sa¹ú¼Ê´«Ã½

One is unpleasant, the other a criminal

Re: “If her words were drugs, would you turn away?” letter, July 13.

I agree with the letter, and to my thinking there is a subtext to the letter, that it is important to honour the work, the talent of Alice Munro.

I believe it is necessary, beneficial even, for people and society as a whole to recognize the value of artistic endeavour while simultaneously accepting the flaws of human nature, more specifically those of the artists themselves.

I take exception, however, to his comparison to Ernest Hemingway. You cannot equate “a most unlikable person” to a pedophile. One is unpleasant, the other criminal.

While I am not speaking with Andrea Skinner’s knowledge or blessing, I will say, unsolicited, that the adult that she would have become without the ­lifelong effects of childhood sexual abuse was lost the first moment she felt Gerald Fremlin’s breath on her skin.

All things are not equal.

Andrea Vernon

Victoria

Celebrate downtown Victoria, lucky to have it

People in Victoria need to remember how lucky we are to live in this beautiful city and part of the world.

I spent Sunday in downtown Victoria with my grandkids, to enjoy the ­beautiful Inner Harbour, a Mexican cultural ­festival, lots of buskers, ice cream, and some of the lovely walkable downtown streets.

While our regional shopping malls are handy, there is nothing that compares to Victoria’s historic downtown core, ­Chinatown and our iconic Inner Harbour.

Locals need to realize how lucky we are to live in this wealthy, clean and ­relatively safe part of the world.

Take advantage of your own city and support our downtown and small ­businesses, you cannot go wrong.

James McNeil

Saanich

There was no need to use that language

On July 9, Saanich-Gulf Islands MP Elizabeth May gave a press conference arising from what I have no doubt was a stressful situation arising from the resignation of the deputy (co-leader) of her party.

During the press conference, for some inexplicable reason, she used obscene language towards sa¹ú¼Ê´«Ã½’s “baby boomer” generation — ironically, her own generation.

I have no doubt about her passion for the subject, but that said, there is no reason or excuse to engage such language before what was a national audience.

It was unprofessional and dismisses the contributions made by individuals from all generations within Saanich-Gulf Islands and across this great nation.

Ryan Windsor

Central Saanich

One small word changes the meaning

Re: “Politicians, bureaucrats should get some blame,” letter, July 13.

It is a shame that the letter misquoted Elizabeth May by adding the word “you” in front of “baby boomers” in the reference to what has happened to the planet.

That said, it is a prime example of the fact that language matters, and a simple three letter word, when added, changes the entire tone of the discourse.

Bruce Coatta

Victoria

Show compassion to those in need

There is a great deal of blame circulating after a paramedic was injured while providing assistance on Pandora Avenue.

It is unacceptable that anyone work in an unsafe environment. I’m very sorry it happened. I am also sorry to all the workers, bystanders, police and ambulance workers and homeless people who witnessed this traumatic incident.

As a mental health worker, I know that all involved are doing the best they can with insufficient legal options to do their jobs effectively. The ability to detain someone under the Mental Health Act is narrowly applied.

First responders basically have to witness a person being a danger to themselves or others in the moment before having the authority to detain someone under the Mental Health Act.

It is my opinion that clinicians, social workers and first responders should have the ability to ask for Form 4.1, which allows someone to be detained for assessment for 48 hours. Those forfeited 48 hours could save a life, could save many lives.

This hasn’t always been my opinion. The past five years have produced so many desperate folks suffering from brain injuries due to multiple fentanyl overdoses that we simply have to invigorate the laws in order to help people.

Leaving folks screaming and lashing out in drug induced psychosis, scrambling to meet their basic needs, is not compassionate.

K.K. Kendrick

Saanichton

Lower speed limits create other problems

Re: “Esquimalt begins three-year process of installing signs for lower speed limits,” July 14.

Can someone explain how these speed limit reductions on major feeder routes reduce greenhouse gases emissions?

I understand the concept of trying to make roads safer by lowering speed limits but it only causes more problems as folks are stuck in gridlock throughout not only Esquimalt but elsewhere as well.

Thanks to earlier speed zone reductions and numerous constructions sites in Esquimalt, commuter traffic typically starts at 5:30 a.m. as folks are heading to Dockyard and Naden.

By 2 p.m., good luck trying to get in or out of Esquimalt, and that doesn’t even take into account the school buses when the kids are in school.

With climate change happening regularly, these speed zone reductions are counterproductive in reducing greenhouse gases as everyone sits in traffic with their engines idling while they wait to move a few feet ahead.

And how are emergency vehicles suppose to respond to calls when they too are stuck in this quagmire, especially when there are no longer spaces for motorists to pull over?

Add to that, whenever possible a number of motorists typically ignore the speed signage and travel the original posted speed of 50.

I’ve even seen police officers ignore the speed limit and travel 50 in a 40 zone. So where is the common sense in all this?

Yes, by all means reduce the speed limits in residential neighbourhoods. But please leave the major feeder routes alone.

Shirley Waldon

Esquimalt

Base vehicle usage taxes on weight and distance

sa¹ú¼Ê´«Ã½ is facing the same issue as other jurisdictions, with increases in EVs and hybrid vehicles of all types creating falling gas tax revenues.

Surely the appropriate response is to tax all vehicles relative to the road damage they do: Axle weight and distance travelled are the factors that the province needs to tax. Why not an annual licence fee based on these?

Both are easily accessible and it wouldn’t take a computer programmer much time to create the necessary software for personal and commercial vehicles. Then, it is a question of collecting data for, maybe, three years to establish base volumes and trends in order to set rates to fund the road maintenance budget going forward, adjusting annually as necessary.

Failure to change the gas tax will only lead to an inadequate road maintenance revenue base.

Raising gas taxes will only hurt lower income earners already facing difficult choices and inability to finance new autos — transportation shouldn’t be added to that.

Roger Love

Saanich

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