sa¹ú¼Ê´«Ã½

May is standing up to the bully Trump

I want to assure readers that I have been standing up to U.S. president-elect Donald Trump. One reader felt it was only Ontario Premier Doug Ford who was speaking out.

I held a press conference in Ottawa on Jan. 3 in which I forcefully explained to the incoming administration that sa¹ú¼Ê´«Ã½ is a sovereign nation and that Canadians do not yearn to become the 51st state.

Something about how I expressed myself resulted in a massive response in the United States. My remarks were covered by CNN and Fox News.

Postings on social media have been read and watched by millions of Americans. The response has been astonishing and overwhelmingly positive.

As the only Member of Parliament honoured as an Officer of the Order of sa¹ú¼Ê´«Ã½, I will always stand up to bullies and defend sa¹ú¼Ê´«Ã½’s interests.

Elizabeth May

MP, Saanich-Gulf Islands

Leader, Green Party of sa¹ú¼Ê´«Ã½

Tax ceiling is needed for Saanich residents

I’ve lived at the same address in Saanich for more than 27 years and every year my taxes increase … lately at a rate several multiples greater than that of inflation.

What do I get for over $6,000 per year? No sewer, no sidewalks, no street lights, no speed enforcement and no bus service.

I pay separately for water and garbage collection while Saanich builds expensive, largely empty bike lane projects and the destruction of driving infrastructure. The debacle of bike lanes on Mann Avenue is a prime example of the triumph of ideology over good sense as there is no metric supporting improvements to bicycle safety on that road.

Perhaps the province should intercede on the citizens’ behalf — the municipal government certainly isn’t.

There must be a tax ceiling because our incomes are falling behind our growing tax burdens and we will no longer be able to live in the houses we worked so hard to buy.

Henri Rogers

Saanich

Why ask about the pool with all these unknowns?

Is this not backward? Why are Victoria voters having a referendum on Crystal Pool now? How are we to make an informed decision on our future tax bill when no decisions are made on our 2025 tax increases. No decision on our ­municipal bill. No decision on our police bill.

Yet council believes we should decide to add another $240 per household or $650 per business on top of an undecided, but pending, tax increase of 3% to 7%.

Is this good fiscal management? Is this good governance?

Bob June

Victoria

No completed design, but a cost estimate

One of the major cons about the proposed new Crystal Pool is the blatant dishonesty on the total costs. The city site states the design timeline for a new pool is 21 months.

How can anyone set a price before it is even designed? How many thousands have already been spent footering around with designs?

If you are building a garden suite or even a deck, surely you get the design first before you state a final figure. Cut the suit to fit the cloth.

What has the city been doing for the past decade if they have to start designing now and what are all the glorious pictures of the new pool if there is no design?

Patrick Murphy

Victoria

Victoria residents should get a break

Our family lives in a municipality next to Victoria and we often use the Crystal Pool. We would use the planned facility but cannot vote on this issue and, importantly, our property taxes would not increase to help pay for it.

It strikes us as odd that we would be able to use the new facility alongside our friends and neighbours in Victoria but would, in effect, pay less to do so.

Given that Victoria residents would fund the new facility through their taxes, it seems only fair that they receive a discount on access once the new pool is open — whether it’s for day passes, monthly memberships, or yearly passes.

It is a straightforward way to acknowledge the financial contributions of Victoria taxpayers while allowing everyone to enjoy this valuable community resource.

Michael Hedlin

Victoria

Special assessment rather than borrowing

As a Victoria resident and a pool user I would like to comment on the Crystal Pool referendum.

While I applaud the city for allowing us to vote on the matter, I feel that if a new pool is to be built, and Victoria certainly deserves a modern swimming pool, the amount of $168.9 million should not be borrowed, instead it should be raised by way of a special assessment over the anticipated construction period.

It seems unfair to burden future generations with paying for a project that we all would be able to enjoy now.

