Tuesday’s letters: Full probe needed on health-care corruption claims

The more I watch how Danielle Smith and the UCP operate, the less I trust them. She seems to be operating from the MAGA playbook where she can hire, fire, and override department staff at will to push her agenda.

Her approach to restructuring health care seems to be to privatize and outsource as much as possible. Which brings me to the latest scandal surrounding Alberta health-care contracts now under scrutiny by the auditor general. Who are MHCare, Mraiche Holding Corp. and Sam Mraiche, who seem to have the inside track on government contracts to deliver a private health-care system? Aren’t they the ones who wined and dined cabinet ministers in luxury boxes during the Oilers playoffs?

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There needs to be a full investigation of these contracts, the abrupt dismissal of the latest AHS board, and the entire procurement process by the auditor general and the RCMP.

John Campbell, Edmonton

Safety should be priority in public spaces

Re. “Proposed public spaces bylaw endangers city’s most vulnerable,” Opinion, Feb. 8

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The Saturday opinion piece by Yuru Yan and Joanna Zhu of The City of Edmonton Youth Council indicates this organization is completely out of touch with the opinions of most Edmontonians. This group is once again advocating for open drug use and the homeless use of the LRT to loiter in and stay warm in the winter.

Not once do they mention public safety. Real public safety always comes first before any theoretical outcomes of not allowing law-breaking and fearful homeless behaviour. The current revised public spaces bylaw appears to strike the right balance on the issues it deals with. No citizen of Edmonton should be subject to viewing open drug use or worry about their safety in public spaces, including their use the public transport system.

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Gerhard Henkemans, Edmonton

Public spaces bylaw doesn’t matter

The City of Edmonton Youth Council is worried that the proposed public spaces bylaw will endanger the city’s most vulnerable. The proposed bylaw will deal with things such as spitting in public, using drugs in public spaces, panhandling by or on roads, loitering in transit stations, riding skateboards, roller skates or e-scooters on sidewalks.

There is no need for the most vulnerable to worry. Why? Because the bylaw won’t be enforced. All of the aforementioned transgressions are already illegal, but continue with impunity. That panhandler that you see every day on the median of a busy intersection will still be there long after the bylaw is passed. Even if a fine were issued, do you really think it will be paid?

Walter Giduk, Edmonton

Oilers need remedial coaching

Oilers training tip: I think Oilers head coach Kris Knoblauch should send the team to a dog trainer. The players need to learn how to hold a lead.

Maureen Elhatton, Edmonton

Letters welcome

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