Monarchy keeps politicians in check
The subject of Canada’s link to the monarchy seems to pop up every so often. There really seems to be no sensible reason to opt out.
Unless we invite a member of the Royal Family to visit, the monarchy costs us nothing, or very little, and the alternatives would give us a right royal headache.
Swearing allegiance to the Queen keeps our heads of state in their place — which is the whole idea of the system. Be it Elizabeth or Charles, Boris has to stay in line and watch his Ps and Qs just like everyone else. So do our heads of state.
The armed forces also swear allegiance to the Queen, which means that insurrections and rebellions simply can not take place.
She’s the boss — which is why Trump’s insurrection could never happen in Canada. Even though they were mostly thugs, a few of them were military and he simply wouldn’t have had enough clout to have his “troops” obey his orders.
Up here he would have been tried for treason.
Apart from adding a touch of glamour in our lives and making us different from our neighbours, always a good idea, just for dead practical reasons, keeping unlimited power out of the hands of politicians is never a bad idea.
Doreen Langmead
View Royal
Neighbours say setback is much smaller
We are concerned by these remarks that Victoria Mayor Lisa Helps made in her Nov. 28 blog:
“One proposed rental apartment building at 1475 Fort Street has been sent back to staff three times because the neighbours nearby don’t want to lose their privacy. The new building would be approximately 30 feet away from their homes.”
The record needs to be set straight. Helps is incorrect and fails to mention that this four-storey over-height structure will be as close as 10 feet to the property line with patios and balconies protruding within that 10 feet, resulting in having a neighbouring patio within 3 feet of neighbour’s fence and property lines.
The required setback is 21 feet as a minimum.
The 28 neighbours directly affected by this proposal have never opposed a new rental building being constructed on the site. We have simply requested that the project conform to the existing bylaws and community plan.
If the developer did this, it might reduce the number of units from 32 to 26 or possibly more if the unit sizes were reduced to accommodate more (affordable) apartments.
We respectfully ask that the mayor better acquaint herself with the details of this project and ensure that an accurate representation of the facts be presented.
Barry Willimott
Vincent Turner
Barbara Bolli
David McCurragh
Anthony Danda
Gillian Lawson
Russ Scruggs
Candace Scruggs
Sandra Jones
Geoffrey and Gretchen Karlebach
Christine Morissette
Chantal Brodeur
Tamara Bailey
Cynthia Pacheco
Arrested at bank blockade, why not on the Pat Bay?
There’s a glimmer of hope that existing laws might be enforced as Saanich police arrested four protesters who were blocking a bank in Broadmead Village.
To quote Const. Markus Anastasiades, as reported in the Times Colonist on Dec. 13: “Any protest that obstructs, interrupts or interferes with any person in the lawful use, enjoyment or operation of property is not lawful.”
One wonders, however, why this distinction is made for the public’s use of buildings in Broadmead Village but was not applied to the public’s normal use or access of our roadways?
On Nov. 21, individuals with a similar protest mandate blocked a section of the Pat Bay Highway for 2.5 hours. It appears that no arrests were made.
Renate MacKenzie
Saanich
Well, Jack, maybe you’re not a complete idiot
Jack Knox might be ignorant and an idiot on many things, but he is a very wise man, which might just make him very smart.
Gerald Marantz
Parksville
Cherry Kingsley had a profound influence
It was with great sadness and feelings of loss that I read about Cherry Kinglsey’s untimely death.
I did not know Cherry well. However she was very active in the child and youth field in the 1990s attending and presenting at many regional, provincial and national and international conferences in which I was involved.
From first-hand experience I know that she touched deeply many of the child and youth counsellors who met her — with her story, her personality, her passion and her dedication to creating awareness and practices to end sexual exploitation of children and youth.
Many of the children and youth counsellors at the time were working the front line.
I believe Cherry’s influence inspired them to attend to the children and youth in a subtle but profound shift. I also believe that Cherry’s willingness to stand up and speak her story aloud was a key factor in the movement within our field at the time to have children and youth be the authors of their own narrative — including their care.
