91Ô­´´

Washington ferries are more affordable

Re: “At least we don’t have Washington’s ferries,” letter, August 23.

The perspective on Washington State Ferries vs. B.C. Ferries and the “cheap political hay the official opposition will no doubt attempt” is interesting to ponder, but I would like to offer a different experience and observation.

I have experienced Washington State Ferries dozens of times, on sailings both long and short.

It is usually obvious that their ferries could use a coat of paint. In addition, their food offerings are lacking.

However, I have always arrived safely and at a price point that is much more affordable than any sailing offered by B.C. Ferries.

The Washington ferries, a socialized system overseen by the state’s Department of Transportation, and paid by all Washington taxpayers, offer prices that are more friendly to seniors, families, couples and singles.

The prices on B.C. Ferries are not pocketbook friendly to many seniors and families on 91Ô­´´ Island.

As the former president and current board member of a food bank on 91Ô­´´ Island, as well as a volunteer for other agencies, I can assure your readers that many people have not left “this rock” in a very long time due to lack of affordability.

Being a walk-on does work for some but not for all travellers.

This is at odds with our NDP government, whose apparent mandate is to assist those families and seniors in need.

Lastly, the claim that “the party in opposition” has a history of mismanagement with B.C. Ferries does a disservice to voters.

There is a new generation of younger voters in British Columbia who may wish to move forward, hear other views, and not blame past mistakes on future politicians of any party.

Doing so is as tiresome as the federal leaders of all parties that blame former prime ministers of decades past for current problems.

Michael Duncan King-St.Clair

Mill Bay

We have lots of water, use it on your lawn

Re: “Great to see brown lawns, what about condos?,” letter, Aug. 23.

The writer seems to take some sort of perverse pride in seeing dead grass in Victoria, “The City of Gardens.” It is my considered opinion that brown lawns reflect a lack of pride in ownership, and a lazy man’s way of justifying a lack of effort in maintaining a lawn.

Those of us served by the Capital Regional District do not have a water supply problem. We have plenty of water, and it cannot be transferred to, say, the Okanagan, which is parched.

The CRD water system, which supplies water to much of the South Island below the Malahat, is, unlike almost every other water system on the Island, a massive reservoir big enough to supply water for our needs with plenty left over.

This is a consequence of the foresight of the CRD planners. As of Aug. 20, the reservoir remains 75 per cent full, this after an extremely hot and dry summer.

There are 100,000 blades of grass per square metre in the average healthy lawn. Summer lawns cool the surrounding air, provide a much needed ecosystem for numerous life forms, retain what rainwater we do have, and contribute to the carbon capture of the area.

But only if it is not dormant, or brown.

Plus, a well-cared-for lawn looks good, too. So water your lawn, and keep it green.

M.D. (David) Hansen

Victoria

With all that building, we are stoking the fires

In 1974, the world population was four billion, half what it is today, and world carbon emissions were 17 billion tonnes, less than half of today’s 37 billion tonnes, reflecting the overall increase in per capita consumption.

Building a bigger world has brought us to where we are today here in Canada: a country on fire from Nova Scotia to British Columbia to the Northwest Territories, and all provinces in between.

We may not be far from the point where mitigating our losses is no longer possible: where the way of life we have enjoyed, is no longer sustainable.

Yet we have a prime minister and a posse of premiers whipping up enthusiasm for more people and more growth! Ontario Premier Doug Ford is creating a new class of “strong mayors” to accelerate building by streamlining housing bylaws without council support. B.C. Premier David Eby has introduced the Housing Supply Act, setting home construction targets for municipalities, implying any opposition is unpatriotic.

An afternoon’s drive from Victoria to Campbell River readily reveals that Island municipalities are happily supporting the drive for building, enjoying the familiar and alluring economic benefits of construction while grappling with rearguard actions to keep up with infrastructure: roads, bridges, ferries, water, etc.

I have yet to hear one politician call out the blatant contradiction in the gathering storm: while the entire country gags on smoke, we accelerate the growth and construction that exacerbate climate change. We’re stoking the fires that choke us.

Iain Donaldson

Parksville

Thanks to carbon tax, charities will lose

No money left.

Using my minimal math strengths, I have come to realize that after the latest carbon tax increase, both provincially and federally, I can no longer support the local charities that I used to donate to.

It breaks my heart, but my government has taken my last available dollar.

They need to support our “most vulnerable” tenters along Pandora Avenue, while ignoring the real needs of our seniors who have built this city by going to work every day.

My pay packet is empty.

I can live, but barely, and I have not a spare penny for charity.

I apologize.

The government has taken your donation.

Dewane Ollech

Victoria

Forget the building idea, create a little park

I hate the proposed replacement for the Turner Building.

Too tall, weird shape, and way too close to the road. There is already a gigantic seniors complex right across the street, and Royal Jubilee Hospital the other side.

Why not just make a nice little park with flowers, trees and benches?

Rosemary Garnet

Victoria

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