Minister is late to decriminalization idea
I have read with interest Mental Health and Addictions Minister Sheila Malcolmson鈥檚 鈥渋nitiative鈥� to seek support from the federal government to decriminalize simple possession of narcotics in sa国际传媒
The minister should be aware that it has been some years since simple possession of drugs has been actively investigated and charged, let alone prosecuted, anywhere in sa国际传媒. Simple possession of drugs, therefore, has in effect been decriminalized.
The toxic drug supply that is tragically killing our citizens, however, requires government鈥檚 urgent attention.
Roxanne P. Helme, Q.C.
Green & Helme
Victoria
COVID-19 is hurting the performing arts
COVID-19 has had a devastating impact on the performing arts. There are many news reports about how the restaurant industry has been struggling to work at half capacity, and more so now with only takeout and patios open.
I can sympathize. However, speaking as a professional musician, I feel it鈥檚 important for people to understand how difficult the pandemic has been on the performing arts. Almost all of my work has ceased since March 2020. There are no government programs targeted to help us 鈥� we are invisible.
There is no employer, there is no paycheque, even a reduced one, and there is no EI. Most musicians are hired as freelance workers in a gig economy.
We only work when we have a gig, and most gigs are one-offs. Like everyone else, we have rent and bills to pay.
With the continuing rise in COVID cases, lack of work will continue to be a crisis for us. At this rate, the professional arts are facing a mass extinction due to artists being forced to find other work or moving away because they can鈥檛 afford to make a living.
Professional music, theatre, dance 鈥� these are at risk of disappearing, and the arts are a vital part of any cultural and social fabric.
It鈥檚 important for people to be informed and understanding about the plight of the performing arts. We need help and support too.
Anita Bonkowski
Vice-president, Island Musicians, Local 247
Victoria
Doggone mad about her dog?
鈥淚鈥檓 doggone mad about her dog,鈥� an incensed reader writes about Lt.-Gov. Janet Austin鈥檚 lovely dog Macduff. What piffle.
I smiled at the way that exuberant little fellow bounded up the stairs at the opening of the legislature this week.
Heaven knows it gave a touch of levity and humanity to what was otherwise a predictable and disappointing series of announcements.
Dogs are doing a splendid job of keeping so many people sane at this time, getting us outside for walks, cheering us up when you are sick and tired of the word 鈥淐OVID鈥� with all its mind-numbing restrictions.
Madam Austin, please continue to take Macduff, Vice-Regal Consort dog, out and about among the weary masses where a huge majority of us can smile and enjoy his presence and the joy that a cheerful little dog can bring.
Pamela Jackson
Sidney
Along with the dog, try a mink stole
I see that a sa国际传媒 reader views Lt.-Gov. Janet Austin鈥檚 decision to take her dog to important public functions as disrespectful.
I see it more as a common fashion faux pas known as 鈥渋ncomplete accessorization.鈥� If Her Excellency adds a mink stole, horn rimmed sunglasses and open-toed shoes to her ensemble, the presentation would be beyond reproach.
Brian Jones
Oak Bay
Metchosin needs better emergency responses
Hundreds of petitioners in Metchosin continue to support a strong, solid case to reinstate our former emergency services鈥� call-out status.
That status was arbitrarily weakened by sa国际传媒 Health Services and the sa国际传媒 Ambulance Service three years ago. This is not a complicated request.
In incidents of medical or fire emergency, everyone knows that in saving lives, minutes matter.
Despite that obvious fact, since mid-2018 centralized sa国际传媒 Ambulance dispatch has refused to notify Metchosin鈥檚 first responders of 911 call-outs until some remote, bureaucratic decision-makers rate the urgency of the call.
Average response time to my neighbours from sa国际传媒 Ambulance is 18 minutes or longer. Metchosin鈥檚 team takes about four minutes to respond.
We welcome and honour the sa国际传媒 Ambulance Service for their advanced medical care, treatment capabilities and transport at critical times.
We all know, however, that Metchosin鈥檚 and Beecher Bay鈥檚 rural, wilderness, backroads and trails often require local knowledge. Technical medical professionalism is not enough.
When they are in trouble, our friends, neighbours and relatives must not be left hurt and alone. More than 1,000 of us are over the age of 65.
This municipality has invested for 37 years in our local Metchosin Emergency Medical Response services.
We again urgently ask the Ministry of Health and the sa国际传媒 Ambulance Service to correct this ridiculous bureaucratic policy and reinstate our former call-out status before a preventable tragedy occurs.
Carol Carman
Metchosin
Stop all of that non-essential travel
Please do not tell me that more lockdowns and restrictions are coming when I followed a Texas licence plate on Cook Street.
I demand the federal and provincial governments do their job: Shut down all unnecessary travel.
The fellow on the news who recently stated openly that he just 鈥渄idn鈥檛 know鈥� he wasn鈥檛 supposed to travel, needs to be fined.
Am I the only one who, while following the rules, is sick and tired of other people travelling for fun?
Whistler, Tofino and Victoria are just polluted by licence plates that do not belong here right now.
It鈥檚 simple, fine the travellers/ vacationers/road trippers the same fine you levy against 鈥減arty hosts.鈥�
It really is that simple.
Dewane Ollech
Victoria
鈥楽nail mail鈥� is just a rhyming term
With sincere respect and concern to the writer representing thousands of sa国际传媒 Post employees, the term 鈥渟nail mail鈥� is an informal term to rhyme with email.
It does not imply that you, or any employee is like a slow-moving mollusc.
Though, a sa国际传媒 compromise could be made by changing 鈥渟nail mail鈥� to Old-Fashioned Mail or A-Buck-a-Stamp Mail. Perhaps more reality based names such as Rarely-a-Letter Mail, or Nothing-But-Bills and Flyers Mail.
So we don鈥檛 have to relent and go postal, perhaps it should be Escargot Mail.
Much more appetizing for everyone.
Mur Meadows
Victoria
SEND US YOUR LETTERS
鈥� Email letters to: [email protected]
鈥� Mail: Letters to the editor, sa国际传媒, 201-655 Tyee Rd., Victoria, sa国际传媒 V9A 6X5
鈥� Submissions should be no more than 250 words; subject to editing for length and clarity. Provide your contact information; it will not be published.