A practice that was wholeheartedly endorsed by children and youth counsellors everywhere.
Thank you, Cherry, for all you gave us. Your courage, your hope and most of all the sharing of your generous spirit with us. I am sorry you left so soon.
Judy Ryan
Saanichton
Maritime Museum has found a good home
It is very good news that this might be the moment for our Maritime Museum of B.C. to get an appropriate location in the Steamship Terminal.
This museum should be a jewel in our crown and it is shocking that it has been allowed to move from one inadequate location to another since it had to leave Bastion Square over five years ago.
The museum should have a proper location on the waterfront. Victoria is a maritime capital city with a long and interesting ocean history.
The museum has a world-class collection which is acknowledged internationally by the regular requests for information from all over the world. The work of staff and volunteers under difficult circumstances has been stellar.
It is time for the province to take responsibility for the Maritime Museum.
There is an appropriate location for it now and the funding must be made available so that the museum can fully portray our sea-going history and fill an active role as a major tourist attraction.
Sharon Russell
Oak Bay
Credit goes to lifestyle, not the eating of yogurt
Re: “No medical evidence to support the use of yogurt,” commentary, Dec. 14.
Finally, a literate explanation of a medical condition, that hasn’t been learned, as the esteemed Jack Knox would have it, at Google University. Thank you, Dr. Robert Shepherd, for responding to the story with the headline “Eating yogurt can help fight hypertension, new study finds.”
Many who read that headline would assume that yogurt has some heretofore undiscovered properties that lower your blood pressure.
The more accurate headline would have read: “Healthy people who eat yogurt have a somewhat lower blood pressure than other people who don’t,” but then that is too long, I guess.
The point of the article was that people who eat yogurt habitually tend to be people who watch their weight, exercise regularly, do not smoke, consume alcohol sparingly and have a healthy outlook on life.
Conversely, people who are obese, never exercise beyond walking to the store to buy their cigarettes and beer, and are generally grumpy, do not eat yogurt much if at all, as they find it bland and unpalatable. They prefer burgers and chips.
Given the above assumptions, is it any surprise that those who are eating yogurt are healthier? It is the lifestyle that incidentally includes yogurt that lowers BP, not the yogurt.
This is a perfect example of why we need to read intelligent scholarship and journalism before we form our opinions, and not rely on the Twitterverse. The original headline writers would be well served if they did this.
David Hansen
Victoria
Forget using the V2V, add some buses instead
A recent letter suggesting the use of the V2V as a ferry between Royal Bay and downtown Victoria is lacking.
To compare this route to the Burrard Inlet SeaBus is a real head-scratcher. There are no similarities at all.
To suggest purchasing the V2V for the asking price shows no understanding of the current fast ferry market. I suggest the $4.8-million price is about double what anyone would be willing to pay and that is a reflection of what is on the market, not pandemic-related.
The notion of three round trips a day with the expectation of 242 passengers each trip is unrealistic. Maybe 50-75 to Victoria and return in the two peak periods, otherwise minimal use. Crewing for such a schedule would be impractical and costly.
Anything more than $15 one way would be unacceptable and wouldn’t even cover the estimated $1,200 round trip fuel bill.
V2V was built for use as a St. Lawrence restaurant cruise vessel and is not suited to West Coast open waters. The number of weather cancellations and delays on the Vancouver run made this very clear.
Operating costs, inspections, licensing and port fees add to the unworkable nature of such a venture. The “carbon footprint” difference would not be a factor.
The economics just aren’t there. Dedicated lanes for express buses make more sense.
Ron Baker
Sidney
Truck parade brought joy and collected food
A huge thank you and warm congratulations to everyone involved with last Saturday’s Lighted Truck Parade.
At this time of dark evenings, stress and gloomy news, it brought happiness to thousands of people along the route … and it was free for everyone to enjoy!
The generosity, time and good will of the drivers was in the best spirit of Christmas, along with the cause of helping others with food collection.
To the self-righteous grinches who can only see fuel burned and electricity used: The great pleasure it gave to so many, the happiness on people’s faces, more than justified the energy used.
Tony Keble
Victoria
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