Michael Dowling

Winnipeg

‘White privilege’ unfair slur

Re: Canada Day good time for change (Opinion, June 25)

Columnist Dan Lett refers to people of “white privilege” as being upset about no fireworks on Canada Day. That is not the case. We’re upset about not celebrating the good things that Canada has given us. We are proud to be Canadian.

For many of us, our ancestors suffered poverty, atrocities and murder in the countries where they lived and came to Canada for a better life for their children. They came with nothing and received nothing from the government. Their own communities helped them. They worked hard, long hours at menial type jobs to give their children the education and tools to become “white privileged.” Why are these dirty words?

Rochelle Litvack

Winnipeg

Debate airing hard truths

Re: Canada Day changes out of focus for The Forks: Axworthy (June 21)

Lloyd Axworthy says, “There is a pattern developing where we almost are awkward to call ourselves Canadians. Our city has become focused on minority grievances — as awful as they are — and has left out the rest.”

It’s about time a politician acknowledged the hard truth about minority-grievance politics in Winnipeg and the province. Whether it is due to Manitoba’s unique ethnocultural demographic, or perhaps the willingness of the establishment (still primarily white cisgender men who are now happy to move into overdrive in their accommodation of minority-grievance politics as a way to hold on to the reins of power), people who are not BIPOC and who are cisgender and Canadian of European descent are being told they need to be “re-educated” as to their self-identity and how they can express it.

Beware of people who want to “reimagine” your Canadian identity for you.

Augustine Schulz

Winnipeg

Let’s all unite on July 1

Re: Canada Day backers perpetuate colonialism: grand chief (June 23).

Grand Chief Garrison Settee asks that all Canadians continue to advance the dialogue on reconciling with Canada’s extremely dark past.

It was horrendous the way Indigenous people were treated in the past. I also wish to point out that I was not involved in any way and believe many of us had no idea what was happening.

Churches involved in past atrocities have taken responsibility and, I hope, this summer’s visit by the Pope will help people find solace and hold their heads up.

I pray that all Canadians, Indigenous and of any other ancestry, can come together to celebrate our great land on July 1 by uniting to celebrate Canada Day.

M. Florence Smith

Winnipeg

Forks’ rationale hogwash

Re: The Forks addresses Canada Day backlash (June 24)

The Forks board says it “never intended” to eliminate the idea of Canada Day. What a bunch of hogwash. Intent was very obvious by the complete elimination of the words “Canada Day” from the celebration planned for July 1.

James Roberts

Winnipeg

Perhaps it is time for Parliament to enact legislation to change the name of Canada to: “Country with no name, no traditions.” Our new flag could be all white to show surrender.

Gerry Belanger

Ile des Chenes

The Forks will now call the July 1 celebration A New Day. What does that mean? What are we celebrating? What flag should I fly?

I raised the last question with friends. One suggested that this year a mosquito flag would be apt.

Ursula Delfing

Winnipeg