We blame each other while leaders fail us
It is time for us to stop directing our anger at convenient targets and focus on those who are actually responsible for Canada’s tragic pandemic chaos.
One year in, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau still finds it easier to punish scofflaws than to come up with a national plan to fast-track vaccine approvals and distribution, and make rapid testing universally available.
One year in, it’s still every province for itself, and the only thing “we are all in together” is a sinking ship plastered with smiley faces and reminders to be kind and calm.
The truth is that we have been let down by our federal and provincial governments. Our suffering and sacrifices are not being matched by the strong, competent leadership we need in a crisis.
When we’re feeling helpless, it’s easy to blame each other, but we are not going to change the outcome of this pandemic just by following the rules.
It is time to demand government leaders live up to their end of the bargain.
Elizabeth Causton
Victoria
Changing attitudes with the coronavirus
With interest I read the letter regarding a ferry employee assisting an elderly person to the car.
No doubt the person with the walker would not have left the car if it was not for emergency and/or personal reasons.
The person had some trouble to get back to the car in time.
The ferry employee assisted by pushing the person on the walker to the car.
I am pleased to see that someone in the ferry lineup noticed this act of kindness. I am rather appalled, however, by the fact that we have come this far to feel it an exceptional occurrence to see somebody help another person in need, to the point to see the need to mention it through the Times Colonist.
Have we come this far that we cannot come closer than six feet to another person to assist a person in need of help?
I am sure the ferry employees are trained and have it in their work description to keep their passengers’ safety, as well as their own safety, as a high priority.
To come closer than six feet is quite normal and expected to push a person on a walker. This is not putting yourself at risk over the well-being of another as the writer suggests.
Health workers do this all the time.
How sad to notice that this coronavirus seems to change our attitude toward others.
Cornelis Schenk
Victoria
Tokyo Olympics should be cancelled
The attempt by the organizers of the Summer Olympics in Tokyo to have procedures and rules to contain COVID-19 is ludicrous, dangerous and impossible — all for the sake of money and glory.
Our airlines are on their knees, loved ones languish in loneliness in care homes, we can’t gather for funerals and family celebrations.
Does the committee really think that a huge gathering of people from every corner of the world does not provide a gigantic petri dish to proliferate its spread?
Do we Canadians really care about this event at this time? The influx into Japan, the “distancing,” etc., and then the return of all these people to their home countries would be a nightmare — keeping us further away from ever returning to normal.
And for what? I hope our federal government and health authorities would ban Canada from participating.
There have been far too many sacrifices to make them all for naught, because of a few aspiring to “gold.” Our “gold” standard for world glory at this period in our history should be to heal.
Barbara Zielinski, RN retired
Saanich
Free the Michaels or we don’t go
Unless the two Michaels being held hostage by the Chinese Communist Party are released, no Canadian athletes should participate in any event in China, especially the Olympics.
An international boycott would be appropriate.
Michel Brossard
Central Saanich
Oak Bay Lodge should be used
We are nearly in a war-measures situation around COVID-19 and homelessness. The demolition of Oak Bay Lodge is crazy.
Those 235 beds could house many, many homeless people much better than the storage containers and tents in our parks. Oak Bay Lodge is a serviceable building with private and shared rooms, washrooms and cooking facilities.
To spend $1.5 million on a contract to oversee the demolition could instead fund a seven-day, 24-hour bus back and forth to downtown services. Maybe Wilson’s buses could be put to work.
Doug Pelton
Victoria
There’s no need to widen the Lochside Trail
I’ve been walking the Lochside Trail between McKenzie Avenue and Royal Oak Drive four or five times a week since the Blenkinsop Bridge opened in 2000.
In more than 20 years, I have neither seen nor experienced a collision or conflict between a cyclist and a pedestrian. (Perhaps Saanich residents are more polite and tolerant than their Victoria counterparts.)
The entire length of the trail is already about four metres wide, as is the bridge.
Not only is there neither a need nor necessity to widen it, there is neither a need nor necessity for the Capital Regional District — the unaccountable arm of our too many governments — to spend a gazillion taxpayer dollars that should be redirected to something important.
By the way, how many trees will fall victim to this boondoggle?
Al Kemp
Saanich
SEND US YOUR LETTERS
• Email letters to: [email protected]
• 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.
