Incoming premier Eby owes it all to Dogwood
Remember back to 2013, when most of us had never heard of David Eby. Had it not been for the Dogwood Initiative’s endorsement and their boots on the ground in the riding of 91原创 Point Grey, that would likely be the reality today.
Not only did Dogwood endorse Eby in that first of his elections, it sent in an army of foot soldiers to 91原创 Point Grey to knock on doors to ensure he was elected, and over Christy Clark no less.
Today, rejecting its support for Eby’s opponent Anjali Appadurai as illegitimate, unfair and illegal, the NDP points to Dogwood’s support for her as a justification for her disqualification.
In doing so the NDP has just cleared Eby’s way to the premier’s office. Oh, the irony.
Elections B.C. appears to be in on the fun. It was ready with a statement that it is closing its files into Eby’s allegations that Appadurai may have accepted political contributions from Dogwood. No need to adjudicate anything. The allegations will carry the day.
Elections B.C. also points out that the act requires approved leadership contestants (Appadurai was never approved) to only accept political contributions from eligible individuals and to file financing reports with Elections B.C. (filings which Appadurai will never make because she was disqualified before she was even approved).
All bases covered. Done and dusted.
Roxanne P. Helme, K.C.
Victoria
A way to fix political leadership contests
Here’s a simple suggestion for fixing some of the issues when a political party selects a new leader. On the day that the leadership race is announced, freeze the party membership list and only those people who are members in good standing can vote to elect their new leader.
This would encourage more people to stay engaged with the party of their choice and avoid the ridiculous membership drives where the leadership contest simply selects the best recruiter.
Jamie Alley
Saanich
Vulnerability is found below the poverty line
Politicians of all parties, provincial and municipal, use the term “cities’ most vulnerable” every single day. They of course are referring to people in the homeless camps.
I would suggest the cities’ most vulnerable are first seniors living on fixed incomes below the poverty line and children living in households with incomes below the poverty line.
Paul Baldwin
Victoria
The new way to get a shot is not a better way
Every aspect of our health-care system has gone for a … put in any word you think fits. And I bet any word you pick is a very short word.
The latest arrow into the health-care carcass is this latest method of getting the much needed flu shot. We are told that it’s flu season and everyone should get the shot. It’s going to be a bad flu season, make sure that you get the flu vaccine, and on and on.
Then they change things for the “better,” and made it so difficult to get that shot that I would bet that many people just give up and decide to take their chances.
I’m 84 and I guess I’m mainly talking about my age group, the age group that most certainly should get this shot.
It has always been so simple, just drop into your local drugstore and maybe wait in a lineup of two, and get your shot. That was too simple, so they had to change it.
What a joke. I have now received an email notice telling me that I am now eligible to get both the flu and the latest COVID booster.
But for me, and for others I’ve talked to, it’s impossible to make an appointment. Not possible to fathom this new website, and there is not enough time to wait on the phone to maybe get to talk to someone.
Lyall Eriksen
Colwood
Memo to new council: Address our concerns
Re: “New Victoria council, but a similar focus,” Oct. 19.
I breathed a huge sigh of relief when, on Saturday, the 2018 council had run the course of its term, and a new council was to take control of things; to right some of the egregious wrongs perpetrated upon the citizens of Victoria.
Then, I read this article, and re-read the websites of the new councillors, and I realized that this is simply the old crew with new makeup.
Susan Kim is quoted in the above article as saying that the election of her and her four like-minded colleagues (a de facto majority) has “given a clear mandate to take bold action on housing and climate change.”
Well, it does nothing of the sort. Throughout the campaign, electors were calling for, above all, good governance, something that was sadly lacking with the previous bunch.
We have wanted you to address city issues, not global concerns, and do it in a considered, responsible manner. By all means, give the less fortunate a hand up, but not a handout; encourage the building of inexpensive rental housing, but do it under the aegis of the Greater Victoria Housing Society.
As for climate change, ask the residents what they want to give up; it is not for you to impose something on us.
Good governance is about co-ordination and collaboration, not domination, something the last bunch forgot.
David Hansen
Victoria
Some easy fixes for Victoria’s council
I have a couple of suggestions for things Victoria council could do to improve the quality of life for residents of this beautiful city.
These are easy fixes compared to the big problems, like the lack of affordable housing and homeless issues.
First, pass a bylaw to ban the archaic burning of wood in fireplaces in apartment buildings, which is a severe air quality and health risk, especially for those of us with lung problems.
Also, facilitate easier access for all residents to a full range of recycling options, including the collection of glass containers from apartment buildings.
Mary Phillips
Victoria
Put in traffic lights, spend on health care instead
The existing South Shawnigan Lake intersection is safe the way it was altered a few years ago.
It’s the inattentive bad drivers who choose to make it unsafe. Also, there still are trucks carrying contaminated soil to the dump in Shawnigan that congest the intersection.
Instead of up to four years’ disruption to the beleaguered motorist, why not put in a set of traffic lights to control the turnoff? This would control traffic movement to help keep motorists behaving themselves.
Save the poor taxpayers $100 million that could be put to better use, like health care.
Richard Brown
Cobble Hill
Let technology enforce our traffic laws
Re: “Enforce the traffic laws or get rid of them,” letter, Oct. 21.
I am in full agreement with this letter-writer. Yes, breaking speed limits is a regular occurrence in Victoria, as is running red lights and stop signs.
We can not afford additional police to enforce this matter. The answer lies in technology with photo recorders and moving the equipment periodically.
Larry May
Victoria
After a police officer dies, a call for institutions
A number of years ago I wrote a letter to the Times 91原创 about the tragedy of mentally ill or disabled persons in our communities. The powers that be closed Riverside institution, citing disregard for the rights of its inhabitants “being held against their will.”
“Communities would now care for these peoples and look after their needs.”
That never happened. Police and hospitals assumed the role, but only temporarily. When treated or held short-term, the mentally disabled, the addicted, the ill were released. Their home became the streets and then prison became their new Riverside.
With three highly trained RCMP officers and countless ill and addicted people killed, we must rethink the problem.
Those incapable of making healthy life decisions for themselves and others need to be hospitalized in a new humane facility where they can be cared for and treated safely and kept off the streets.
Cost? What cost human lives, property, public safety? What cost compassion? No one wants to suffer addiction, bi-polarism or crushing depression. Despite their age, they can’t care for themselves and will come to harm. Let’s stop prevaricating.
Const. Shaelyn Yang, thank you. I hope our citizenry will honour you by making a change.
Sally Barker
Victoria
An idea: Charge for police services
I have suggested on many occasions given how much money is spent to police the city of Victoria that we start charging the municipalities for police services.
Every time we arrest someone who lives in Esquimalt, charge them for the arrest, processing and other related expenses. Ditto for the various Saaniches, Colwood, Sooke, etc.
The majority of crimes downtown appear to be committed by “out of towners.” Why should my taxes pay for that? Or else publish a weekly list of the places they come from.
Maybe that would show that Victoria is not crime-ridden but just surrounded by places that do breed criminals.
Catherine Sarginson
Victoria
Enough real terror without Halloween
Given the real terrors being perpetrated in today’s world, one might ask: “When did Halloween evolve from make-believe, ghostly silliness to suggested horror?”
A life-sized desiccated human body in a cage? Realistic looking amputated body parts on the lawn? Are today’s children so inured to violence they would find these displays fun? I sure hope not.
I suggest the adults who do, give their heads a shake and consign such displays to the bin labelled “What was I thinking?”
Carol Nugent
Victoria
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