An open letter to Candidate Sanderson!
Candidate, Board of Directors
Manitoba Metis Federation
Winnipeg Regional Office
www.derrylsanderson.blogspot.com/
http://www.facebook.com/derrylsanderson
Dear Sir:
Our readers noted with great interest your recent comments regarding the problem of Winnipeg gangs ("What Can We Do To Stop Youth Violence?" - December 7, 2009) which impacts on everyone in the community.
Is it a lack of opportunities for our youth that cause such disillusionment and susceptibility to committing these sickening random acts of murderous violence?
It is a self-evident truth but what to do? As a candidate, we hope you will support our initiative and incorporate it into your policy platform.
On October 31, 2009 we wrote directly to Manitoba Premier Greg Selinger (CyberSmokeBlog - "Worth a try?) attaching an article from the Los Angeles Times. It described the success of Homeboy Industries a publicly funded LA program that targets youth at risk of joining gangs. Expertise and seed money is provided to assist them to establish small businesses in the process creating jobs and economic opportunity. Our question to Mr. Selinger was why not set up and test the concept here by creating a small pilot project?
A letter of appreciation was received from Mr. Selinger's Secretariat advising our missive had been passed on to the Honourable Andrew Swan, Minister of Justice from whom we're still awaiting a reply.
Hopefully, you and the yet unannounced candidate running for MMF President (http://metisonline.ca) in the upcoming election will support this initiative.
A copy of this letter has been sent to www.derrylsanderson.blogspot.com, as well as, premier@leg.mb.ca. Should a reply be received it will be published.
Sincerely,
Clare L. Pieuk
posted by Clare L. Pieuk at 6:29 AM
1 Comments:
Hi Clare - here is the official announcement;
http://metisonline.ca/
Now to answer your question concerning the LA program and if it is something that I if elected would look at as the MMF president. First I am not aware of any programs for our Metis youth other than what is outlined in the Youth initiative section on the MMF website - which really doesn't tell us much. But in all honesty I would have to say that youth programs are out of my area of expertise and I would have to rely on the abilities of someone who is better qualified to take on such a endeavor. The program you have written about sounds like something that we should look at as a publicly funded organization to see if it would work with our youth at risk. And this is something as a leader I would take a serious look at.
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