Re: As I See it column by James Loewen (Does Hellebuyck want out? If so, good riddance, April 23, The Carillon)

James, I could not agree with you more. In fact, I sent an email to Mike McIntyre of the Free Press last week expressing the same feelings.

You did an even job.

I have not heard from him. Surely, we are not the only ones who have noticed.

It is the sort of behind the scenes work that most people never see. When a government makes a major policy announcement, for the public, it is often the first time they become aware of it. While it may feel like the beginning of a process, for those working in government on the announcement, it is often the culmination of weeks or months of preparation and work. Everything from where the announcement is made to the communications material behind it are usually carefully scrutinized.

Most of this preparation work is to ensure that when the announcement is made and the questions come from the media and public (the how, what, where and when questions), there are answers. Of course, sometimes not every answer is readily available at the time of the announcement, but the goal is always to be able to fill in the blanks as much as possible to provide credibility for the announcement and the government.

None of this seemed to be the case this past weekend when Premier Wab Kinew announced that his government would be implementing a ban on social media and some artificial intelligence apps for youth in Manitoba. This is a major announcement that immediately garnered attention and, naturally, raised many questions. What age would it apply to? How could a province enforce it? When would it start? Which social media would it apply to? These, and others, are the types of questions that a government would know would come with such an announcement and should be prepared to answer. But no answers, or details, followed the announcement.

That was partially because the announcement wasn’t made at a press conference, as you would expect. It was made at an NDP fundraiser where you had to pay hundreds of dollars to attend. Mr. Kinew made the announcement from the stage and then left. He took no questions after the announcement or in the days immediately following. It left many wondering after, if the announcement was made in haste or with little planning.

As a hospital chaplain (aka spiritual care provider), I often find that people misunderstand my role. When I introduce myself, some people say they aren’t religious, some say they are from a faith that is not Christian, some say they have a pastor or that they are OK for now. However, there is a reason this role is now called ‘spiritual care provider’. It is a role that is to serve all. It is not called Christian care provider, religious care provider, but spiritual care provider because it is about tending the spirit that is in all of us. Pain is not only biological, but it also has emotional and spiritual impacts.

Our word ‘psyche’ includes the human soul in its etymology. For the ancient Greeks it was an all-inclusive word that involves the mind, emotions and spirit of a person. That is why most hospitals have spiritual care providers as part of their inter-disciplinary team. We know that for the best hope of recovery or adjustment it is essential that we help the body and spirit together. The first thing I usually say to a patient is ‘I am here for you. This is your journey and I’m here to support you in whatever way I can. If it is just to listen or to pray if desired, it is all about you.’

The spiritual care provider walks through hospital corridors with quiet anticipation, knowing that in each room there is pain. In each room there is space for a little more hope. The chaplain’s role is not defined by procedures or charts, but by presence - sitting with people at a vulnerable time of life. Spiritual care providers offer spiritual and emotional care to patients of all beliefs and to those who have no belief in God, listening for meaning more than the words and forms people use. In sterile rooms buzzing with machines and monitors, they remind patients and families that they are more than their diagnoses, that their stories, fears, and faith matter more. Biography over biology.

Much of a spiritual care provider’s work unfolds through gentle, open questions that invite reflection rather than demand answers. “What is giving you strength right now?” “What worries you the most in this moment?” or “Are there beliefs or practices that bring you comfort?” or simply “How was your sleep last night?’. These questions open doors to reflection, allowing patients and families to voice hope, doubt, anger, or grief. Often, the greatest gift is a silence that listens - a safe space where complicated emotions can rest without being judged or rushed. It is amazing how much better one can feel after talking a little with a trustworthy person.