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Letters March 10: Ugly railing at Dallas Road; ugly fencing at legislature

Goodbye, finally, to that ugly railing Re: “Dallas Rd. to get new $3.85M railing,” March 6. Several Victoria councillors voiced “feelings of attachment” to the current Dallas Road railing. I beg to differ.
a11 03102020 railing.jpg
The seawall railing along Dallas Road.

Goodbye, finally, to that ugly railing

Re: “Dallas Rd. to get new $3.85M railing,” March 6.

Several Victoria councillors voiced “feelings of attachment” to the current Dallas Road railing. I beg to differ.

I think it’s the ugliest blemish on our city’s otherwise handsome waterfront. And I have thought so ever since settling in Victoria three decades ago. How could such a hideous concrete monstrosity have been erected in the first place, and then survive for 63 years?

Good riddance, I say.

Ross Smith
Victoria

The end of medicare as we know it

I have seen the handwriting on the wall: The medical safety net that Tommy Douglas started for us years ago is on its demise.

I put my 68-year-old body on the well-run transit system to the neighbourhood medical clinic. The waiting room was full.

I approached the receptionist to make an appointment to see a doctor. She replied that the doctors were all booked up.

I replied that it wasn’t for today but anytime in the next two weeks would suffice. She replied that I would have to book an appointment online.

I replied that I do not have a computer. She stared at me as if I was a Luddite (look it up).

She asked if a family member had a computer. I replied that my son in Alberta did.

She suggested that I contact him and he could make an appointment for me. And so that’s what I did.

I’m glad I got a cell phone for my birthday. Oh oh Canada.

Al McWhirter
Victoria

Legislature fencing is not necessary

Why are we erecting unsightly fences and gating off our legislature buildings to keep illegal protesters from camping on the stairs and blocking the entrance?

Do we really want future postcards and pictures to show British Columbians cannot enforce the rule of law and must resort to ugly security fencing in order to preserve the ambience of the jewel in the crown of our city?

It is people’s democratic right to protest anything they want, but that right exists within the rule of law — and if the legislature lawns and buildings are off limits to camping, just erect a “no camping” sign and enforce it.

No fences on our legislature stairs, please.

Giving in to illegal activity guarantees it will happen again, any time and any place.

Who is in control here? The majority of British Columbians, who take great pride in our city and public buildings, or a handful of people whose cause apparently gives them the right to flout the law any time they feel like it?

Peter M. Clarke
Victoria

Wash your hands, but share the phone

Given all the recent handwashing advice we’ve received from the chief medical officer, I’d love to know why everyone who attends day surgery at the Royal Jubilee Hospital is required to check in using the same wallmounted telephone?

Not only is this absurdity confusing for a good number of patients but it also seems like a glaring failure of simple hygiene.

It’s sad that the Tim Hortons in the lobby is more proactively limiting the transmission of viruses than our hospitals.

Reece Tibbitt
Victoria

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