A cruise-ship ban might draw support
It would be instructive to know how many Victorians or indeed Vancouver Islanders are as keen on cruise-ship visits as some letter-writers seem to be. There is a downside to the industry, already acknowledged by those ports and countries that ban them.
Consider noise, air and water pollution. Traffic congestion, downtown crowding, limited access to our own museums, art galleries, restaurants and other attractions are another factor to be considered.
An argument is made regarding their financial contribution to the tourist industry but, really, how much is that in the overall scheme of things? Victoria has been an attractive destination for world travellers almost since its founding. Cruise ships are small potatoes, hardly worth the damage and inconvenience.
So, how many locals would actually support a ban on these largely unnecessary nuisances? Does anyone dare ask that question?
Tom Masters
Chemainus
U.S. law specifies our cruise-ship stop
Several commentators on the cruise-line problem have misidentified the reason why Canadian ports have been a required stop.
Due to bizarre protectionist legislation of the U.S. Congress in 1886 (Passenger Vessel Services Act), foreign flagged vessels are not permitted to carry passengers to and from a U.S. port unless their itinerary includes a stop in a foreign port. At least one letter lists this in error as the Jones Act.
Since most of the cruise ships are registered in small countries (which offer a cheaper and less rigorous registration process), the cruise line owners accept the slight disadvantage of a visit by the Seattle-Alaska vessels to a Canadian port. It’s cheaper than paying fines under the 1886 Act.
It is quite likely that Congress will repeal this strange protectionist legislation — and the required Canadian stop will evaporate overnight.
It’s to the advantage of the shipowners to keep the passengers on the vessel between Seattle and Alaska, and have them spend their money on board.
The attraction of these cruises is the chance to see glaciers, and step onto land in Alaska. We are just fooling ourselves if we believe a stop of a few hours in Victoria is an added attraction to U.S. citizens.
Albert Macfarlane
Port McNeill
Esplanade closure is a great idea
Oak Bay council, often criticized for a variety of reasons, has made a good decision about blocking all but local Esplanade residential traffic at Willows Beach.
Not only is this a progressive move, it’s a chance to illustrate what should be done permanently along what is, in fact, the jewel of Victoria’s beaches.
Council should now begin to plan a permanent development of a promenade with trees, plantings, benches and tables — while retaining only a single-lane access for residents, services and emergency vehicles.
James King
Victoria
Esplanade closure reduces foot traffic
I walk Esplanade at Willows Beach every day and have been doing so for over a year.
Since the road closure, I have witnessed a dramatic reduction in pedestrians, cyclists and families enjoying the beach.
Willows Beach in one of the jewels in Greater Victoria. The road closure is definitely reducing the opportunity for our citizens to enjoy this jewel.
Paul Arnold
Saanich
Essential travel should be enforced
Once again we are faced with two conflicting policies regarding essential travel. We are told of RCMP roadblocks on various highways to discourage non-essential travel, but when it comes to protesters travelling to Fairy Creek it’s non-existent.
Watching Monday’s news showing hundreds of cars travelling through Mesachie Lake is a slap in the face once again to people who respect the rules to stay close to home this long weekend.
Why are unauthorized protesters allowed to flood the Fairy Creek logging area?
I am not questioning a person’s right to protest, but when we are trying to slow down this pandemic, why are so many outside people allowed in this area?
Why hasn’t the RCMP set up a roadblock and only allow residents and essential workers in this region. Too often, whether it is anti-vaxxers or Covidiots and now environmental activists, they are allowed to protest with impunity.
Why are we being asked to respect B.C. health policies while others face no consequences for flouting the rules? How about some enforcement so we don’t face another outbreak?
Doug Puritch
Campbell River
Richardson Street and responsibility
There were many letters is the May 25 Times Colonist critical of those who object to the approved Richardson bike infrastructure plan, particularly to the two “single cyclist” satires.
What those writers miss is that those of us in opposition to the design, as approved by council last July, support and are in favour of responsibly conceived and designed plans that respect the residents of the particular neighbourhood.
This demands responsibility in consultation, concept and design. That first phase was denied Fairfield Gonzales residents. Not only was the consultation period deliberately truncated, but the city ignored the results of its own survey. Seventy-one per cent were opposed to the plan, while only 15 per cent supported it.
