Environment is vital to B.C.’s health
I have read the throne speech, the Stronger B.C. Economic Plan and Budget 2022. I am dismayed by the lack of attention given to the importance of the environment in these three foundational documents. I was hoping that there would be a stronger recognition by the government of the connections among ecological integrity, a strong economy, the conservation of nature and human health.
There is little understanding that both the economy and the environment are essential to the future of this province.
Climate change is presented in a very narrow view. It is more than electric cars. One of the key mechanisms for addressing climate change is to maintain healthy forests, healthy watersheds and a healthy web of life.
There is no reference to conserving wildlife habitat, protecting endangered species and the need to save the old-growth forests.
Proclaiming a Ministry of Forests will have little effect on forest health and forest management without a shift from the current paradigm in which the forests are managed.
It is unfortunate, as the government missed a golden opportunity to make a strong statement about the manner in which a nature-based economy can connect to the future health of this province.
Bob Peart
North Saanich
Fast improvements to street safety
Saanich has installed “quick fix” road safety improvements on a dangerous stretch of Cedar Hill Cross Road. The improvements were installed at the intersection of Cedar Hill Cross Road and Merriman Drive where Kaydence Bourque was killed in November. Paul O’Callaghan was seriously injured in this same intersection when he was struck while riding his bike last month.
In response to this tragedy and serious injury, Saanich installed delineators, flashing crosswalk beacons, overhead lighting and signage. While these are not long-term solutions, Better Mobility Saanich appreciates the changes as they will help to improve safety and prevent another road death or serious injury.
Prior to last year’s tragedy, ICBC recorded six serious incidents since 2016 on Cedar Hill Cross Road. Rather than wait to respond after another serious incident, Saanich can use ICBC data to assess other high-risk crossings and corridors and proactively apply these quick-fix road treatments.
Most of last week’s quick-fix improvements cost a few thousand dollars and took two days to install. If Saanich applied that same approach to all high-risk crossings and corridors, the municipality could fix 100 of our most dangerous roadways for a few hundred thousand dollars in one year alone.
We encourage Saanich to apply a more proactive approach by implementing “quick fix” solutions on other dangerous crossings and corridors. It will save lives and mean that people can get home to their loved ones safely.
Dean Murdock
Better Mobility Saanich
A child’s guide to Justin Trudeau
To have a conversation, most primary school kids know you have to sit down politely and raise your hand. You do not push, scream, yell or take over the playground.
It may have appeared to someone sitting on a cloud that sitting down with the truckers would have led to an immediate resolution. However, to have a civil conversation with those who are backed by others who want to hang you, kill you or jail you might be challenging to say the least.
To share ideas with those who want to take over the office and take over as Canada’s leader, removing all those elected MPs and all health mandates, would be close to impossible.
To have a chat over coffee with the convoy leader who believes North America should be divided from Alaska to Florida diagonally, with the western half becoming a conservative white, Christian nation. …
I’m sorry, I cannot imagine a positive, constructive conversation developing out of such violent and anti-democratic views.
Sally Barker
Victoria
Strange days are upon us
I hope everybody out there has been paying attention to what the federal government is up to these days.
It is no longer safe to donate money to Greenpeace or any other environmental organization, as they could be labelled eco-terrorists and as soon as the people in power hear that second word, your bank account could easily be frozen. I encourage everyone to read or re-read George Orwell’s 1984, because it’s a handbook for where we are heading.
C. Scott Stofer
Victoria
Mayor, some councillors destroyed a historic park
Re: “Court says Beacon Hill Park cannot be used as temporary shelter,” Feb. 25.
The legacy of Mayor Lisa Helps and the Together Victoria councillors will always be that during the COVID lockdowns, when local residents needed Beacon Hill Park the most, they chose to hand over the park to campers and criminals from all over Canada. Those of us who live near Beacon Hill Park were subjected to harassment and criminal activity like we have never seen before and, to make matters worse, we were now outsiders to our own local park.
To walk through the park and see the destruction and criminal activity in plain sight was heartbreaking. We asked the mayor and council to follow the clear direction within the Crown grant trust and hand the park back to local residents, but they refused. Now we learn of the recent court decision, that residents were right all along and that the mayor, and some of the councillors, went against the trust when they created the lawless homeless-camp mess.
Many thanks to the Friends of Beacon Hill Park for fundraising and then challenging the actions of the mayor and Together Victoria councillors and revealing the contempt and disdain they had for local residents.
Jeffrey Smith
Victoria
How to gently gouge consumers
The Feb. 24 edition carried a half-page “advertorial” from B.C. Dairy, highlighting dairy farmer Mickey Aylard. Her family has been producing milk for four generations in a sustainable way, which she enthusiastically promotes when she says: “The Association [of which she is a director] is all about doing the right thing for producers.”
The Canadian dairy industry is part of the supply-management system, which provides stable incomes for select farmers. Similar marketing boards operate for chicken, egg and turkey production. Prices are guaranteed by government mandate: For example, the Canadian Dairy Commission announced an 8.4% increase in prices for producers, the largest annual increase in history and twice the previous year’s increase.
Price-fixing harms consumers. Dairy marketing boards are merely cartels that fix prices via government decree. Usually such collusion is illegal, except in this instance when the industry has an overweight political influence (vote-rich Quebec and Ontario have 70% of the supply).
