Alice Munro was rejected for ÎÚÑ»´«Ã½ Council grant
With all of her accomplishments, including the Nobel Prize, it may be worthy of note, and perhaps an inspiration to all would be writers, that Alice Munro when she first started writing was turned down for a ÎÚÑ»´«Ã½ Council grant.
Douglas Cornish
Ottawa
Another sign of society gone wrong
When we think that things cannot get much worse in Greater Victoria, we learn of gang assaults and thievery during what should be a happy occasion: Esquimalt’s Buccaneer Days.
What is wrong with our society these days? Why are youth gathering in gangs to assault one another?
One would think police intelligence would be ahead of the game in time to ward off such anti-social and unlawful behaviour. Where were they?
The quality of life indicators in Greater Victoria are rapidly declining. Is it any wonder that people want to move elsewhere? It’s not just because of the high cost of housing…
David Collins
Victoria
Give Old Town residents their own parking spaces
For some of us residents in Old Town, owning a vehicle is a necessity for employment, not a luxury .
Cycling or transit is not a viable option.
Vancouver city has had resident parking for decades.
Why not have some parking spaces set aside for residents in Old Town?
G.C. McLeod
Victoria
Don’t ask taxpayers to pay for your parking
Re: “Nothing is ever free, not even transit rides,” letter, May 14.
Good points mentioned in this letter. This also applies to “free parking.”
The is no such thing as free parking. Parking is not free — anywhere.
It costs to have cars (trucks, SUVs, etc.) parked on the streets. It costs to park at shopping centres (each parking space at Uptown cost over $55,000 to build).
It costs to park at the local supermarkets. It costs to park at condominium and rental buildings. It even costs to park at a single family home, and even down on the farm.
Parking is hardly mentioned in urban planning. At least 95 per cent of the time, motor vehicles are parked.
They have to be somewhere. Should car owners not be responsible for their own vehicles without asking taxpayers to step forward with subsidies?
R.D. Townsend
Saanich
ÎÚÑ»´«Ã½ has a minor role in the world’s CO2
Re: “Actually, our efforts will make a difference,” letter, May 14.
The letter confirms that people cannot comprehend the facts, that it is true.
It doesn’t matter what ÎÚÑ»´«Ã½ does, or ÎÚÑ»´«Ã½ for that matter, when we produce only 1.5 per cent of the world’s CO2.
We could shut down all emissions, and the only things that would result would be the deaths of millions from starvation and hypothermia.
With Russia, the U.S., China, India and Japan emitting more than 75 per cent of emissions, ÎÚÑ»´«Ã½ is but a bit player.
And no, the world will not “follow our lead.”
The green agenda is destructive.
Dan Andrews
Colwood
ICBC is better than what we had before
I know people are not happy with ICBC, but only people of my age remember pre-ICBC.
When ÎÚÑ»´«Ã½ had only private insurance the cost was brutal. The NDP with Dave Barrett brought ICBC to life.
Until then, if you were an unmarried male under 25 you couldn’t afford insurance unless you had a real high-paying job.
Every male under 25 ran to the voting stations to vote.
When the new system came in, my insurance was cut in half.
Not all people are ever happy. I only wish that ICBC would get into house insurance and help us with that insane cost.
I am tired of paying more every year for something that I never use.
At least ICBC gives me a break because I never use it. Like all things, think what was before you complain about what is.
Tim Young
Sooke
Link between fires and climate change
A quick review of wildfire reports by seven Canadian news outlets found that 86 per cent did not include the words “climate change”.
The outlier, Global News, discussed an attribution study following last year’s wildfires in Eastern ÎÚÑ»´«Ã½ which found that climate change more than doubled the wildfire risk.
Given the importance of recognizing that climate change almost certainly contributed to some degree to this year’s fires, it is shocking to see that the great majority of journalists did not mention the association.
From my perspective this represents journalistic malpractice regardless of the reasons for not mentioning the elephant in the room.
From my perspective, those affected, and society in general, would appreciate knowing that there are things that can be done to decrease the risk of recurrence.
Shortly after being diagnosed with a heart attack you are likely to be advised to control your blood pressure, decrease your cholesterol and diabetes risks, get more exercise, lose weight and stop smoking if you would benefit from these interventions.
Preventing wildfires needs the same treatment — do what you can to decrease your risks and, in this case, you will decrease everyone else’s risk too.
Aidan Byrne
Victoria
Keep dogs under control, even in off-leash areas
As joyful as it was to see the many dogs romping around exuberantly in the generous leash-optional area along Dallas Road Waterfront Park on a beautiful Mother’s Day, the abundant canine spillage onto sections of the on-leash walkway (and resulting altercations with pedestrians) made it evident that many dog owners seemingly interpret “leash-optional” to mean “uncontrolled.”
This is very inconsiderate to the many other residents and visitors who also wish to enjoy this wonderful public amenity. Indeed, only dogs that are well-trained to follow their human’s commands should ever be off-leash in public spaces under any circumstances, for their own safety as well as that of other dogs and humans that they might encounter.
Methinks some important education for both pooches and people might be in order.
Tom Edwards
James Bay
Tax exceptions needed for disabled people
I have been reading about the federal government’s increase in capital gains taxes for trusts with dismay.
My daughter is disabled and is beneficiary of a trust. She has no other means of financial support.
I have worked hard to set up and secure this trust for her and although I understand income tax is essential, it is a hard pill to swallow when the most vulnerable in our society are faced with this increase. They are not wealthy and never will be. The government has to make exceptions.
Sally Clarkson
Victoria
In Saanich, suites are already there
I attended the Saanich council meeting on Monday night and agree with councillors Colin Plant and Zac de Vries that asking to exclude the rural area of Saanich from the provincial mandate on housing is a mistake.
A few of the councillors raised concerns over increased use of wells that could affect the ground water table and thus affect farming. In actuality, the vast majority of rural Saanich is already serviced by CRD water and thus having one additional unit per single-family lot would not have any impact on food production whatsoever.
Another issue is the fact that these suites are already there. On my small street alone eight out of 12 people have either a secondary suite or a detached suite or both.
Families need these “illegal” suites for all the obvious reasons: help with the inter-generational mortgage, allowing our parents to age in place, having a place for our young adult children to live while they go to school, to pay for our ever-increasing tax burden.
The legitimizing of one additional unit would have minimal impact on the rural area. Mayor Dean Murdock points out that sewage is an issue. I agree. The perfect way mitigate this concern would be to require owners to upgrade their septic systems to handle the new capacity. Cost would be borne by the property owner, not the taxpayer.
The other issue is that the supplemental report prepared by staff recommends that only an additional secondary unit (basement suite) be allowed.
I think the choice of which additional unit should be left up to the property owner to decide.
The mandate from the province states that “either a secondary unit and/or an additional dwelling unit” be permitted on single family lots.
We need more housing. The status quo isn’t working. These suites are already there. I urge council to reconsider their position.
Kevin Mickelson
Prospect Lake
Saanich
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