A regional authority to oversee transportation
Re: 鈥淢alahat crashes not frequent enough to warrant multimillion-dollar fix, study finds,鈥� Dec. 17.
Finding solutions to the Malahat is symptomatic of a bigger problem.
One can only hope that when the B.C. government releases its report on a transportation plan for southern 91原创 Island next year, it will recommend an independent regional transportation authority.
The Capital Regional District couldn鈥檛 and wouldn鈥檛 deliver a regional authority thanks to the lack of collaboration but will the provincial government finally shift thinking when it comes to transportation?
Local politicians are placing an enormous amount of faith in the belief that car drivers, particularly commuters, are going to switch to buses 鈥� currently the only public transit system we have.
Despite the global focus on climate action, all we hear is lip service to the E&N rail corridor and tentative references to light rail, a tram or rail system.
We need to look at the whole island, not just the southern region, to build a transportation network to connect communities.
Thanks to silo thinking, piecemeal planning, lack of innovation and the slow or no realization that new technologies will change how we move people, goods and services, transportation planning in our region remains bleak. I鈥檓 not holding my breath.
Christina Mitchell
Victoria
Seeking alternatives to聽the Malahat
We have a transportation crisis on our hands. The Malahat can鈥檛 cut it. The makings for potential disaster is at hand if we are cut off from the rest of the Island. Does that sound like doomsday looming? A good shake of the Earth and we鈥檙e stuck here. The Trans-Canada Highway would be instantly clogged with stopped traffic.
Where鈥檚 the ferry? Oh let鈥檚 go to the Mill Bay ferry. Don鈥檛 rock the boat! As we are all like minded, that route would be filled too. I mean stuck. People with yachts and small boats have an out but not most of us. We have to stay and pray for rescue. There鈥檚 always the Coho but the Inner Harbour is pretty small at the best of times.
I know! B.C. Ferries would have to dock at Ogden Point to take walk-ons. Cars not allowed.
Then where are the trains? Not safe? Bring on the trains, start them up again as we need multiple transportation options with our growing population, disaster not withstanding.
Why do so many people want to come here with that looming over all our heads? Go figure.
E.C. Jewsbury
Saanich
Clear the air, get rid of vaping聽smoke
The vaping epidemic can be resolved without more knee-jerk prohibition responses. First, the industry needs to regulate and test their products like every other drug we consume. The lack of quality control in the vaping industry has resulted in many deaths from contaminated 鈥渏uice鈥� used to deliver the drug. The juice is composed of vitamin E acetate, which is a glycerine product that was considered safer than inhaling smoke from burning tobacco. It also produces 鈥渂ig vape鈥� which attracts the kids. Throw in some mango flavouring and the kids are all over it. They are the guinea pigs regarding the safety of this product.
Banning flavours or prohibiting vaping will not work. Eliminate the 鈥渂ig vape鈥� component by substituting it with a water-based juice which produces no vape but delivers the drug just as effectively. Then there would be no more incentive to vape nicotine than chewing nicotine gum. Kids could care less about the nicotine, they think smoking big vape is cool and before they know it, they鈥檙e hooked.
The immediate solution is to promote alternatives to nicotine such as caffeine, which has stood the test of time and is much less addictive than nicotine. Kids can easily drop the habit once they have passed through their vaping phase, otherwise, nicotine vapers are more likely to retain the habit into adulthood.
Gary Hamilton
Victoria
Electric gardening tools do the job quietly
I received an 80-volt electric lawnmower as a gift last spring. The weed-whacker soon followed. I then purchased a leaf blower a month ago. These all use the same battery type.
This leaf blower, on the third setting, is powerful enough to blow wet leaves that are three inches deep off a wood pile. The battery lasts and needs less than a half hour to fully charge.
All of these tools are relatively quiet.
Heather Gilker
Victoria
Require a prescription to buy cigarettes
Re: 鈥淩esponsibly selling tobacco helps people to quit smoking,鈥� comment, Dec. 12.
The comment article says that the availability and number of smoking cessation programs in pharmacies is one argument for the continuance of cigarette sales in a pharmacy. Another more effective cessation program might be to require a prescription from the family doctor in order to obtain the addictive drug nicotine and its delivery systems (cigarettes).
Steve Hoffman
Victoria
Blue-box program needs to be expanded
Re: 鈥淐RD delays ban on plastic foam cups,鈥� Dec. 12.
I find it interesting that the CRD has decided to delay its ban on plastic foam cups while it waits for direction from the B.C. government, and yet there is no mention of expanding the current recycling program.
It鈥檚 not just plastic foam cups and takeout containers that are a major problem in our landfills.
I recently cleared out a cupboard and found old fertilizer and silver cleaner that I no longer use. I ended up having to drive from Esquimalt all the way out to the Hartland landfill just to dispose of these items.
Currently, most public works yards do not take hazardous materials, nor do contractors such as Ellice Recycling, so what are folks supposed to do when they don鈥檛 drive? It鈥檚 little wonder that we are seeing unwanted items left on the side of the road or put in with the regular trash.
To simply ban plastic foam cups and takeout containers is not good enough. Both the CRD and the B.C. government need to expand the blue-box program to include all plastic containers and other recyclables, not just select items.
The CRD could create a second centralized drop-off area within Greater Victoria itself, such as a single designated municipal works yard where folks can drop off larger items or items not covered under the current recycling program, instead of having to drive all the way to Hartland. Only then will the CRD truly be able to reach its goals and reduce the amount of garbage going into our landfill.
Shirley Waldon
Victoria
Embracing windmills and solar panels
If we were serious about climate change, we would require each public building, store, school and condo to install solar panels on its flat roof. There would be dozens of energy-yielding windmills in the Sooke Hills and similar sites, as in southern Alberta.
But we are not really serious 鈥� even within sight of the catastrophe, we simply don鈥檛 get it.
Job Kuijt
Highlands
An opportunity for universal pharmacare
I know that many people are unable to afford food, never mind medications when they need them.
There is a huge opportunity for the new minority federal government to implement universal, single-payer pharmacare. The Liberals promised to make this happen and the NDP are fully behind it. Healthcare experts, small businesses and unions are 100 per cent for it.
In the past, the NDP and its predecessors have forced minority Liberal governments to introduce old age pensions and medicare. I hope history will repeat itself during this parliament.
Dave Connell
Saanich
The importance of being neighbourly
Re: 鈥淐ondo Smarts: Christmas tree issue calls for seasonal leaflet,鈥� Tony Gioventu column, Dec. 18.
The most lovely sentiment I have read, in a very long time, in a very cynical world, was printed in the Times 91原创 on Wednesday. It was the in the weekly column by Tony Gioventu, and I believe we should all aspire to adhere.
He writes, when out celebrating or even just co-existing, 鈥� 鈥� understand that our activities and behaviours need to be tempered with consideration and respect for our neighbours. 鈥� How succinct, how kind, how perfect for the season(s).
MK Riske
Victoria
Send us your letters
鈥� Email: [email protected]
鈥� Mail: Letters to the editor, Times 91原创,
2621 Douglas St., Victoria, B.C. V8T 4M2.
Letters should be no longer than 250 words and may be edited for length, legality or clarity. Include your full name, address and telephone number. Copyright of letters or other material accepted for publication remains with the author, but the publisher and its licensees may freely reproduce them in print, electronic and other forms.