The supply-management system has been challenged by the World Trade Organization, the restaurant industry, processors and consumer groups. High tariffs and strict import quotas protect high domestic prices.
New Zealand abolished their marketing boards. They are 2% of the world’s production and have about 40% of world trade in dairy products. Producers there have prospered in a free market without government subsidies.
The supply-management system should be abolished. It locks out competition and raises prices on essential food. Consumers are tired of supporting the wealthy clique of millionaire dairy farmers.
Mickey Aylard wants you to remember her the next time you contemplate the exorbitant prices of milk, cheese, yogurt and ice cream. Her glowing perspective tells only half of the story.
John Billett
Victoria
Thanks to retailer for holding the line
Kudos to Loblaws for trying to hold the line on price increases imposed by their suppliers.
Here is one small example of the radical increases the food conglomerates are pushing on us.
Six months ago, in the summer, the price of potato chips was $3.69 for a 255-gram package. Abruptly, the package size was reduced to 220 grams, and by Christmas the price was back to $3.69 — a 16% increase.
Yesterday, the price is $4.69 for the same 220-gram package — a 27% increase over six months.
The potatoes are grown, processed and shipped in North America. Can’t blame foreign producers, delays in ports, so Frito-Lay blames COVID.
Yet I would surmise they had grabbed the government handouts intended to help them through the pandemic, so that excuse sounds pretty flimsy.
Now, what percentage do you suppose will carry through to the corporate executive bonuses?
A classic illustration of corporate greed by Frito-Lay and the parent company, PepsiCo Inc.
Bob Burgis
Metchosin
Our flag was being well represented
For those letter-writers embarrassed to be Canadian, saying that “our flag has been degraded” and “ inappropriately used,” “the convoy protesters are yahoos,” “their group-think is selfish” and “this is not my Canada.”
Well, for the letter-writers that have joined our PM in name-calling right from the get-go, how about looking at how the world is viewing Canada. From the Wall Street Journal: “liberal tyranny.” From Rex Murphy: a “monumentally misguided insult to all Canadians.” From Matt Taibbi, Rolling Stone: “Canada is on the fast track to bureaucratic dystopia.” From the U.K. Telegraph: “monstrously illiberal,” and so much more.
Now about the “yahoos.” We have spoken to a lady from Poland and seen a video of a man from Romania peaceably on the ground, being repeatedly kneed, both people saying that this government behaviour is reminiscent of what they thought they had left behind. Senator Don Pletts calls the convoy “one of the most successful human rights protests.” They are being emulated around the world from citizens of every country wanting their freedom back.
The “yahoos,” as you call them, sing O Canada in front of the war memorial and pray as they walk around the legislature. All they wanted was freedom, and if you don’t understand that, then I don’t know what you call being coerced to put a “substance” in their bodies or lose their livelihood. There is enough “misinformation” out there to make anyone hesitant to get jabbed. (I would use a much stronger term than “hesitant.”)
As for Ottawa, one commenter called the police presence “heavy-handed occupation.” He had walked without fear or intimidation on numerous roads, but since the police occupation he has been barred and blocked from walking freely in all areas of his neighbourhood. The police have done far more to impact and impede me than the freedom convoy ever did.
The protesters represent “my Canada,” and this present federal government, under Trudeau, is by far the embarrassment.
Merle Somers
Victoria
Three cheers for the Brunette Six
Why is an 80-year old woman spending 14 days in jail for protesting the TMX pipeline?
Let’s turn the question around. Why are we still planning expansion of oil production from the oilsands and building new infrastructure that will deliver oil well beyond 2050, the date we are committed to having net-zero greenhouse gas emissions? My hat is off to Catherine Hembling and her colleagues, the Brunette Six, who were sentenced on Feb. 17 for standing up for the rights of the interdependent web of all existence; for a livable world for all life.
Hembling spoke for a change in policy at both the federal and provincial level to stop the destruction of habitat, the pollution of air and water, and the continued warming of the planet, and to start rebuilding our society in a way that supports all life. She spoke for me as well. When will the authorities listen, and change course?
Rev. Frances Leigh Deverell
Board member, Canadian Unitarians For Social Justice
Nanaimo
A real example of a loss of freedom
Disturbing images of the Russian invasion of Ukraine have begun to appear on our screens, revealing devastating terror and destruction for the Ukrainian people. To those spoiled Canadians who have occupied our streets and border crossings over public health rules designed to protect us all during this pandemic, I say: “Take a moment to comprehend what real loss of freedom looks like.”
Linda Grant
Victoria
Ukraine shows how fortunate we are
I hope the idiots who have been shutting our borders and occupying Ottawa are paying close attention to what the loss of freedom really means. They need to get down on their knees and thank their lucky stars they live in Canada.
Wendy Darbey
Victoria
SEND US YOUR LETTERS
• Email: letters@timescolonist.com
• Mail: Letters to the editor, Times Colonist, 201-655 Tyee Rd., Victoria, B.C. V9A 6X5
• Submissions should be no more than 250 words; subject to editing for length and clarity. Provide your contact information; it will not be published. Avoid sending your letter as an email attachment.
