Pedestrian zone is good for business
The Government Street pedestrian zone has been a huge success, especially during the warmer months. The atmosphere on Government Street last summer was great, and I’m looking forward to it being even better this summer, with the return of more tourists.
Business owners who want the street reopened to traffic are being shortsighted. The wonderful atmosphere created by the pedestrian zone will be an attraction that will bring locals and tourists into the area and encourage them to linger for longer.
That can only be good for business. There are many, many examples from around the world of successful pedestrian zones that attract large numbers of tourists and local residents.
The planned new cruise shuttle route will still access Government Street at Yates. From there, it is a short five- to 10-minute stroll either south to the harbour or north to Chinatown.
To claim, as one business owner did, that they would lose 75 per cent of their business with the new shuttle stop being 250 metres away is ridiculous.
The large majority of cruise shuttle passengers will happily be able to stroll the length of the tourist zone on Government Street.
Steven Murray
Victoria
Should Government be a bus transit route?
I recall the feeling of a cruise ship shuttle paused beside me in traffic on Fisgard Street as I sat at an outdoor cafe. The term shuttle does not adequately describe the enormity of the Wilson Group and CVS buses.
No matter where they park while cruisers visit, they are an unpleasant presence.
If someone who owns seven “tourism-related stores downtown” cannot lure his customers from a few blocks away, he needs to review his business model.
Would we, a city trying to become more walkable and cyclable and to implement climate solutions — especially vehicle emissions — condone our “high street” being converted from May to September into a parking lot?
We need to decide if we want Victoria residents to frequent Government Street or we want it to be a bus transit route.
Sandy Slobodian
Victoria
It works in Galway, so let’s try it here
A few years ago we took a bus tour that included Galway, Ireland. The bus pulled into an unwelcoming-looking side street, dominated by grey, anonymous buildings.
But before we exited the bus, our tour guide pointed to a small pathway. Go that way and you’ll come out in the pedestrian area, he explained. He described some of the local landmarks and mentioned the shops.
Off we went and, lo and behold, there it was — blocks of pedestrian-only streets filled with people. The shops were doing a brisk business.
A few well-placed signs made it easy to find a medieval church we wanted to see. We had a fabulous time and having a mundane starting point made absolutely no difference to our experience overall.
The solution to the changing cruise-shuttle routes could be as simple as having the drivers provide instructions to passengers on how to get to Government Street and what awaits them there.
Have drivers mention landmarks like the Empress, the Inner Harbour, and the legislature and what a lovely walk it is. Passengers will listen.
People on holiday don’t want to visit the mall. They want to see what’s unique and interesting about a place. All it takes is establishing a good relationship with the bus operators to get them to prompt visitors, and the visitors will respond.
What’s good for Galway could surely be good for Government Street.
Kristin Atwood
Victoria
Canada has become a beacon for fascists
I was reading the Scotsman, an Edinburgh newspaper, and discovered that my own country Canada has become not just a laughingstock but a beacon for fascists all over the world.
A group of right-wing thugs attempted to attack Keir Starmer, Labour leader, in response to Prime Minister Boris Johnson promoting a right-wing conspiracy theory about him that I won’t dignify by repeating.
As these thugs closed in on him (and the police protecting him) shouting: “Hang him! Hang him!” I saw that like our thugs in Ottawa, at the border and in front of Victoria’s legislature, at least one wore a Canadian flag tied around his neck, floating proudly behind him.
As our prime minister and premiers hide in their holes through this nondemocratic takeover of our country, our Canadian flag has become a symbol of fascism like the swastika and Confederate flag around the world.
I remember as a child, crossing the border at the Peace Arch, how incredibly proud my parents were to see the brand new Canadian flag flying proudly there — no longer the British ensign for us!
My father was in the RCAF fighting against fascists in Europe, fighting so Canada could one day have its own flag in one of many free western democracies. I am so glad he is no longer living to see what our flag now represents.
Today, I am heartbroken and ashamed.
Nancy Muggoch
Denman Island
Not a new doctor, but prescription filled
Re: “Who can we hound about medical care?” letter, Feb. 8.
To the 78-year-old writer of the letter, may I recommend that he call Telehealth for a new prescription.
My pharmacy gave me a card with a QR code that allowed me to register. I then researched for an “arms distant” doctor and was rewarded with a return call within six hours. No walk-in clinic, no lineups, just good and simple service.
This is not a panacea for good medical practice, I too would like to have a family doctor, but at least I have my new prescription.
David Smiley
Victoria
Clearcutting is the main problem
Re: “B.C.’s wildfire strategy is leaving whole communities behind,” commentary, Feb. 4.
Lori Daniels and Robert Gray do not mention the role played by clearcuts and plantations in the recent mega-fires.
These mega-fires were mostly ignited in clearcuts and then spread rapidly through vast areas of young plantations. This observation appears to be borne out by satellite imagery. Yet, in this op-ed, the words “plantation” and “clearcut” are not to be found.
Surely the role of clearcuts and plantations in the recent mega-wildfires has not escaped the notice of these two leading forest-fire experts? So, why the omission?
For two authors who advocate “going big and bold,” why would they not recommend that the forest industry and government take remedial action to mitigate against wildfire by reducing or stopping industrial clearcutting? That would certainly be bold.
