Watershed logging adds to river drought
Re: “ ‘Heroic intervention’ saves Cowichan River, but future shaky,” Sept. 3.
It’s hard to believe that a west coast river or rivers could go dry without the costly intervention by local authorities, companies and residents.
Retired faller and fishing guide Joe Saysell was quoted in the article about the wholesale harvesting of young trees in the Koksilah and Cowichan River watersheds, and the effects that logging is having on the drought conditions in these watersheds.
Our climate is not only being affected by emissions from global burning of fossil fuels, but it is also being locally affected by the deforestation and harvesting of young trees on private lands.
It’s interesting to note that most of the private lands are in the hands of Island Timberlands and TimberWest, which have formally created an “affiliation” with each other.
What most people don’t know is both of these companies are owned by three public-sector pension funds: B.C. Investment Management Corporation, Alberta Investment Management Corporation and the federal Public Sector Pension Investment Board.
You would think these government-sector pension funds would do more than partially fund raising the weir. It would be just as beneficial if they would place a moratorium on logging their forested lands until they studied the effects their companies are having on not only the rivers in the valley, but the livelihoods of farmers, small businesses and residential homes.
Phil Le Good
Cobble Hill
This ‘kayaker’ was not a good role model
I was pleased and dismayed by the cover photo of your 55 Plus supplement in Tuesday’s paper.
Your photo has a model displaying a dangerous lack of kayak knowledge. The most glaring is the lack of a PFD — a personal flotation device. Often mistakenly called a life jacket, this is the paddler’s first line of defence against drowning. It is required of all kayakers, canoeists, small-boat passengers by Transport Canada regulation.
Other less obvious required but missing safety items include a throw rope, a signalling device, a bailer, and a spare paddle. Highly suggested for this type of craft would be a spray skirt; it keeps water out in all but absolutely flat water.
In the cold waters off the shores of Vancouver Island, some sort of immersion gear is needed. A quick dunk in our waters can be quite refreshing and within minutes can be downright dangerous if the paddler is not properly protected. Wetsuits or drysuits are the best protection from our cold waters.
I am writing as one of the executive of the South Island Sea Kayak Association, SISKA. We offer a variety of courses tuned for the beginning kayaker. So do a number of local kayak sellers and professional kayak instructors. I strongly encourage any new kayaker to take one of the beginner kayak courses taught by certified, insured instructors.
And how do I know that your model is not a kayaker? He appears to be holding the paddle upside down.
Roger Botting
Victoria
Praise from visitors who spent 31 days here
My spouse and I spent 31 days, all of August, residing in Victoria as visitors. We try to immerse ourselves in places we’re fortunate enough to visit. We’re from the states, Tennessee, and had sought a cooler place to spend the summer.
You have an amazing community: friendly people, wonderful bus drivers, respectful street folks (including that guy who only needs $5), and a very dynamic culture. I’d started to read the online Times Colonist about a month before our visit. Who would have guessed someone (drunk?), could have been stranded on the Johnson Street Bridge?
I think the most representative part of your city, is the sax player, each evening playing near the bridge. He’s a great asset.
Philc Hullc
Tennessee, United States
What constitutes anti-Semitic comment?
Re: “Liberals drop candidate in Montreal riding over comments described as anti-Semitic,” Aug. 30.
I don’t know anything about the Liberal candidate in Montreal who was dropped by the Liberals. However, what disturbed me about this situation was B’nai Brith being the arbitrator of what is fair comment and what is anti-Semitic.
B’nai Brith is not an unbiased organization. To quote from their website: “B’nai Brith is recognized as a vital voice in promoting Jewish unity and continuity, a staunch defender of the State of Israel and global Jewry.” If I am critical of Israel or supportive of Palestinian rights, that is fair comment. B’nai Brith does not get to label me as anti-Semitic. That is a chill on my right to freedom of expression, and should be considered hate speech.
