sa¹ú¼Ê´«Ã½

What will the languages minister do?

One can only guess what the perks and salary are for the new minister of official languages.

For this salary, what exactly will she be doing eight hours a day, five days a week, year after year?

For a renter like me who lives paycheque to paycheque, I can only dream of being given a pension-promised, perk-filled cushie job.

Bonnie Reszel

Saanich

Be careful, scammers are after your identity

This season of giving is also a time of fraud and theft.

The war of the haves and have-nots rages amongst us. When my car was broken into recently, I felt violated, but figured the miscreants needed the items they stole more than I did.

Several days ago, my computer was compromised and I became a victim of identity theft.

Stupid? Definitely. But these criminals create a situation of panic, through noise and overload of info: “Your computer is being attacked by a Trojan Virus and threatening our servers. Call this number immediately…”

Having one’s identity stolen is soul destroying. You stop trusting anyone. You have to change lots of passwords, cards and put advisories on your credit history, among others.

The full effect of this violation is not yet fully known.

With the instantaneous exchange of electronic information around the world, be extra careful. Never provide any vital information on any device.

Canadian institutions would never require you to provide intimate details of your situation, financial or otherwise. Never give out your social insurance number or driver’s licence number.

If you have been scammed, don’t feel alone. Contact your local police.

I want to thank the Saanich police for their rapid response. The officers were helpful and recommended useful solutions and resources.

J.J. MacArthur

Victoria

National health plan is the best solution

Re: “Lifetime residents should come first,” letter, Dec. 21.

This being a retirement destination it seems fair to say that lifetime residents should be the priority in health care, but not easy to administer.

We need a truly national health plan providing identical health and pharma care coast to coast, to all Canadians, arrivals since the 1500s and Indigenous alike.

There have been many studies on a national health and drugs plan, some estimating savings of $9 billion per year.

Under the constitution a truly national health and drugs plan is not possible. What we need is a new constitution that fits today’s sa¹ú¼Ê´«Ã½, where thanks to technology, time differences and distances no longer play a role when we need to talk or meet.

Proportional voting is one step in the right direction and all Canadians should learn about this. When we see provincial leaders taking on U.S. president-elect Donald Trump, and we see the power plays between provincial and federal leaders, we know that our system is failing the democracy we all want.

Americans have a similar problem. In sa¹ú¼Ê´«Ã½ we have a fair chance to do the right things but only if we all take an interest in making it happen. Most of today’s politicians won’t take the initiative.

Talk to your MLA and MP. Support organizations that share your concerns.

Vince Devries

Ladysmith

Two-tiered system works in education

Re: “Lifetime residents should come first,” letter, Dec. 21.

I suggest it is a similar situation with post-secondary education and that those born in the country should have the first opportunity for an advanced education, mostly paid for by Canadian taxpayers.

And yes, health care should be a two-tiered system as it is for tuition rates for foreign students.

The same approach for migrating people who have not contributed to taxation for health-care facilities in this province.

Our health-care system cannot afford to be so benevolent.

Phil Harrison

Comox

Oak Bay is doing what we would all like

Re: “Disingenuous Oak Bay missed housing chances,” letter, Dec. 21.

I suggest that Oak Bay’s priorities are simply what we’d all like.

Several projects are under construction but, so far, destruction of neighbourhoods seems minimal. I think Oak Bay should plan half a dozen super high rises on Turkey Head to meet their target for decades.

See how far that gets when First Nations and the province learn of it. But they couldn’t be condemned for not trying.

As for the police services, Oak Bay residents are fortunate to have a community police force rather than the heavy-handed policing of Victoria.

The rest of us can only wish.

Alanne Gibson

Victoria

Trump would need help with French as well

Does U.S. president-elect Donald Trump realize that as sa¹ú¼Ê´«Ã½’s president he would be required to speak French fluently?

We are a bilingual country and our politicians are expected also to have a good mastery of the King’s English. Given the limitations off Trump’s vocabulary he will need a significant upgrade in his linguistic skills in both of our official languages.

You go Donald. Forget the golf course, night school is calling!

Maggie Wood

Sidney

Maybe make the states our 11th province

Instead of Donald Trump advocating his “great idea” of sa¹ú¼Ê´«Ã½ becoming the 51st state, perhaps instead, he could propose the United States becoming the 11th province?

Just think of the advantages he could offer his country! He could begin with the American education system. For instance, in the worldwide PISA testing which compares 15-year-old students in reading , math and science, sa¹ú¼Ê´«Ã½ continues to lead the Unites States.

In maternal mortality statistics, the Unites States ranks the worst in all of the developed countries in the world. Their present health-care system is beholden to powerful health insurance companies whose main objective is to continue raising premiums as high as possible while finding any excuse to withhold benefits.

He could also offer sensible, rigorous gun laws so that American children could go to school without the constant fear of shot in their classrooms.

Imagine the Americans having a Supreme Court that wasn’t blatantly corrupt? Perhaps the country would benefit by adopting a parliamentary system of government rather than a republic?

Instead of isolating himself in the White House/Ivory Tower plotting his next vengeful machinations, he would have to present himself in person and defend his policies and positions every time the House was in session!

The American people would certainly have a clear picture of just how adept their leader is on a daily basis. He could show the American people that it is possible to govern a country where religious fanaticism is actually kept separate and doesn’t rule the laws of the country.

Think of the benefits for the entire population if their elections weren’t influenced by a handful of billionaires whose main interest is a reduction in corporate taxes and nothing that benefits the ordinary American?

sa¹ú¼Ê´«Ã½ is a modest, yet proud country. We have sacrificed and fought in wars to preserve democracy, not only in our own country, but around the world.

There is a basic decency and integrity found in most Canadians, and we are incensed at the hubris of a president who suggests we would entertain the notion of joining his country as the 51st state!

Of course, Mr. President, our natural resources and water rights would have nothing to do with your magnanimous offer of “lower taxes and military protection”!

JoEllen Morrison

Victoria

Subsidize ferries at the correct level

The recent revelations from the CEO of sa¹ú¼Ê´«Ã½ Ferries that construction costs of new vessels and passenger fares are increasing hugely should not surprise anyone.

sa¹ú¼Ê´«Ã½ Ferries is caught in a public-policy bind. On the one hand, there is an understanding that the ferries are an extension of the Trans-sa¹ú¼Ê´«Ã½ Highway that links mainland sa¹ú¼Ê´«Ã½ to Vancouver Island.

On the other, is that sa¹ú¼Ê´«Ã½ Ferries should run on a fully commercial basis and, if not show a profit, at least try to break even.

With costs rising daily, the two goals are incompatible. The ferry service needs to be subsidized at the necessary level by either the federal or provincial governments, or both.

This would allow for what could be argued as a constitutional right for Islanders to be connected to the mainland at a reasonable cost to passengers.

David Collins

Victoria

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