Anthony Britneff
Victoria
COVID-19 health policy and the truck convoy
The freedom convoy illustrates a common problem in our complex, technological world — denial of the need for expertise. Science provides an understanding of, and an actionable interface with, the physical world, but is relatively opaque to those outside the field.
Society, on the other hand, is driven largely by personal beliefs and feelings and a desire for self-actualization. In this world, most people have opinions, and many have strong convictions, while few understand the details of the complex web of interactions connecting the physical and social worlds.
This results in opinions built on a limited understanding of the limited information to which they are exposed, and a complete lack of insight into the importance of the large collection of data about which they are unaware.
Optimal decision-making in the health-care system requires the integration of knowledge provided by experts from many fields. In contrast, it is highly likely that members of the freedom convoy do not come close to fully understanding the impacts of the changes to Canada’s COVID-19 policies that they are demanding.
It is therefore alarming that they are asking, not to discuss the situation with experts involved in COVID-19 policy, but to have their demands obeyed regardless of their effects on the health of fellow Canadians and the health-care system. While the convoy has big trucks and loud horns, it lacks the big data and deep understanding on which health policy changes of this magnitude must be based.
Aidan Byrne
Victoria
There is a moral duty to be vaccinated
A common assertion by those who support the “freedom” convoys is that vaccine mandates have divided Canadians.
They’re upset about their exclusion from participating in society, estrangement from family members and about loss of livelihoods, all because they made a personal choice to remain unvaccinated.
In fact, it is they who have hived themselves off from the rest of society; throughout history, those who have chosen self-interest over protecting their families and communities have tended to be shunned for it.
Most Canadians have been vaccinated and most abide by health orders.
We all want things to “go back to normal,” but when that time finally comes it will be thanks to the majority of us who chose the greater good of society over our own personal preferences.
Freya Keddie
Victoria
Conservative Party has opted out
Re: “Our very own Jan. 6, and O’Toole is gone,” letter, Feb 4.
This letter sums up the political landscape today in Canada, hardly a difference with the “Divided” States of America. Too bad, we have long regarded ourselves as different.
The Conservative Party has demonstrated they are as opportunistic as their fellow conservatives in the U.S. Republican Party and they are prepared to represent the grievances of every right-wing group from anti-vaxxers to neo-Nazis.
After all, the demonstration in Ottawa has shown that this is not simply a group of truckers, but anyone that has a gripe with the Trudeau government. The photo of ex-Conservative leader Andrew Scheer and fellow Saskatchewan Conservative politicians standing in front of a truck speaks a thousand words.
Winding up wackos is easy, the hard part is controlling them. Even the greatest present day wacko-winder, Donald Trump, has shown the limits of his charisma when he is booed by his MAGA followers when he tells them they should get vaccinated.
We have vaccines to control the spread of COVID. The vaccination rate in the U.S. is 64 per cent and in Canada it is 85 per cent. Therefore we have fewer people to unwind and persuade, but will we?
Many have said that Trump attained the Republican nomination because his fellow Republicans and the media didn’t call him out for his outrageous conduct and statements. In Canada, will our leaders, institutions and media rise to the occasion? The Conservative Party of Canada has opted out.
Wayne Cox
Saanichton
Enough rhetoric, let’s fix health care
For decades we believed our “Made in Canada” health-care system is the envy of the world. We have been so proud of our rhetoric, first-rate health care, fully accessible for all — I have been as guilty as you in perpetuating this and not paying attention to reality.
The COVID pandemic has exposed a broken, dysfunctional system that simply is unable serve our ongoing needs.
True, public health orders have been implemented to protect us, but remember a primary function of these orders is to protect our hospitals from being overwhelmed.
We reel from crisis to crisis; operation delays, addiction deaths, ambulance delays, nursing and doctor shortages, and yet we continue to feed a broken system with short-term Band-Aid actions and election cycle-driven planning by governments.
Daily we hear from officials and politicians the accolades for those providing our health services. What really is occurring here must ring hollow to health-care workers who continue working in a substandard, extremely stressed health-care system.
We must demand long-term solutions to fix this broken system. Nurse, LPN and doctor training schools, tuition supports for students who graduate and commit for a time to providing health care in B.C., a real focus on mental health support and more beds in our hospitals.
We have a labour shortage and a crisis in management of our public health care and yet in two years, we see a worsening with little to nothing but continued perpetuating of our rhetoric.
Steve Orcherton
Victoria
Several issues with physician editorial
Re: “Do not let family medicine disappear,” editorial, Feb. 4.
The average annual MSP billings paid to family physicians according to MSP, in a statement from them dated Oct. 4, 2021, was $163,942, well below what was said in the editorial, “between $250,000 and $300,000 and often higher.”
The editorial also states that a family physician can bill for “ordering tests, reporting test results, writing prescriptions, and so on.”
This is an absolute untruth. Such procedures are not billable. To do so would be to “extra bill,” which is in conflict with provincial law.
If the editorial provided anything useful, it was the issue of virtual visits. It is the only aspect of this editorial with which I can agree.
James D. Stockdill, MD
Family practice
Victoria
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