Police must act against protesters
These insane protests are getting out of hand. The RCMP takes too long to get to the source of the trouble.
Why did it take more than an hour for police to get to the protesters on the Pat Bay Highway when they knew ahead of time that this protest was going to occur?
My wife had to get to an appointment in Vancouver for cancer treatment … and the next appointment is now weeks away because we missed the ferry.
Many had to get to the airport to make a flight. Of course, they didn’t make it. People had to get to work … the police didn’t seem to care. They were unprepared to deal with a protest that had been planned for days.
No wonder the people of British Columbia have the lowest satisfaction rate in Canada.
Protests are fine, they serve a purpose, but disrupting thousands of lives is not the way to do it. Our police force needs to get their priorities straight and do the most good for the most people.
Victor Sedgwick
Victoria
Next time, make sure the bike needs a key
Re: “With help of security video and biker community, stolen motorcycle found within hours,” June 15.
The heartwarming story of the stolen motorcycle, and its quick recovery attributed to the use of social media and the quick action of the biker community, leaves me wondering whether the owner truly understands what occurred.
His takeaway advice was to make sure you quickly post as much information as possible on Facebook if something is stolen.
My advice to him is to never again own a motor vehicle that doesn’t need a key to start, and if a vehicle does require a key, don’t leave it in the ignition.
Devoting significant police time and effort to a theft because someone chooses to install an ignition eliminator kit on their beloved motorcycle is the height of resource-wasting foolishness.
Howard Brunt
North Saanich
No fatalities, but it was a misadventure
Re: “Four people plucked from Juan de Fuca Strait after sailboats overturn,” June 14.
I was relieved to learn that no fatalities were the result of sailors starting the Race 2 Alaska adventure.
The article stated it is a gruelling race where participants use non-motorized vessels in a 1,207-kilometre race from Port Townsend, Washington, to Alaska via Victoria.
Thankfully, search and rescue responders were able to intervene and avoid loss of life. It is worth knowing that SAR isn’t limited by national boundaries, and we are fortunate that the U.S. Coast Guard, the RCAF SAR resources and the many volunteer agencies such as Royal Canadian Marine Search and Rescue remain ready 24/7 to help those in peril in our waters.
However, I can’t help but wonder if this race might be described as misadventure? Participants setting off despite rough weather and sea state forecasts with gale warning and small craft advisory in effect. No motors. Do they have other electronic aids?
Let’s hope that the Race 2 Alaska organizers were required to post a large surety bond to be applied to any SAR response. The race isn’t over, but Canadian and American taxpayers should not have to “foot the bill” for folly.
Kevin M. Carlé
Victoria
What is wrong with B.C. Ferries?
A sailing is cancelled and a family makes other plans to get them to their destination on time. The corporation figures the family’s first obligation is to it? Take a later ferry? Miss your appointments? What insensitivity.
In 2017, my wife and I travelled by business class to Central America. Luggage allowance for the whole trip was two 70-pound bags each.
Baggage handling? No problem anywhere, until on our return, when B.C. Ferries staff refused to accept our bags — too heavy for the employee — and when I suggested that two staff do the lifting, her response was typically union-based, blaming the corporation for not hiring enough employees.
A complaint to the corporation fell on deaf ears. “That’s our policy.”
It’s the only game in town and nothing will change until we all make our complaints public. It’s not a staffing shortage issue. It’s attitude. B.C. Ferries must do better.
David Sheppard
Mill Bay
Blood testing works through LifeLabs
I read the letter from the cancer patient who had a long wait for blood testing at the Royal Jubilee Hospital. My wife was a cancer patient, and after the same long wait I told her oncologist that I wanted her blood work done at LifeLabs.
All he had to do was send the requisition to LifeLabs and it was done.
With a reservation at LifeLabs, the total process was done in less than 15 minutes and results were available online the same day or at the latest the next day. These same results were received by her GP and the oncologist.
William Jesse
Victoria
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