Richardson Street is designated a secondary collector street in the city’s official community plan, intended to serve as an artery for not only to local area residents, but to connect those of South Oak Bay to destinations westward.
• A responsible design would not choose to downgrade its status, and install five barriers, forcing between 3,000 and 4,000 vehicles to scatter down alternative routes.
• A responsible design would not create a “chicken lane” between Moss and Cook streets, by adding north side parking to a 29’-wide street.
• A responsible design would not send detour traffic down narrow neighbourhood side streets, jeopardizing residents and their families. Just ask the residents of the Chandler/Brooke/Thurlow corridor how they feel about the prospect of drivers detouring down their streets.
• A responsible process would have ensured a convenient presentation of the finalized design was made to local area residents.
• A responsible council would have listened to the earnest pleas and concerns of the local residents, at the April 22 council meeting, where a motion was put forward to pause Richardson and complete the consultation with residents.
Instead they were met with trivialization, and referred to as a bit of “anxiety over the unknown.”
• A responsible review would have recognized the significant opposition to the plan and listened to residents.
Nobody cannot support responsible “active infrastructure” installations.
Fairfield Gonzales residents will support responsible consultation and design.
So let’s just slow down and do the job properly.
Brian Kendrick
Fairfield
Use parade square in Beacon Hill Park
Homelessness is terrible and I cannot imagine what hardships are placed on persons who, through no fault of their own, have no choice but to take to the tents and/or outdoor shelters.
There are, however, those who have a choice but want to make a statement. It is that group that wreaks havoc on the park, influences public opinion and takes advantage of the system or lack thereof.
There is a perfectly level and virtually empty parade square located adjacent to Beacon Hill upon which they can set up camp. Why are these squatters allowed to desecrate one of the country’s most beautiful urban forests and parks?
Overnight campers will still exact a terrible toll if allowed to continue in the park.
Why do members of the council refuse to act and direct all campers to set their shelters/tents on the parade square?
Beacon Hill Park will take months, even years, hundreds of thousands of dollars and manpower to regain its original pristine condition. Not to mention public safety and confidence.
Let the restoration begin unfettered and rejuvenate this beautiful gem to its former glory.
Steve Nielsen
Victoria
Military needed to fight gang violence
Rather than send our military halfway around the world to seize $20 million in drugs from junk boats, how about reassigning the Navy resources to Vancouver, where criminals distribute many times the drugs seized offshore and are shooting innocent victims and continuing to kill off many addicts with deadly drugs.
Many addicts are young working people.
Our police departments need help. The deadly drug issue is far larger than COVID-19.
Phil Harrison
Comox
No apology needed; we were at war
I must confess that the propensity of our federal government (and other levels) to apologize for almost anything to anyone rather puzzles me.
The latest is the apology to Italians in Canada and Canadians of Italian origin who were detained during the Second World War.
Unless I have missed something, Canada was at war with Italy until the surrender of that country in 1944.
It is reasonable to assume that some Italians in Canada, but certainly not all, were sympathetic to the fascist regime of Benito Mussolini in Italy. Others no doubt acted as a Fifth Column providing information to the enemy, as Italy was at the time.
We have to remember that our country was at war and the government took reasonable measures to protect our security. I say reasonable because that is what the measures were in the 1940s; it is only now that they are deemed harsh by contemporary standards.
My late father was in the Royal Canadian Navy during the war and his ship was torpedoed in the North Sea by a German U-Boat. He survived, but I am not aware that anyone has apologized to him then, or now, for incidents such as that.
Perhaps the apology that is coming to Italians this week will give comfort to some, but I think we need to recall that this country was at war at the time and the measures taken to ensure our security trumped individual rights.
Sad, perhaps, but it was war.
David B. Collins
Victoria
Car from California tells us about us
When grocery shopping I noticed a car parked beside me with California licence plates but also displaying signs that read: “I am a Canadian citizen, have had the vaccine and have quarantined for 14 days.”
I assume that the driver of that vehicle felt the need to do this in order not to be questioned, judged or even harassed, which saddened me greatly.
Is our humanity another victim of this pandemic?
Mary Martin
North Saanich
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