Talking about water, the ­recommendation made by the Regional Water Supply Commission to borrow — by comparison — a paltry $33.3 million to purchase land near the Sooke Lake Reservoir makes a lot of sense as it will safeguard our water supply, something that we all benefit from, now and for generations to come.

Dieter Martensen

Fairfield

Our water bombers might encourage him

Please don’t tell Donald Trump that water-bombing helicopters have been sent from Vancouver Island to California to help extinguish the devastating ­wildfires. He would likely speed up his plans to annex sa¹ú¼Ê´«Ã½ to get his hands on them.

Cheera Crow

Sidney

Will Americans change their thinking?

Isn’t it nice that Canadian and Mexican assets are being sent to help with the fires in California even after the spiteful and boorish attitude of the president-elect recently directed toward these two countries?

I wonder if this neighbourly assistance will make any difference in the attitudes of some south of our border?

Mike Wilkinson

Duncan

An irony of the L.A. fires: People flying in and out

On the news the other night, people being interviewed at LAX while the California city’s suburbs burn, telling their story of flying in and out of the human-caused inferno. Seemingly not taking any responsibility. Shame on us!

We can make a profound difference and it can start tomorrow. Stop flying!

Eighty per cent of the world’s population has never flown.

Dave Secco

Saanich

A sovereign nation against a little man

I enjoyed Adrian Raeside’s editorial cartoon of the Canadian beaver and Donald Trump in the boxing ring.

I believe every Canadian should take this as a reminder that we are a stable, mature sovereign nation and Trump is just a little man.

Tannis Wightman

Sidney

Don’t sell Victoria to developers

Re: “Stalled 8-storey condo project gets permit to move ahead,” Jan. 10.

Victoria city council has confirmed the approval, originally granted in 2011, of an apartment building on the south side of the harbour, on the site occupied by Admiral Inn.

It will replace 34 low-cost housing units with 35 expensive investment condos. Some councillors expressed disappointment, not because the building would change the profile around the harbour but because it is not big enough.

The site is prominent. It faces onto the harbour, behind Belleville terminal and across the street from Gatsby Manor, a well-known heritage building. It is on all routes downtown from the cruise ship terminal. What is built there matters for everyone in Victoria and every visitor.

It is worth recalling the history of the development. The proposed building seemed oppressive when it was originally approved in 2011.

It was opposed on the basis that it was too big for the location and would bring major problems in traffic flow. It now looks relatively gentle, but only because it has been surpassed by the scale of developments elsewhere around the city.

Traffic is heavier than in 2011, but the number of parking stalls in the building has been nearly doubled.

Yet our elected councillors wish the building was bigger!

Don’t you wish we had a council who saw their role as enhancing our city and the quality of life of its visitors and residents (who, by the way, elect the council), rather than selling our city to developers?

Roland Clift

James Bay

One less candidate in Liberal race

After careful consideration, and after consulting with my advisers, (my wife and my dog), I will not be seeking the position of leader of the Liberal Party of sa¹ú¼Ê´«Ã½.

If there is anyone left who would like to take on the job I wish them luck.

Greg Robinson

North Saanich

Clark gives Canadians a  difficult choice

Re: “Former colleagues say Christy Clark shouldn’t be underestimated in federal Liberal leadership race,” Jan. 11.

It appears Canadians will soon face some difficult decisions; do they choose Christy Clark as sa¹ú¼Ê´«Ã½’s next prime minister or accept Donald Trump’s offer, which would make sa¹ú¼Ê´«Ã½ the 51st state and Clark its senator.

It will be a tough choice. But wouldn’t either outcome be better than being led by the Conservatives?

Ken Dwernychuk

Esquimalt

SEND US YOUR LETTERS

• Email: [email protected]

• Mail: Letters to the editor, sa¹ú¼Ê´«Ã½, 201-655 Tyee Rd., Victoria, sa¹ú¼Ê´«Ã½ V9A 6X5

• Aim for no more than 250 words; ­subject to editing for length and clarity. Provide your contact information.