Tribute to those who pick up recycling
It was a dark and rainy afternoon on Saturday, when our recycling was being picked up due to the fact that it was not picked up the day before.
I completely understood the delay, as one can only imagine their workload the day before due the volume of the missed pickup due to the snow on the streets.
Personally, I have great respect for those who have this job, as it is hard work constantly getting in and out of the recycling truck, picking up multiple bins, throwing the contents into the truck, then moving on the next house continually throughout the day.
Next time you see the person or persons who do your pickup, give them a smile, a wave or personally say thank you. We must never take those who provide service for us for granted and thanking them could make their day.
Wendy Campbell
Saanich
Give more money to B.C.’s nurses
So Premier David Eby is extending a welcoming hand (plus financial support) to internationally trained nurses to immigrate to this province (Jan. 9).
In the Third World, nurses are generally trained in government-supported nursing colleges and local hospitals. It is hardly likely that there are thousands of nurses sitting around in these countries who cannot find employment.
Every nurse from the Third World who decides to immigrate to this province because of this scheme is one nurse less for the local health-care system. We should be ashamed of ourselves.
The solution is to encourage more of our own population to be nurses, and one way to do this is to increase their take-home pay.
Albert Macfarlane
Port McNeill
Don’t ask landlords to subsidize tenants
The attack on landlords continues. The “loophole” allowing landlords to raise the rent between tenants is the only tool left for a landlord to recoup their losses.
The past three years’ allowable increases of zero, 1.5 per cent, and two per cent resulted in a drop in my income. When the B.C. government only allowed two per cent when inflation was over six per cent, it was clear that landlords were being forced to subsidize their tenants and that there would never be a way to catch up.
The province has the tools to help the tenants who need it. This assistance should come from all residents, not just landlords, and those who have the resources to pay market rent should do so.
Pat Cochrane
Coldstream
Loving a library that goes fine-free
Re: “Vancouver Island Regional Library eliminates all fines,” Jan. 8.
Congratulations to the Vancouver Island Regional Library for going fine-free on physical library loans. I feel so grateful to my mother, who was a librarian and helped me address overdue loans with dignity.
She ultimately showed me the futility of the library fees and to feel like I belong to the library.
However, I know far too many people who, sadly, don’t feel a sense of dignity from fees and loans, and, as a result, haven’t returned to the public library in years.
It’s great to hear library trustees are being encouraging and benevolent to library access. For my family and me, libraries are vital — a place for us to learn and to meet people in our community.
I appreciate efforts like VIRL that at keep together and learning with another.
Jules André-Brown
Victoria
Overdue book fine is not an indignity
Re: “Vancouver Island Regional Library eliminates all fines,” Jan. 8.
Maybe it’s just me. But why does the executive director of the Vancouver Island Regional Library feel the need to resort to hyperbolic verbal calisthenics when explaining the VIRL’s decision to eliminate all fines?
He states “no one will suffer the indignity and embarrassment of punitive fines restricting their ability to read.” “Indignity and embarrassment,” “punitive fines” — I mean, really? And previously, announcing the elimination of fines for young-adult materials in 2021, he stated: “Our board of trustees is demonstrating progressive governance and prioritizing literacy and opportunity over punitive fines.” “Demonstrating progressive governance” and “prioritizing literacy” — huh?
I suggest the imposition of a 10-cent daily charge for keeping books beyond their 21-day loan period has little if anything to do with being punitive. And, after all, one can renew. And the library reminds borrowers of their due dates, does it not? Given the significant benefits provided by libraries, is a minuscule charge for overdue books unreasonable — seriously?
And I suggest whatever the library board may be demonstrating has little to do with “governance.” But much to do with paying dutiful homage to a woke ideology. So, please, spare us the rampant hyperbole and puffery.
In life, there are consequences for lateness: if you are late in getting to the bus stop, you’ll spend time waiting until the next one; if you are late with a payment, you’ll incur extra charges. Ten cents a day (30 cents for adult materials) is not at all punitive.
Asking a borrower to pay a minuscule amount for an overdue book is not at all an indignity.
But maybe it’s just me.
Gordon Zawaski
Parksville
Educate and enforce to deal with dog issues
Re: “It’s for the birds,” Jan 8.
The article states: “If one dog disrupted them at 7 a.m. and they were left the rest of the day, it is not going to be a particular problem for the flock. But if one dog comes at 7 a.m., and another at 7:03 a.m., and another at 7:07 a.m., and another at 7:10 a.m. and this goes on all day and they have to generate the flight-or-fight response over and over again, it further weakens the birds.”
I would agree if this was happening to the extent hypothesized, but a study that the Friends of Island View Beach conducted several years ago did not conclude such repetitive activity. In fact, we witnessed that, in the case of Brandt geese, if a dog entered the water, the flock simply paddled out further and did not fly off.
We don’t dispute there is the occasional irresponsible dog owner who violates the bylaw and they should not be immune from enforcement, but requiring all dogs to be leashed is like concluding no one should be allowed to operate a vehicle because some people violate the speed limit or drink and drive.
I have spoken to owners who say their dog is under their control, and others who admit they can’t control their dog and therefore should be leashed. This is an owner’s responsibility.
The problem is not that there are not sufficient rules to protect birds and other wildlife, the problem is that some people are ignorant of, or ignore, the bylaws.
Recently, we have noticed a greater presence of park rangers and animal control officers while walking our golden retriever.
More signage, warnings and ticketing, and hopefully the TC article will further educate the public about migratory birds and the local bylaws that currently exist to protect them.
Wayne Cox
Saanichton
Most dog owners will respect the rules
Re: “It’s for the birds,” Jan. 8.
As a responsible dog owner, I am responding to the article about migratory birds.
I would like to draw attention to the sentence that begins, “But if one dog comes at 7 a.m., and another at 7:03 a.m. … and this goes on all day…”.
I place my emphasis on the word “if.” There is no evidence provided to suggest that this is necessarily the case.
The author states that migration windows are predictable. That means that dates may be given when dogs should be leashed, just as they are at Elk and Beaver Lakes in the summer.
I respect those signs, as do most dog owners, and I will respect them in other places, too.
I support the idea that there can be spaces for unleashed dogs as well as spaces for migratory birds. I do not, however, think that the rules need to become outright bans.
That means that I, as a responsible dog owner, am punished because others cannot respect rules. If these rules must be in place, it follows that budget must be allocated for their enforcement.
I hope that tolerance and fairness will prevail.
Suzanne Bell
Saanich
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