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Letters March 5: Refugees from Ukraine; Russian invasion

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Refugees fleeing the war from neighbouring Ukraine walk on a platform after disembarking from a train in Zahony, Hungary, on Wednesday. A letter-writer suggests that refugees fleeing the war are most deserving of all that western governments can do for them. BALAZS KAUFMANN, THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Refugees are not enjoying a holiday

Re: “Refugee status a tool of last resort,” letter, March 3.

I am pleased that the letter-writer states that he “agrees that the government is right to accept Ukrainian refugees.” However, his second sentence appalled me when he wrote that “it should not be an all-expense paid vacation on the taxpayer’s back.”

Who in their right mind would even think of using those words applied to the life-and-death decision these Ukrainian refugees, predominately women and children, made to flee their country in sub-zero weather, leaving family and possessions behind, carrying nothing but what they could put on their back or push in a stroller? Some holiday.

The suggestion that fleeing from a country should be a tool of last resort, not a preference, insinuates that the decision to flee was not a tool of last resort. They had bombs falling on their neighbourhoods, buildings were being destroyed, lives were being lost. … it WAS a last resort. These people were giving up their lives and facing an uncertain future.

The suggestion that the Ukrainian refugees should go tree-planting and live in a tent “until the dust settles” smacks of ethnocentrism and has no place in today’s society.

Pat Meyer
Nanaimo

Ukrainians not alone in needing refuge

We opened the door to Ukranians, but what about the Afghans who have been waiting months, the ones who helped our troops in time of need?

Robert Irvin
Metchosin

Russian invasion fits their pattern

Are we learning from history? Russians have a history of invasions.

I lived in Prague during the Russian occupation of Czechoslovakia 54 years ago. Events happening in Ukraine today bring back painful and very sad memories: I still can see very clearly Russian tanks rolling in my street.

At the beginning it was very similar — massive army gathering at the border, endless reassurances that invasion will not happen. And of course it did happen.

Here the similarities will end. There was shooting in Prague, some people died and more were injured. But there was less bloodshed then, the Soviet Union wanted just to keep a so-called socialist camp in their orbit.

Unfortunately, it’s not the situation in Ukraine. Daily, we see the horror of bloodshed and destruction in their cities. My heart is bleeding for Ukraine, and I only hope that this situation will be solved the diplomatic way, not by war.

I came to Canada as a refugee with my husband and a small child. We have built a new home here, and to this day we are grateful to the Canadian people, who took us in with open arms.

I only hope that some refugees from Ukraine will find a new home and life in Canada, the same as we did all those years ago.

Anna Klinka
Victoria

Keystone needed now more than ever

Re: “Isolate Russia and avoid the abyss,” letter, March 2.

The letter ends with: “Climate change and global warming are the least of our concerns at this time.” I completely agree. I’ll take a slightly warmer world over one that has hundreds, if not thousands, of radioactive “exclusion zones” after a nuclear exchange.

The U.S. imported 241 million barrels of Russian oil in 2021. The Keystone pipeline could supply 830,000 bpd or 305 million barrels a year to U.S. refineries. The choice is a no-brainer. Now is the time for Prime Minister Trudeau to get on the phone with President Biden.

Wayne Cox
Saanichton

Putin didn’t invade during Trump’s term

Re: “Pitching in, but on the wrong team,” letter, March 1.

Riddle me this: If Trump was a puppet of Putin in the way the letter-writer indicates, then why didn’t Putin invade Ukraine while Trump was still in office?

April J. Gibson
Duncan

What to do with those Russian assets

Western nations have rightly frozen the Russian central bank’s hoard of foreign funds that are held by Western banks. I suggest we go a step further and seize such funds and hold them in a pool to help rebuild Ukrainian infrastructure destroyed in the fighting. They could also hold funds to assist families who have lost loved ones in the indiscriminate assaults launched by the Russian military.

This may not be strictly legal, but it cannot be more illegal than the unwarranted attack on a peaceful nation. Keep it simple, make it painful.

John Gabel
Saanich

Leave donations to individuals

I can understand B.C. businesses and individuals taking a stand with boycotts and donations and protests toward support for Ukraine against Russian aggression. They are using their own money and directing their own efforts.

But I take exception to the B.C. government’s announcement of a contribution of “$1 million to the Red Cross to support the people of Ukraine in the wake of the Russian invasion.” Unless the government was able to pass the hat among those elected members of the legislature and other unwary individuals wandering the halls of government to accumulate such a considerable sum, where did they get that money? You guessed it.

Taxpayer monies should not be used as a charitable contribution to make our citizens, both elected and not, feel good and worthy and charitable. A million dollars would have gone a good way towards the proper role of a provincial government as outlined in the constitution, i.e. education, health care, some natural resources, road regulations and some social services shared with the federal government.

A donation to the Red Cross on behalf of B.C. doesn’t cut it.

M.J. Shaw
Victoria

Does B.C. Ferries really need two boards?

According to Les Leyne (March 2) taxpayers will now be getting one real management board of B.C. Ferries but pay for two.

The cost of redundancy? It’s likely taxpayers are on the hook for at least a million dollars for a redundant board. Come on, Premier Horgan, save us a few bucks on our next ferry trip.

Rick Pepper
Saanich

ICBC should invest profits in safety

Last week ICBC forecasted record profits for this fiscal year: $1.9 billion. I would like to see that invested in safety.

Each dollar ICBC invests in safety results in $4.70 in savings in motor vehicle crashes that cause property damage, injuries and deaths.

The leading causes of traffic fatalities are speeding and driver inattention, and the largest proportion occur in 40- to 60-km/h zones.

ICBC should cost-share with municipalities to install speed bumps near schools, elevated crosswalks, advanced pedestrian walk signals, and improvements such as the one Saanich just installed on Cedar Hill Cross Road. A pedestrian was recently killed in a crosswalk there, and a cyclist knocked unconscious and injured in the same spot. It was improved in two days, at a low cost.

Do it now. Save lives.

Dave Thompson
Victoria

Road markings vital for safety

Is it too much to ask that municipalities keep the white lines painted on our roads?

Driving Veterans Boulevard after dark is a shot in the dark, especially in the Colwood area. Not only are a lot of roads dimly lit, but the white lines are not visible at all; it seems to me this should be a service we can depend on, especially in the winter months. Local governments need to help keep us safe on the roads and keep their white lines painted on all roads.

Faye Oakes
Victoria

It’s time to drop COVID mandates

As other nations, as well as the greater part of ours, drop COVID mandates, one wonders why B.C. remains a stand- alone. Dr. Bonnie Henry does not offer any firm timeline for removing restrictions, and instead speaks of re-evaluating in the coming weeks and months. With all due respect to Dr. Henry, the situation has evolved to a point that it would seem appropriate for a fresh set of eyes to re-examine what appear to be outdated policies.

Guy Morson
Duncan

Beacon Hill Park is big enough to share

I live within a five-minute walk from Beacon Hill Park and go there almost daily for my exercise. During the time when homeless people set up tents in the park, I continued my presence there.

Not once did I see “destruction and criminal activity.” Yes, I saw the tents, and sometimes spoke with the tenters in a friendly way. I was willing to share the park with them during this terrible time. Just to let you know — I am in my 80s and am under five feet in height. Never was I frightened.

I’m happy that most of the tenters have found a place to live and maybe help with their addictions and mental health. Yes, I know that some are still staying overnight.

Freda Knott
Victoria

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