Money 鈥榟anded out鈥� is听our听tax dollars
Re: 鈥淓lection goodies piling up on Island,鈥� Aug. 28.
Let鈥檚 get this clear: government ministers do not 鈥渉and out millions.鈥� That money is our tax dollars 鈥� now 鈥渉anded out鈥� with a string attached.
Governments have no money except tax dollars from citizens.
Christine Robinson
North Saanich
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Living units too small, and cost too much
Re: 鈥淥ttawa kicks in $13.25M for downtown Victoria rental complex,鈥� Aug. 20.
The new Sawyer project on Fort Street is just another example of how out of touch our politicians really are. To think that the next generation of Canadians will be satisfied with 285 to 358 square foot living space at $1,000 to $1,450 per month is completely disrespectful.
Wages have stalled, and personal and student debt is at an all-time high, and yet the ruling class wonders why young people aren鈥檛 able to participate in the economy.
The boomers had it all 鈥� cheap real estate, low taxes, great social programs, low tuition, family doctors, job security and pensions. Today鈥檚 next generation cannot pretend to be happy with their relegation to the broom closet.
David Cook
Victoria
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Who should get听free听drugs?
Once again, murmurings in the media about providing free drugs for addicts.
Right on, fully supportive. Just get in line behind us cancer patients, diabetics, asthmatics, MS sufferers, etc., etc., etc.
Martin Hill
Sooke
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While we鈥檙e on the topic, how about a bathroom?
Re: 鈥淔orget Ogden Point 鈥� it鈥檚 Breakwater District,鈥� Aug. 27.
Harbour authority chief executive Ian Robertson is quoted as saying: 鈥淲e have been working hard over the years to open up Ogden Point to make it more accommodating and inviting.鈥�
Has Robertson ever gone for a nice walk along the breakwater and then come back and had to use a washroom? If so, where did he go?
That鈥檚 right 鈥� after years of working hard to make Ogden Point more accommodating, nobody at the harbour commission has thought that a public washroom should have been in place by now.
I hope that at the public renaming ceremony on Sept. 18, we hear news of the coming construction of this long-overdue basic public amenity. Hoping for relief!
Diane White
Victoria
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Tourists don鈥檛 want history taken away
Re: 鈥淔orget Ogden Point, it鈥檚 Breakwater District,鈥� Aug. 28.
About 10 years ago, we were in Fort St. James, one of the Hudson Bay Company鈥檚 trading posts in sa国际传媒 There, outside the walls of the restored fort, we came across an abandoned graveyard. We remember seeing a grave marker for Peter Ogden, the son of the namesake of Ogden Point.
I am sorry that Ogden Point is having its name changed to Breakwater District. Ogden Point is a historic name.
I remember from when I was a child the bustling activity of cargo ships, the little train, the grain elevator and the many stacks of lumber awaiting shipping.
I think many tourists would be upset that a little history was taken away for their sakes.
Joyce Harrison
Victoria
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Victorians likely to听ignore听name change
Re: 鈥淔orget Ogden Point, it鈥檚 Breakwater District,鈥� Aug. 28.
鈥淏reakwater District鈥�! What a hollow name arrogantly chosen by the bureaucratic Greater Victoria Harbour Authority without any input from the people of Victoria.
My hope is that the local population will ignore the change and continue to use 鈥淥gden Point.鈥�
Effacing historical figures because of their shady past is not the way to go. We must remember those who played a significant part in the history of British Columbia. These include the good as well as the bad characters.
Richard Voyer
Victoria
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Pro-cycling policy has听created divisions
Re: 鈥淲harf Street bike lanes a true hazard,鈥� letter, Aug. 22.
Instead of 鈥淏iketoria,鈥� I would suggest we consider 鈥淭rumptoria.鈥� Recent motions from Victoria council show they dream of being a national, or even world, power.
You could also compare cyclists here to U.S. Republicans. Our cyclists all support cycling, but a large portion are still open-minded and rational, while there is a fringe fanatical element that is truly the core support group for mayor and council.
By catering overwhelmingly to this group, council has created a level of divisiveness within the city not unlike the one that has been created south of the border.
Congratulations on making it to the big league 鈥� just add the combover and Twitter rants suggesting any adverse comment about bicycle lanes is nasty.
Scott Clark
Victoria
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Cursing others on the road good for the soul
As a driver, I cursed cyclists.
As I cyclist, I cursed cars.
As a pedestrian, I cursed mobility scooters.
Having recently purchased a mobility scooter, I now curse pedestrians.
For this old codger, cursing is good for the soul, so why give a damn!
Graeme Roberts
Brentwood Bay
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Saving planet will require听inconvenience
I don鈥檛 get it! At a time when the Arctic and the Amazon forests are burning, crops failing and people dying from heat waves and polluted air, letters to the editor frequently complain about cyclists and a mayor who is trying to address climate change.
Young people fear for their future, and yet bicycle lanes seem to be the predominant issue on the comments page. Surely Victorians are not like lemmings rushing to the edge?
Unfortunately, as scientists tell us, humans are wired to deal with immediate dangers, rather than existential threats such as climate catastrophe. To avoid social and environmental breakdown, we need to overcome this natural human tendency. It is essential we come together and act quickly.
Until governments accept responsibility, there are many things we can do on an individual basis. Here are a few:
1. Reduce the use of fossil fuels and encourage sustainable energy.
2. Cut back on travel, particularly planes and cruise ships.
3. Eat less meat and dairy.
4. Help threatened salmon by not eating them.
5. Drive less, use public transit, walk and cycle when possible.
6. Conserve more and consume less.
7. Protect and plant trees.
8. Vote for a party that has consistently and honestly stood for economic, social and environmental justice.
We have a choice. We can continue along the present path to a likely extinction, or we can work toward a better world where our children can live and thrive. We have the means to do this, but it needs the collective will. People around the world are taking action 鈥� it鈥檚 important to join them.
For the future of our children, let鈥檚 think beyond cycle lanes and personal inconvenience.
Shelagh Levey
Victoria
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sa国际传媒 should revoke citizenship of Jack Letts
Re: 鈥淭ory leader lies to appear tough on terror, parents of prisoner say,鈥� Aug. 23.
Do not waste any sympathy on 鈥淛ihadi鈥� Jack Letts. In his TV interview, he said he 鈥渇elt鈥� more Canadian and 鈥渉ad lots of friends in sa国际传媒鈥� and wants to return here.
Oh, yes? He became a traitor to those 鈥渇riends鈥� and a severe security risk to sa国际传媒 and the world as soon as he joined ISIS. No one pressured him 鈥� he joined willingly, knowing the intention of ISIS is murderous destruction. And he would still be with them, had the Kurds not captured and imprisoned him.
It is disingenuous of his father to claim there is no proof he killed anyone. For what other reason would he have joined ISIS? His parents have been found guilty in a British court of supporting a terrorist organization by sending him money to support the lifestyle he chose.
The U.K. revoked his citizenship and sa国际传媒 should do the same. Public Safety Minister Ralph Goodale said sa国际传媒 has no intention of securing this man鈥檚 release. Will that intention last, with the passage of time and maybe changes of politicians? (No doubt, some ISIS-supporting countries would be pleased to grant him citizenship.)
I bitterly resent my tax dollars freeing these selfish, egotistical individuals who join terrorist organizations or who, in spite of numerous warnings, go to well-known dangerous areas, cry when they get caught and expect their country to get them out of a situation created by their own reckless stupidity.
Pauline Langley
Nanaimo
