We are being denied our basic rights
I am heartened to learn of the sizeable investment the NDP is committing to the Victoria and Saanich citizen’s amalgamation review, and as a former local advocate of amalgamation, I would wish to share the following:
First, a reminder that nobody joins anyone in amalgamation. Existing municipal corporations would dissolve and, in their place, a new municipal corporation is struck with a newly defined larger boundary and newly elected politicians from across the new constituency.
Secondly, when you consider the many mayors who wrote the province asking them to respect the will of their electorate who expressed overwhelming 2014 election day ballot support for an amalgamation study, it remains embarrassing from a national point of view that successive provincial governments have denied capital region residents their voting rights.
That can’t happen in other provinces, as once people successfully vote for a review on governance, the provincial role is funding level determinations, not stealing the democracy that belongs to you the citizen everywhere else.
By refusing to accept a capital region governance review, the NDP has not only stolen voter democracy that other municipal Canadian residents enjoy, but for them now to tout a citizen-led review while refusing to acknowledge the voting rights of Esquimalt citizens as one example (who voted over 70 per cent in support for an amalgamation study) is really outrageous.
Who knew the party supposedly pushing for more social equity for citizens is doing more to entrench social inequities upon a population than anyone else in the country.
John Vickers
Miramichi, N.B.
Not qualified to lead Victoria
Victoria’s spineless council has reaffirmed the end justifies the means by banning the public from having a voice in new developments. Rather than do their job, councillors will let paid staff decide on housing projects and the neighbours be damned.
The housing has to comply with the Official Community Plan, a plan dictated by this same staff and which has been closed to the public for nearly a year with little public information.
For example, Quadra Street will be turned into a six-storey condo corridor from Tolmie to Topaz streets as part of making Victoria a city of canyons.
But why should council care since half the councillors don’t even live in the city, just draw their paycheques from our pockets?
Council is not qualified to lead the city, so what makes one think the so-called planners it hired are qualified?
Patrick Murphy
Victoria
Off-leash dog parks are not the best idea
Sadly it seems some members of Victoria council have no idea or experience with off-leash dog parks.
I strongly urge them to consult with veterinarians who have treated dogs suffering injuries acquired in a dog park, or diseases and flea infestations acquired while having some poorly monitored fun.
Not all dog owners keep a good eye on their dogs.
The disposal of “poop bags” is hit and miss as they are often left on a bench or fence. A popular idea has been derailed by a group of unreliable owners.
More off-leash parks are closing rather than opening. Sad but true.
Gail Brighton
Nanoose Bay
Proposed building too big for neighbourhood
Another medical clinic is closing, this time on Cook Street in Saanich. To add insult to injury we are told that the clinic will be demolished along with three homes to make room for a six-storey apartment block.
A more inappropriate spot for a building of that size is difficult to imagine. The developer has hinted at the possibility of a new medical clinic on the ground floor of the new building, but unless the province finds a way to solve the physician shortage that possibility seems unlikely at best.
Our neighbourhood is one of single-family homes and townhomes, all low profile. A building of six storeys to the south of many of these homes would see them permanently cast in shadow.
The parcel of land being considered is not large, has very minimal parking on Cook and on Cobb Lane; where will all the visitors to this proposed monolith park?
I urge Saanich council to turn down this proposal when it comes before them. A development of townhomes such as the ones directly across the street would be far more appropriate.
Valerie Martel
Victoria
Meaningful changes needed in patient care
Thank you to the Times Colonist and those with the temerity to voice their concerns regarding the present debacle of patient/physician care.
Certainly the assessment of Health Minister Adrian Dix seems reasonable. Unfortunately for him, he is about the only “visible target.”
The soft underbelly of the government-controlled medical system will remain unscathed! Like the tides, this bureaucracy flows inexorably in a somewhat random fashion.
It, and its adherents, perpetuate themselves in ever increasing numbers and complexity. It is about control and rationing in the guise of financial and political expediency.
Ask me no questions, then I can tell you no lies, or better still, no answer!
To be candid, perhaps the Doctors of B.C. (formerly the B.C. Medical Association) should become more openly aggressive and united in their approach and formulation for meaningful changes to existing medical practice.
Ron Irish
Retired M.D.
North Saanich
Even in Kamloops, tough to get health care
I recently tried to find a walk-in clinic in Kamloops to have some stitches removed. The only place I could find was a urgent care centre that did not take walk-ins and could only be used by phoning in to get an appointment at 10 a.m., which seems to contradict the term urgent.
Fortunately, I walked in anyway and was told that I could come back later that day and see a nurse who could remove my stitches.
Having moved recently from Victoria where my old walk-in clinic closed I had hoped for better doctor access in Kamloops.
I think it might be time for all the seniors and others in this country who have no doctor to stage our own protest in front of every government office in this country.
It seems to be the only way to get politicians to pay attention and perhaps the embarrassment of another worldwide news story about a major protest in Canada might finally get the government to act.
Dan Nicoud
Kamloops
Get the message to them using a hashtag
The government’s deafness surrounding the acute shortage of family doctors demonstrates that they are incapable of understanding the issue.
We must speak to them in simple language they do understand.
I suggest that everyone without a family doctor declare that in the next provincial election they will vote for the leading opposition candidate.
#NoDoctorNoVote. See, it’s simple enough to fit in a hashtag.
Peter Scott
Victoria
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