Jeff Magee
Victoria
Reverse traffic flows twice a day
I live in Vic West so I am able to walk downtown if I have to, past the long lines of cars caused by the Johnson Street Bridge being occasionally up, and no eastbound traffic on the Point Ellice Bridge (Bay Street) while it is being repaired.
Most of the traffic during the day is eastbound until people start leaving from their workplaces east of the bridges.
There’s a few places, Lions Gate Bridge in Metro Vancouver for one, where lanes change direction. This seems like a pretty good idea for the Bay Street bridge.
Perhaps westbound noon to midnight, and east midnight until noon on the Bay Street bridge.
Judging by what’s been done so far, I’d guess that bridge is going to take near a year to complete.
Kirk Westergaard
Victoria
‘Transfer Point’ a terrible idea
Re: “What’s the point of renaming Ogden Point?” letter, Sept. 1.
The suggestion to change Ogden Point’s identity to “Transfer Point” makes me cringe. To even think that this is an appealing, creative name that merits worldwide exposure is incomprehensible.
As a comparison, let’s call Vancouver International Airport the “Airplane Transfer Interface.” Duh.
Earl Kollmar
Saanich
Baptize people, commission ships
Re: “Sir John Franklin, newest coast guard vessel, officially ‘baptized,’ ” Aug. 29.
Three people who know I am a retired naval chaplain have asked me whether using the word “baptism” to describe the commissioning of the latest Canadian Coast Guard vessel was appropriate.
It certainly conveys the concept of a new beginning, but isn’t customary. In the Royal Canadian Navy, we follow the British custom of baptizing people and commissioning seagoing vessels. Another custom readers might find interesting is when an individual of any age is baptized on board a naval ship, the date of the service and the person’s name are inscribed on the inside of the ship’s bell.
Don Hatfield
Esquimalt
Time for review of timber-sale mandate
Re: “The old-growth logging showdown,” Sept. 1.
It turns my stomach to see the disheartening photos of tremendous ancient trees and intact old-growth forests destroyed on Vancouver Island. This rampant destruction has to stop.
Our forests provide many benefits, such as clean water, clean air, rich ecosystems, tourism opportunities and carbon storage. But, for the B.C. government, it appears that “the integrity of the timber pricing system” is more important. It is high time for a critical review of B.C. Timber Sales’ mandate, policies and practices.
Dwight Owens
Langford
A buzz-words glossary would have helped
Re: “Victoria’s economic plan looks to the future,” comment, Aug. 31.
Both my wife and I were thoroughly entertained by Victoria Mayor’s Lisa Helps article; however, I believe the Times Colonist was negligent in not including a glossary of contemporary buzz words and phrases for we the less politically literate. Unfortunately, without that assistance, the article had a tendency to reflect the usual corporate bafflegab inflicted upon employees, when the latest visionary from corporate headquarters comes to town.
I’ll admit it astounds me that a professed alternative-lifestyle academic, and champion of the marginalized in our society, would use the same diction as the supposed evil spin doctors extolling virtues of industrial corporate greed.
Call me a pessimist but I believe the Victoria mayor’s proposals fall into the realm of unobtainable goals for small municipal councils. Perhaps, with a little polish they might be better suited to the fundamental rules and visionary direction of an international cult. No worries! Thinking big is what the peoples’ tax dollars are for, right?
Barrie Moen
Oak Bay
Paid to canvass? Be sure to ask
Any day now, a federal election will be called. Already, people have experienced canvassers knocking on their doors in support of one party or another.
Most people assume that those door-knockers are all volunteers. I always did. Then one day, during the last provincial election, an email announcement came from my local MLA looking for canvassers to be paid $17 and hour to canvass. That was an eye-opener for me, and when I mentioned it to friends they were all surprised.
As a matter of routine, I now ask any canvassers if they are being paid to knock on doors for the political party they represent.
Shirley McBride
Cordova Bay
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