Underpass is an underachievement
In 2004, a 鈥淰ision 2020鈥� competition was held here, inviting proposals for how Victoria might change.
I proposed a rapid-bus transport system to resolve the growing Colwood Crawl.
Here we are, on the eve of 2020, and Dar es Salaam, Tanzania is revelling in its new rapid-bus transport system.
What do we have? A McKenzie underpass.
Jonathan Stoppi
Saanich
In search of a聽family聽doctor
All I really want for Christmas (or some time in the near future) is a family doctor.
You see, the family doctor I had for 28 years retired last week. Yes, I have a medical issue that requires a check in with the doctor every once in a while.
The fact that he retired is not what upsets me. It is the fact that his patients were not given a notice of his retirement. I found out Monday, Dec. 9 when I phoned for an appointment. He retired on Thursday, Dec. 12.
I am so upset about no notice. And now, for the first time in my life, I am in the same boat as many other people in British Columbia. No family doctor. For me, a scary place to be.
Carolyn Hamar
Colwood
How far will ICBC go to聽reduce payouts?
Re: 鈥淚CBC 鈥榙eeply sorry鈥� for blaming Sarah Beckett for crash that killed her,鈥� Dec. 20.
Well we now know the extent that the Insurance Corp. of B.C. will go to in order to reduce payouts; cover all bases by blaming the innocent as well as the guilty party. If no one raises a fuss, they get away with it, and if they are called out on it, simply issue a hollow apology.
Whoever approved ICBC鈥檚 claims that Const. Sarah Beckett was negligent should be removed from their position. But they will probably receive a bonus for their attempt to reduce payouts.
Dave Ostapovich
Saanich
Callousness and lack of聽fairness at ICBC
I found it troubling to hear of and read the diatribe the Insurance Corp. of B.C. unleashed on the actions of Const. Sarah Beckett regarding the fatal collision in which Kenneth Fenton stole the life of a mother, a wife, a police officer and a co-worker. Sarah, in her role as a police officer, was on duty trying to keep her community safe, for all, including executives of ICBC and presumably ICBC鈥檚 legal counsel should they visit, pass through or reside in that same community.
So is this how ICBC thanks her? This makes me sick! Only when ICBC鈥檚 position of finding Sarah Beckett completely at fault was splashed all over the media, did they recant that finding. What a callous bunch.
I would hazard a guess the rest of us don鈥檛 stand a chance of a fair decision from ICBC if they can make such a mess of an obvious one-sided heinous crash.
Mike Wilkinson
Duncan
Assigning blame for聽a聽fatal crash
I was horrified to read that the Insurance Corp. of B.C. blamed RCMP Const. Sarah Beckett for causing her own death. And in court documents!
A year and a half later, ICBC is suddenly 鈥渟orry鈥� and now says it was 鈥渁 mistake.鈥� Makes you wonder what other kinds of 鈥渕istakes鈥� ICBC has been making, and how 鈥渟orry鈥� they really are. Innocent victims, beware.
Cheera J. Crow
Victoria
Wondering about SNC-Lavalin prosecution
I do not intend to minimize the seriousness of the criminal corruption engaged in by SNC-Lavalin (between 2001 and 2011) that led to criminal charges against the company. That said we are now aware that there is a guilty plea and an agreed sentencing that is virtually indistinguishable from the consequences that would have been imposed on the company under a remediation agreement.
The company has been ready to acknowledge its guilt. It has overhauled its personnel and its operations. It then looked for a way to deal with the criminal charges while also navigating around a potentially ruinous 10-year ban on bidding on 91原创 government contracts.
The company ultimately got what it was looking for but not without 91原创s suffering the cost of a prolonged prosecution, a number of collateral court challenges and even a destabilized federal government.
I am most certainly a proponent of the sanctity of the independence of the prosecution service but now that this prosecution has been resolved with an outcome within a hair鈥檚 breadth of where a remediation agreement would have have ended it, I find myself left wondering what the 鈥渄ue diligence鈥� done on the file by the minister of justice of the day looked like when she supported a 鈥淣o鈥� to a virtually identical arrangement.
Roxanne P. Helme, Q.C.
Victoria
It is OK to criticize when聽a promise is broken
Re: 鈥淎 Victoria councillor who also sought federal office,鈥� letter, Dec. 15.
A letter-writer attempts to paint any criticism of Laurel Collins鈥� resignation from Victoria council as 鈥渃onservative criticism.鈥�
It is a favourite demonizing response for supporters of the Together Victoria councillors 鈥� Jeremy Loveday, Ben Isitt and Mayor Lisa Helps 鈥� to any criticism of their actions.
I, for one, am not a conservative. The many, many people I speak with I know to be from all political ideals.
That the letter-writer equates the current disgust to a failed run for federal office in 1988 by Coun. Geoff Young is a false equivalency.
It is fair to criticize any councillor that breaks their implicit promise to Victoria voters, causing tens of thousands of dollars in unexpected expense for a byelection.
I believe what we are seeing is a wave of anger, with a majority of voters feeling that their opinions are ignored.
And they are fed up that those who wrap themselves in the 鈥減rogressive voice鈥� repeatedly condescendingly attack rather than listen to other opinions.
Stephen Andrew
Victoria
Everyone is hurt by traditional masculinity
Re: 鈥淲hy isn鈥檛 there a Ministry of Men? We have everything else,鈥� Lawrie McFarlane column, Dec. 8.
When one looks at society, it鈥檚 not difficult to see that men hold all the power. Governments are overrun by men and structures of power that favour masculinity. And why not? Every system, every law, every custom was created entirely with zero consideration for the interests of women, who, at the time, did not have the right to participate in public process.
While women clearly suffer disproportionately under patriarchal society, they are not the exclusive victims; that patriarchy is, on the whole, a terrible thing for everyone 鈥� even many of the men privileged by it.
Traditional masculinity has negative consequences for everyone, not just the men who have been taught since birth that the only way to be a man is by distancing oneself from femininity, limiting emotions and being aggressive.
You want to help men find jobs in female-dominated careers? Start by fighting the gender stereotypes that keep men from pursuing these careers.
You want to help men live longer, healthier lives? Stop perpetuating the myths that certain foods, such as salads and granola, are too girly for men, and that men who take part in activities such as yoga, which has been proved to lower blood pressure, blood cholesterol and blood glucose levels, are effeminate.
You want to lower the rate at which men are commiting suicide? Letting men know that they are not 鈥渓ess of a man鈥� if they have and express emotions that are stereotypically female, such as sadness, depression, fear, and worry.
In the workplace, gender issues and organizational structures tend to influence occupational health and safety practices. This hypermasculinity is killing men.
Traditional masculinity hurts everyone. Especially men.
Charity Lloyd
Victoria
$10,000 fines for speeding in Ontario
On my last visit to Ontario, I noticed large signs on the highways stating $10,000 fines for speeding 50 km/h over the limit. I suspect that would solve many issues in B.C.
Rick Fonger
Sooke
Send us your letters
鈥� Email: [email protected]
鈥� Mail: Letters to the editor, Times 91原创, 2621聽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.
