Too many dogs, and limits are needed
Soft measures to control dogs will fail because they skirt the fundamental problem: There are too many dogs in the city.
Way, way, way too many dogs. They are everywhere, all of the time, off leash, barking, leaving their waste behind, and interfering with the peaceful enjoyment of public space by other users.
The plague of pandemic puppies has only made a bad situation worse.
Until some brave politicians decide to limit dog ownership, prohibit retractable leashes, increase animal-control bylaw enforcement and impose other strict measures, the dog problem will persist and worsen.
Brian Mason
Victoria
Central Saanich is the place to be
Watching and reading the bickering and controversies taking place in one or two other jurisdictions in our Capital Regional District, plus shootings, beatings, robberies, illegal campsites, drug dealing and 鈥渟hooting up鈥� etc., I feel so thankful being a longtime resident of Central Saanich.
Seems we have a pretty sound and sensible mayor with stable and supportive council, a nice combination of residential, farm, rural and commercially zoned land, excellent municipal workforce, policing, ambulance service and fire protection, in addition to a great little hospital and good schools.
We have just about all of the desirable and necessary services, food stores, butchers, pharmacies, shops, banks and restaurants, (even a thirst parlour or two) so as not to ever wish to leave.
Add to all of this, pleasant beaches, parks, marinas and the world-famous Butchart Gardens. Bonus: No incessant quibbling about traffic crawls, road 颅closures, spiralling development, bike lanes, parking and statue location.
Graeme Roberts
Brentwood Bay
Even in the pandemic, people need to pee
It is impossible to comprehend why those who are responsible for closing public washrooms believe that, within a pandemic situation, people are not going to have to use public washrooms.
Do those responsible for the closures actually think that people鈥檚 bodily functions have somehow altered within this pandemic situation such that public washrooms are not needed any more?
If anyone can figure out this logic, I聽would love to know what it is. Meanwhile, we all have three choices: Don鈥檛 leave home at all; leave home very briefly; or leave home wearing diapers. Take your pick.
C.J. Paterson
Victoria
Ex-MP disputes points made in commentary
I would like to correct some points in last week鈥檚 commentary 鈥淭rains need to run again on E&N tracks,鈥� by the two co-chairs of the Island Corridor Foundation.
They stated that: 鈥淲e have invited Savoie to work with us on more than one occasion.鈥� This is not true. I have received no invitation from the ICF. Before I became a member, Friends of Rails to Trails 91原创 Island initiated a meeting with then-executive director Graham Bruce, Judith Sayers and the board. FORT-VI has never been invited.
They also stated that they 鈥渉ad many discussions over the years with Denise Savoie and her group.鈥� This is not true. I聽have not ever had any discussion with the ICF.
They said the proposed Island Corridor trail would not serve people with disabilities. This is far from correct. The trail would be modelled on the Galloping Goose Trail.
As a multi-use trail, the Goose is one of the safest ways for those who are physically challenged to get into town and about the region. The Island Corridor trail would likewise open up new opportunities to move safely for those who are physically challenged.
Denise Savoie
Former Member of Parliament
Comox
Where鈥檚 dandelion fighter when you need him?
Re: 鈥淪unshine growing on our lawns,鈥� letter, May 7.
Where鈥檚 the angst? Where鈥檚 the anger? I鈥檓 worried the Times 91原创 is conspiring to de-polarize the Great Dandelion Debate. Witness the publication of Heidi Lamb鈥檚 letter sharing the memory of her four-year-old son proudly and enthusiastically presenting her with 鈥渁 bunch of brilliant yellow dandelions鈥� while proclaiming: 鈥淟ook Mommy, sunshine.鈥�
Come on, Times 91原创! Can鈥檛 you see that you鈥檝e been had, that Ms. Lamb (I doubt that鈥檚 her real name) is clearly resorting to unfair tactics.
As a dyed-in-the-wool fussy Virgo, I鈥檓 one of those who likes the neat and tidy look of a verdant green lawn free of dandelions. It鈥檚 an expression of my OCD. When an intruder pops up, I鈥檓 out there in a flash to extract it with extreme prejudice.
But the ebullience of that four-year-old (beware ebullient, cute kids!) and the propaganda of his mother have rather flattened me. I鈥檓 even thinking I might have to retreat from the battlements of the Great Dandelion Debate and adopt an attitude of each-to-his-own or live-and-let-live or some other wishy-washy posture that Charlton Heston would scorn.
But I haven鈥檛 quite made up my mind. I still feel like Kevin Kline in A Fish Called Wanda after he鈥檚 been run over by the steamroller. And I keep hearing Ms. Lamb鈥檚 kid telling her: 鈥淟ook Mommy, I聽flattened the dandelion killer!鈥�
Patrick Wolfe
Victoria
Passenger rail better than an interchange
Re: 鈥淭rains need to run again on E&N tracks,鈥� May 6.
The co-chairs of the Island Corridor 颅Foundation are right. We need 鈥渁n 颅efficient and integrated transportation network鈥� and that we need to focus on 鈥済etting people out of their cars and reducing our greenhouse gas emissions.鈥�
They are also correct to compare the cost of passenger rail to the $100-million McKenzie interchange, which will just make traffic worse and increase greenhouse has emissions. Passenger rail would have been a much better investment.
However, we can have an efficient public transit network in Greater Victoria, and connecting to every 91原创 Island community, using electric buses. Bus lanes and electric buses are essential.
Passenger rail is a nice-to-have. We can afford both the essentials and the nice-to-have if we stop wasting money on highway expansion.
Eric Doherty
Victoria
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鈥� Mail: Letters to the editor, Times 91原创, 201-655 Tyee Rd., Victoria, B.C. V9A 6X5
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