Rouleau report a big service for Canadians
Re: “Questionable ruling on Emergencies Act usage,” editorial, Feb. 18.
The editorial will probably become big item for law faculties/students because it brings to the fore that millennia-old political reality check: who is guarding the guardians of our society?
Obviously, those guardians charged to guard Ottawa citizens didn’t guard well at all. Only two alternatives were present: continue to let ground-level guardian mayhem continue — not a good idea; anarchy beckons. Or, have higher-level guardians take charge, a role-demand commensurate with democratic principles.
Justice Paul Rouleau did Canada a big service. His report details flaws in societal command and control, summed up best as a total breakdown in effective communication.
There is every likelihood that all principal actors and agencies involved in societal controls dedicated to enhance citizenry well-being are organizing themselves to make this particular Ottawa scenario a lesson plan to learn the intricacies of how to deal meaningfully with similar societal disturbances.
Conscious human behaviour is a consequence of four fundamental mental processing systems: belief-based, rational-based, consensus-based, emotional-based, where the interplay gives us our leaders, bureaucrats, followers and those along just for the ride.
Popular leadership seminars are really an ounce of leadership — which is really philosophy-in-action, with a pound of management — which is really behavioural-skills-in action. Leadership is always “why-based”; management is always “how-based.”
From this perspective there were plenty of bureaucrats to go around but not much evidence of leadership — until government intervention.
Rouleau saw the need for Canada to look at itself in the mirror of a well-defined confrontation issue gone awry. We all know it need not have happened. But it did.
Ideologues frightened of science will always have their loyal mindless cadre of followers — especially when the rallying call is “freedom” reinforced with tanks in truck garb blasting ear-piercing missile decibels. Lawlessness writ large.
Not to be forgotten: Where did all the money come from to run Freedom Convoy? Just asking. I mean, it looks like we taxpayers are on the hook for many millions of dollars to pay off their call for freedom.
Donald Lang
Langford
Others failed in Ottawa, the federal cabinet acted
Re: “Questionable ruling on Emergencies Act usage,” editorial, Feb. 18.
Yes, it may not have been a threat to national security, but the truckers’ movement had apparent momentum, border crossings were blocked with the threat of more blockades and many vital supply chains were interrupted which hampered our manufacturing, food supply and consumer product industries.
The editorial correctly states that despite having laws at their disposal, the RCMP, Ontario Provincial Police and Ottawa Police bungled the job. Equally, the federal, Ontario and Ottawa governments were unwilling and/or unable to implement a consistent strategy to deal with the Trucker’s protest.
This is precisely why the Emergencies Act was invoked.
The federal cabinet correctly concluded that the three police agencies and three governments, including themselves, needed a “kick in the pants” to get their collective acts together.
Yes, civil rights were suspended, albeit for only a short period and the cabinet was well aware that a judicial review of the decision would occur as a condition of the Emergencies Act.
Justice Paul Roleau reached the correct conclusion. Times Colonist editors did not.
Bob Kanngiesser
Port Alberni
Harris Green project needs car parking
All those new high-rises at Harris Green with virtually no parking. You have to be kidding.
A large part of the tenants/ owners will have friends and relatives come from other parts of the island and the mainland for visits.
Better add a couple of parking towers or View Street is going to look like car park hell.
Colin Cameron
Victoria
Sharing our vehicles makes the most sense
Cars sit idle for all but a few hours every day, and all cars are not in use at the same time.
A membership in a car share service like Modo, Evo, or ZipCar is only a few dollars a month, and hourly rates are extremely reasonable, not least because gas, tires, tune-ups, oil changes, and car insurance are included in the car share service.
New housing developments providing a mathematically sensible number of car-share vehicles and a car-share membership, bike-parking spot, and monthly bus pass for each tenant is a far more cost-effective and sensible urban transportation solution than cramming a car that will sit idle almost all day every day into a parking spot for each tenant.
Bill Appledorf
Victoria
For those who cycle: Enjoy downtown
The beauty and convenience of downtown Victoria was delightful when my family and I were able to settle down in Victoria in the late 1970s.
The transformation that has taken place over the last 10-plus years is heartbreaking. I do believe that we must focus on improving conditions for those who are without proper housing and/or suffering from addiction.
I fear that even if these primary challenges can be met, the era of a welcoming, convenient, and attractive downtown has been irrevocably lost.
Concrete barriers around severely narrowed main roadways, intersections with multi -traffic lights (often appearing to contradict each other, particularly to those who are new to the city encountering them for the first time) a network of one way streets and dead ends have done a thorough job of making attempts to drive a car into the city inefficient and frustrating, if not less safe.
The intention of discouraging cars entering downtown has been a great — if not brutal — success.
I’m one of the many who avoids going downtown unless I have no other option for shopping or particular services. Ever-increasing parking restrictions and costs will have little impact on us.
I wish local citizens who prefer bicycle commuting, shopping, etc. safe and healthy travel. The rest of us must simply mourn the amenable downtown we knew.
Louis Ranger
Victoria
Don’t hike parking fee, cut back on bathrooms
As I read the account of Victoria council’s angsty discussion trying to reconcile this year’s budget I was struck, once again, by this council’s (and the previous one’s) pathological hatred of all things automobile.
It’s hardly surprising that the only idea considered was raising parking rates. Not even mentioned, not surprisingly, is the potential economies that could be realized by reassessing the amount of money being budgeted for renovating public bathrooms in parks.
Reminder, that’s $14 million for 17 bathrooms. For that I would at least expect in-floor heating.
I’m not saying that we shouldn’t be keeping these facilities in good order and improving accessibility. But it’s stunning to realize that the average cost of $785,000 is more than the cost, excluding land, of an entire 2,000 square foot, three-bedroom, two-bathroom house including a kitchen, a family room, a laundry room … well, we all get idea.
It’s too bad that council doesn’t appear to.
Jim Jaarsma
Victoria
Bring on a new name, and a new flag as well
Re: “Should we change the name of British Columbia?” Jack Knox, Feb. 21.
Yes, changing the name – and flag – of British Columbia is an excellent idea! How about a new name of Indigenous origin, as is the case in the Yukon, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec and Nunavut?
And imagine just how beautiful the new flag would be if it were inspired by local Indigenous art.
Gil Verrier
Esquimalt
West Shore has 60,000 unattached patients
Re: “West Shore doctors call for physician-assistant pilot project,” Feb. 19.
I agree that physician assistants could improve access to episodic primary care for folks, which of course is better than no access to primary care.
The caption under the photograph is way off, though. Physician assistants at the West Shore UPCC would not improve attachment of patients to doctors at the WUPCC, because no doctors are attaching patients there.
If physician assistants were funded for longitudinal community family practices, this could likely increase attachment in such clinics.
Sadly, most of us community longitudinal family doctors are carrying more patients than we should. I would love the help of a physician assistant who would improve access to care at my clinic.
My wait time is far too long for non urgent issues as I have too many patients.
And, a reminder, there are about 60,000 unattached patients in the West Shore.
Vanessa Young M.D.
Past chair, South Island Division of Family Practice Clinical Faculty, UVic Island Medical Program.
Much demand for rail, so bring the E&N back
So many people have written letters commenting on the revitalizing of the existing E&N railway.
Clearly people want this existing railway to be put in use as an alternative to the Malahat highway.
It is time our governments take action before it’s too late.
Salih Zeki Cinar
Victoria
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