Island needs more transportation corridors
More than 25 years ago there was a lobby led by the mayors of Lake Cowichan, Port Alberni and Cumberland to turn the logging roads into finished highways to provide alternative routes in and out of Port Alberni.
At the same time, the logging road from Mesachie Lake to Port Renfrew was suggested as part of a circle-route proposal. That was eventually done.
But, for whatever reasons, neither the Liberal nor the NDP governments saw fit to make the Port Alberni section happen. No foresight by either government.
The yearly caravan to Port Alberni kept lobbying and the governments kept ignoring, just like the efforts to repair and make use of the rail corridor.
I cannot understand the lack of planning ahead. Canada’s population is heading for 50 million while 91原创 Island will be a million in a few years.
Planning ahead should be a “no brainer” not a “wait and see” situation. Money is thrown at the Lower Mainland to attract votes while the Island is ignored and has been for a long time.
Now is the time to plan to use these corridors to improve all forms of transportation on our Island.
Walter J. Peake
Duncan
Remove those rails, create a new trail
Several letter writers have recently suggested that the recent blockage of Highway 4 near Port Alberni shows the need to restore the rail line that runs along the opposite shore of the lake.
A better solution would be to remove the rails from that section of the train line and restore the rail bed to create a year-round trail and emergency road similar to the Galloping Goose Trail.
In a much shorter time and for a fraction of the cost, an alternative route would be available using the existing bridges and corridor.
Pulling up the old rails and ties and upgrading the railbed would be a necessary step and would not prevent the installation of rail in the future if and when it is funded, would allow for emergency use when required, and would bring millions of dollars in benefits to the Alberni Valley by creating a beautiful cycling and walking route that would enhance Port Alberni’s role as a hub for regional tourist activates.
People in the region should be asking the Island Corridor Foundation that owns the rail right-of-way to Port Alberni and from Victoria to Comox why they are doing nothing when there is the opportunity for the ICF to meet its public benefit mandate by salvaging the old rails and opening a trail that can enhance both public safety and economic development up and down the island.
Charles Krusekopf
Metchosin
Let’s tell NATO that we are leaving
Re: “Japanese navy ships arrive for visit, training,” June 15.
Two Japanese training ships will dock in Esquimalt for a visit and training exercises. The Japanese military’s contribution to NATO far exceeds Canada’s participation in the alliance.
In Europe, 25 NATO nations are now conducting the largest military exercise in history, deploying fighter aircraft in a two-week training mission named “Air Defender.”
Even Japan, a non-NATO nation, is participating. Yet, Canada is not taking part because it does not have the necessary equipment to meaningfully contribute.
As a former vice-chief of the defence staff said, this 91原创 attitude will obviously provoke disappointment and embarrassment inside the military.
It raises the question: Should Canada continue to be a member of NATO?
The country does not meet the NATO requirement of spending two per cent of GDP on its military. The prime minister said publicly that Canada would never meet this requirement.
Non-NATO nations such as Japan obviously see the alliance as a meaningful counterbalance to the Russian threat. It is remarkable that allies still put up with Canada’s reluctance to contribute to the good of the alliance.
So, let’s be honest and leave the alliance since we are not a member in good standing, and just pray for the best if we ever need help.
Roger Cyr, OMM, CD
Victoria
To get a better health system, we have to pay
Re: “Benign neglect is destroying Canada’s health system,” commentary, June 15.
Ken Fyke has provided a detailed and clear understanding of how we have arrived at the current state of affairs regarding health care in Canada.
But in spite of the rather lengthy explanation it all boils down to one short paragraph: “We are in the current crisis because policy decisions for the past 30 years focused on lowering taxes and downsizing services.”
And whose fault is that? Politician after politician promises the sky and lower taxes, and we go out and vote for the one with the best ability to promote that fallacy.
Unfortunately, politicians don’t have to take the hippocratic oath, which could just as easily apply to them as to the medical profession. But human nature being what it is, we go along with this charade and then blame them for giving us exactly what we asked for.
We would rather have an expensive new car than better health services. Until, of course, we need the health services.
Fortunately, we never “need” an expensive car. But unfortunately, sooner or later we will need the health care.
So if we really want better health care, it’s time we stopped listening to those clowns and their empty pronouncements and demanded they put the problem in the hands of experts such as Fyke and charge us (tax us) to the extent necessary to carry out what is required.
Instead of rallying on the lawns of the legislature for more family doctors, we should be rallying for higher taxes to build a better health-care system.
The politicians don’t mind spending your money on their inflated incomes and benefits, so why should they mind spending it on you. And if you don’t like the higher taxes, move somewhere else where you’ll pay a great deal more in the end.
Jack Trueman
Brentwood Bay
Remember those dealing with trauma
Re: “Trauma behind police tape,” June 11.
Trauma, the residual impacts of intense and often cumulative experiences carried in our consciousness, is awaiting the means to be processed and discharged. PTSD being the most recognized clinical expression of this phenomenon and PTSD being the earned experience of so many of our frontline first responders.
In all of our critiques of system breakdowns and deficits, such as those found in emergency rooms and policing, we have to remember the people at the centre of these systems charged with carrying the enormous weight of dealing with life’s darkest outcomes and the enormous impact it makes on their lives.
We rely on first responders and frontline workers such as Const. David Bratzer every day to help keep us safe and healthy. I applaud his telling of his story and thank him for his work.
And I believe that it is our work as a society to create safer systems, psychologically safe systems and responses to trauma, that will protect everybody who interacts within them, clients and workers alike.
Trauma-informed care, cultural safety and psychological safety in the workplace will only support healthier outcomes while reducing harm.
Chris Forester
Esquimalt
School board members need to be re-educated
I am bothered by the “woke” school board decision to promote racism and exclusion through the cancel culture they have chosen, using “Black” and “Indigenous” appropriation, to promote anti-police sentiment.
There is no better venue to educate, promote and culture a safe community mentality than at the school level, where, among many issues, there are gangs preying on our kids, drugs, runaways and bullying.
Our family greatly benefited from the liaison program years ago with a family member who kept running away. The VicPD liaison officer educated them on the dangers and turned the situation around, where we could not.
With all of the labelled conditions out there — including ADHD, RAD and defiance disorders — using all the tools in the toolbox to help and model our children and promote community inclusion, and pro-social choices, cancel culture is not the lead I expect from those in charge of our children’s education and well-being. We need to focus on being human and stop this exclusion and racism, and promoting cancel culture.
It is abnormal to promote and allow the erosion of our society, cancelling our history and culture for wokism and appropriation.
The educators need re-educating.
Derek Sanderson
Victoria
We are blessed with kind, caring neighbours
My husband and I, who are seniors, had a bad tumble on the pavement in Sidney recently.
We were walking with linked arms, I tripped and fell, pulled my husband down with me, and we were both lying on the pavement. In seconds, a lovely young couple, Johnie and Brittany, came rushing to our aid, got us back on our feet, and made sure we were OK before moving on.
A huge thank you for their help and kindness.
A few weeks ago, my husband and I were having Sunday brunch at My-Chosen Café. As we were to pay the bill, the wonderful waitress told us a random customer had paid for our meal.
I never did get to thank them, so another thank you to whoever you are for your generosity.
We are all surrounded with bad news and human suffering. It is a pleasure to know that we have a lot of kind caring people around us, too.
Pauline Hess
Colwood
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