Crisis line plan will increase health costs

I am utterly disappointed in the decision to consolidate the Vancouver Island crisis lines into one service. The quality of service will undoubtedly diminish; with call content being limited to crises this leaves little room for calls solely involving emotional support.

Many people in the communities of Vancouver Island rely on the empathic listening of volunteers at the crisis lines for daily support and often this is their only form of human connection. Without the non-judgmental compassion of the volunteer, many of these callers may not adequately be able to get through the day and this will undoubtedly put strain on other health services which are already stressed to the max, such as the emergency room.

Lincoln Foerster

Victoria

Extra sailings could have helped backlog

After cancelling all sailings to the Island Wednesday night, B.C. Ferries could have anticipated a huge backlog the next morning. Had it done so, and added a few extra sailings, the wait could have been much shorter.

Ian Lightman

Victoria

Ontario, B.C. and the new HST

Paul Willcocks was wondering why there is such a difference in the approach taken by the Ontario and the British Columbia governments, both intent on introducing an HST this coming July (Nov. 18).

A cynic might well observe that the fixed election date in Ontario is about a year and a half earlier than the one in British Columbia. Therefore, the McGuinty government must begin the appearance of kowtowing to the voting public that much earlier than the Campbell government.

Rick Weatherill

Saanich

Bring Omar Khadr back to Canada

Omar Khadr was just a 15-year-old child when he was captured in Afghanistan in 2002. He is also a Canadian citizen. Over the past seven years he has been tortured physically and psychologically in what has become one of the most notorious prisons in history.

Courts have consistently ruled that Khadr's rights have been violated and that he should be brought back to Canada. Almost all other western prisoners at Guantanamo have been repatriated, but the Harper government has spent millions of taxpayers' dollars on lawyers to keep Khadr in an American jail.

In 2002, Canada eagerly ratified a protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child requiring signatories to give special consideration to captured enemy fighters under 18.

To reconcile this convention with their attitude toward Khadr, the Conservatives have taken the Orwellian step of simply changing the language. The Department of Foreign Affairs now contends that there is no longer any such thing as a "child soldier;" there are only "children in armed conflict."

In Afghanistan, documents show Canadian troops have handed over child soldiers to Afghan security forces. Under the United Nations convention the children should have been taken to a UNICEF rehabilitation centre.

The policies and actions of the Harper government with regard to Khadr and child soldiers everywhere siphon credibility from Canada's traditional advocacy for human rights.

Don White

Victoria

Turn on your lights, make sure you are seen

It's that time of the year again, with dark, wet days and many drivers insisting on driving with no lights. I don't know if it's an aversion or what.

And to those folks who have their "headlights" come on when they turn the key, be advised there are no lights in the rear of your vehicle. Those "headlights" are daytime running lights, with the emphasis on daytime.

They are much dimmer than your regular headlights. And in most cases you have no dashboard lights either. This should be a clue. I think many car sales people are remiss in not telling the buyers this.

William Jesse

Oak Bay

Want the door opened? That will cost you

So now when I book or request an exit row seat with Air Canada it will cost me an extra $35.

Fair enough. And when the flight attendant asks me will I assume the responsibility of opening the emergency door should the plane come down unexpectedly I will agree to do so.

Of course, there'll be a charge — maybe $70.

Geoff Johnson

Mill Bay

Canada should lead on climate

The Copenhagen climate conference is rapidly approaching. The glaring silence and lack of any evidence to the contrary appear to indicate our government intends to continue Canada's non-committal stance.

This position concerns a majority of Canadians and much of the rest of the world. You would expect that on one of the most critical issues of our time there would be evidence of significant action on the part of our leaders. Otherwise, they are not worthy of the role.

Canada should contribute in helping to ensure a global plan of action is enacted in a timely manner. The Copenhagen conference must provide the framework to make that happen. Without that necessary framework, Stephen Harper and other world leaders condemn their citizens to a most uncertain future.

It can no longer be acceptable to propose unsubstantiated, stand-alone, long-term action plans.

Canada's current path is both harming our international reputation and potentially risking all our futures.

Mike Boyd

Victoria

We don't need to drive humungous vehicles

A recent letter lamented "narrow lanes designed for European-style cars."

When will Canadians and Americans "get it"? Too many of us own vehicles that are much larger than is necessary. Most of us drive more often than we really need to.

Jim Fidler

Victoria

Six-lane tunnel would solve Malahat

Quit complaining about the Malahat and start doing something positive.

A six-lane road tunnel through that rock can solve all problems of commuting this stretch.

In Europe — in Switzerland and Austria — this would be a relatively minor undertaking, compared to other tunnels they have, and would have been done many, many years ago.

Robert Brodgesell

Ladysmith