Clear, present danger, but where’s the navy?
Re: “Two supply ships not enough to ensure navy can resupply fleets,” Nov. 26.
The clear and present danger of a greatly expanding Chinese Navy and a bellicose Chinese Communist government has crystallized the minds of most Indo-Pacific national leaders, resulting in expanding defence budgets and larger fleets.
Australia now allocates over two per cent of GDP to defence and already has a navy much more capable than Canada.
Canada, the outlier, has five surface combatants and three submarines in the Pacific, and in the event of a crisis would have only one or two surface combatants and one submarine available for defence of Canada’s west coast and to contribute to allied forces.
As American taxpayers will no longer pay for our defence, we must ensure that our existing frigates last until 2034 when their first replacement is operational.
The Halifax class frigates’ combat systems were updated in 2016, however no funds were provided to update the ship’s hull, piping systems and associated pumps which will continue to rust out over the next 14 years.
If significant funds are not allocated, these ships may rust out as happened for the Iroquois class destroyers and the Protecteur class replenishment ships with no replacements for decades.
If this happens, Canada will not have a combat capable navy at all! Our political class has let us down again. Is this acceptable to Canadians?
Robin Allen
Victoria
This senior puts younger people first
I admire Dr. Bonnie Henry’s common-sense approach to handling this pandemic.
Hopefully, she will express her opinion about the prioritizing of the vaccine.
As an 80-year-old, I object to having a higher priority than people half my age or younger.
I have a problem with the statement that children and adolescents, immunocompromised adults and pregnant women would be vaccinated “as soon as it is feasible.”
I will not accept this vaccine until it is determined that there are sufficient quantities to vaccinate all Canadians.
I’m sure many seniors agree and will put the concern for the lives of our younger people and children ahead of their own.
Ed Bird
Victoria
Save local retailers and the local economy
I think it’s time for a “greatervictoriamarketplace.ca” app. It would list all the items for sale in our area and tell you which stores have one and for how much. You could go to the store in person or order an item for delivery or curbside pickup.
Not as far-fetched as it may seem. Most stores have their inventory in an electronic format.
What remains is the creation of an app that would access these and share them with the public. Perhaps our local or provincial governments could fund the development.
Imagine being able to search for “widget” and finding out it is available at a store just down the road. Maybe for less than the Big A and in stock today!
Let’s save our local retailers. And our local economy.
Steve Sturgess
View Royal
Canada does little to protect women
Re: “ ‘Orange the world’: End violence against women and girls,” commentary, Nov. 26.
Thanks to Anne Moon for her excellent op-ed on femicide and the information about the UN’s current campaign against intimate-partner violence.
Femicide exists as a global phenomenon not only because men believe they are entitled to assault and even murder women but also because, all too often, our patriarchal cultures let them get away with it.
Even when women are brave enough to come forward and report abuse, the law does little to protect them.
A friend and her daughter have recently had to flee to another province on the advice of police because the cops can’t guarantee that the daughter’s husband, a known criminal, won’t murder them.
Why should Canadian women have any faith in our “justice” system?
And of course, the plight of women and girls in the more rabidly misogynist countries is far worse.
If our legislators won’t act, individual men will have to grow up and take responsibility for their actions. I’m not holding my breath.
Hilary Knight
Oak Bay
TC contributes to fear and paranoia
The Times Colonist’s priorities as a reputable news source are incredibly skewed when the first half of the paper is dedicated to the perpetuation of COVID-19 fear, paranoia and anxiety and only on the fifth page is there an article about the fact that 167 people died of drug overdoses in B.C. in October alone.
Rachel Dennis
Saanich
Government should give us proper masks
During Second World War, some governments issued gas masks.
Now, during World War Flu why doesn’t the government issue quality masks to citizens, ones that meet basic requirements? Instead, we are left to flounder around at this critical time mired in guesswork as we try to cope with advice that seems to change by the day.
Roberta Allen
Oak Bay
Prove you need that parking spot
Regarding the comment made by a disability advocate stating that no one should be asked to prove they are disabled.
Does this person realize disabled persons must display a disabled sign in their car before using disabled parking?
Wilma Sayer
Courtenay
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