Skip to content
Join our Newsletter

Letters Oct. 4: Cut legislature salaries, baby boomer legacy

Use vacancies to roll back legislature wages Re: “ Sergeant-at-arms retires, citing harm to reputation ,” Oct. 2.
a14-10042019-legislature.jpg
B.C. legislature in downtown Victoria.

Use vacancies to roll back legislature wages

Re: “Sergeant-at-arms retires, citing harm to reputation,” Oct. 2.

Now that the positions of sergeant-at-arms and clerk of the legislature are vacant, let’s hope that those with the authority to do so take this opportunity to roll back the outrageous wages the former occupants received.

W. K. Fletcher
Langford

No consequences for substance users

As outlined in a recent letter sent to a Nanaimo citizen from the office of the Attorney General David Eby, there is reason for Nanaimo and other communities to be concerned.

Our provincial government implemented an opioid harm-reduction program in November 2017, with a policy that police refer substance users to the mental-health sector and not process them through the criminal court system.

The apprehended substance users are supposed to be released by the police into mental-health care to help them, but with no place to go, are instead being released back into the community without consequence.

Many are multiple offenders taking advantage of this program, as there is no deterrent to stop these repeat offenders.

The intent of this policy was to save lives, but in most communities, there are little or no supports in place to follow through.

Nanaimo has experienced lawlessness and overdose on an unprecedented scale. Our current provincial government has ensured through this policy that we have absolutely no recourse.

Sandra Steward-Kobewka
Nanaimo

‘Entitled’ millennials should skip $5 lattes

Re: “Second homes and retirees complaining,” letter, Oct. 1.

The writer of the letter, like many it seems, has a somewhat myopic view of economic reality and doesn’t quite understand the difference between something earned and what one should be entitled to.

Earned is when one makes good decisions, gives up luxuries and saves in order to buy something, in this case a second home.

Entitled is sipping $5 lattes while tapping a text on your $800 smartphone and complaining that the government isn’t doing enough to help you buy a home.

Yes, millennials are entitled.

R.E. Coulter
North Saanich

Driving habits need to change

Re: “Prospect Lake crash renews safety push,” Oct. 2.

Sadly, another life was lost this week — a motorcycle driver died in a collision on Prospect Lake Road. It is a shame for any loss of life, and I also feel for the residents of that road, having to witness this carnage.

Now the hand-wringing starts, and the blaming of governments for lack of “babysitter” controls, such as speed limits and road conditions.

This is the wrong direction. I suggest that ICBC would bear out the fact that a large portion of these incidents are caused by poor driving habits, the worst habit being speeding.

Any funds to be put forward to solve this should go to driver education, whether it be mandatory courses, TV public-service announcements and more.

Regardless of a posted speed limit, drivers must, but rarely do, take into account road conditions. This can be visibility, rain, snow and amount of traffic, to name a few.

If a speed limit is posted at 50 km/h, and it is raining heavily, go 40 or even 30. If it is winding or a bumpy uneven surface, ditto.

I could go on, but the idea is SLOW DOWN! Yes, we can and should lower some posted speed limits. As a licensed driver, and an adult, you have to make your own decisions. Your life and others lives’ depend on it.

Rod Stiebel
Victoria

Name the candidates in your riding

Based on my observation, the two most popular local candidates are Elizabeth May and House for Sale.

Chris Foord
Oak Bay

Imprisoned Canadians have been forgotten

It is disappointing to see how the media is being played in the extradition case of Huawei Technologies executive and senior Communist party member Meng Wanzhou.

It has become a fashion show, with large newspaper pictures of her smiling face as she moves about to her two Vancouver mansions and the courts in limousines.

It has become so ridiculous that the media is now commenting on her upscale clothing.

At the same time, two well-respected Canadians, Michael Spavor, a businessman and Michael Kovrig, a former Canadian diplomat, have been held without trial for more that nine months.

Their arrests came on the third day of the bail hearing for the Huawei executive and are obviously connected to the extradition case.

They are being held in solitary confinement with daily questioning, and no respite from lights that are perpetually on. More recently Kovrig had his reading glasses taken away and is allowed one visit a month from a consular official, but no family visits.

The Canadians languishing in jail have received very little coverage compared to the photo-friendly Huawei executive. The media is being played.

Craig Meredith
North Cowichan

Baby boomers left poor legacy

Re: “Kids understand better than most adults,” letter, Oct. 1.

The author hit this letter clean out of the park.

The other day, I heard our local far-right radio “personality” attack the climate strikers and Greta Thunberg. This person, like myself, is a baby boomer. Yup we “grew up” in an era devoid of world wars. We enjoyed good jobs, affordable housing and pensions.

All that ended with voodoo economics, free trade, business tax dodges, conservative talk radio and the ridiculous Citizens United decision by the U.S. Supreme Court.

What did we leave for generations X and Y? McJobs, de-regulated banks that burned the economy to the ground in 2008 with the biggest loss of wealth ever, incestuous political allies conspiring against us and debt!

Grant Maxwell
Nanaimo

Take up the challenge to walk the talk

Well done, students for getting our attention. We have had warnings about climate problems for years, such as Silent Spring (1962) by Rachel Carson and Utopia or Oblivion (1969) by Buckminster Fuller.

However, my generation never really did much about it because it had not become so evident. You now have the evidence and we have the technology to do something about it.

Now, my question to you is: What is your next step?

Obviously you must arm yourself with the proper education: we will need people knowledgeable about batteries, solar cells, artificial intelligence, debating and logic, statistics, robotics and so on. So choose good classes, get the training needed in the trades, use your smart phones for good (not for texting or games or watching videos).

Also, walk the talk. Don’t leave your garbage on the ground, don’t have a grad party and leave a huge mess, don’t pollute with loud music, loud cars, loud parties.

I know you can take up this challenge — the world is hoping that your generation will take on this challenge. Educate yourself, use technology for good, invent, invent, invent.

I also now include the word “Earth” in my personal address, just to remind myself what is important.

Wayne Loutet
Duncan, Earth

What you feed pets won’t change genes

The evolution of teeth and jaws are a direct result of what different animals eat. Cats and dogs are carnivores, most ungulates are herbivores and humans are omnivores. What we feed our pets will not change their genes, and humans will continue to eat meat.

Evolution goes back a long way.

G.R. Greig
Victoria

These workers took care not to trample

The transformer at the edge of my property was worked on by lots of workers and equipment. I had recently planted lots of small plants near the pole, and expected them to be trampled, but not a leaf was disturbed. What a delightful surprise!

Diane Whitehead
Saanich

Send us your letters

• Email: letters@timescolonist.com

• Mail: Letters to the editor, Times Colonist, 2621 Douglas St., Victoria, B.C. V8T 4M2.

Letters should be no longer than 250 words and may be edited for length, legality or clarity. Include your full name, address and telephone number. Copyright of letters or other material accepted for publication remains with the author, but the publisher and its licensees may freely reproduce them in print, electronic and other forms.