Make masks mandatory in businesses
My eternal gratitude to Dr. Bonnie Henry, Health Minister Adrian Dix, Premier John Horgan and residents of British Columbia for their collective effort to get the province to this point in the fight against COVID-19.
My request going forward is to please make the wearing of face masks mandatory in all places of businesses (with minimal exceptions).
As it stands, the vast majority of shoppers do not wear a face mask due to either lack of availability or lack of awareness. The collective lack of mask protection in a retail setting makes me very nervous.
An incredibly high percentage of shoppers/clients seem oblivious to the risk they pose to others.
Masks are not about protecting yourself 鈥� they are about protecting others around you.
There is a high level of COVID-19 anxiety with all essential workers and the same will hold true for staff at businesses that begin to re-open.
It is completely unfair to leave this important safety measure up to the individual business owner. For instance, the retail shop that requires clients and staff to wear a mask will be at a distinct disadvantage to the retail shop that does not have the same requirement.
Make the wearing of masks in all businesses mandatory for both clients and staff, at least for the duration of Phase 1 and 2 of the re-opening.
It will put all businesses on a level playing field, do wonders to the feeling of safety for staff, reduce customer anxiety and will absolutely have a positive impact on the suppression of new COVID-19 cases.
Rob George
Parksville
Our chance to build a聽more resilient B.C.
This is a perfect time to rethink how we live and figure out how to structure our society to become more sustainable and聽resilient, because this crisis is just聽the聽beginning if we don鈥檛 change our ways.
We need to develop renewable resources, retrofit our homes and buildings to be more energy efficient, change building codes etc. to be more energy efficient and sustainable, become more locally food sufficient, end homelessness, and implement a guaranteed livable income (livable is the key word here).
If we don鈥檛 take this opportunity as a society to change how we live, the future is not going to be bright.
It鈥檚 clear the resources are there to do it.
It鈥檚 time for us to be bold and courageous and to change the direction we are headed in.
In any upcoming election, this is what I鈥檒l be looking for: bold and courageous leadership for the future.
This is our chance to pivot. As we re-open the economy, we can rush back to a normal that was failing people and the planet, or we can move forward and rebuild a greener, fairer, stronger B.C.
Lorna Hillman
Victoria
Easier to ban all semi-automatic rifles
Re: 鈥淩evamp of classification system seen as key to cementing assault-style rifle ban,鈥� May 5.
There is much being said about the ban on assault-style rifles, but what is missing is the definition. The appearance in style聽surely is not the problem but only what they can do.
Most folks who are knowledgable about firearms would agree that an assault rifle is one that is fully automatic 鈥� and these have been prohibited for many years in Canada.
The recent ban has thus targeted hundreds of semi-automatic rifles; why bother listing them all?
It would be easier to ban all semi-automatic rifles and allow only 鈥減ump action鈥� or 鈥渓ever action鈥� or 鈥渂olt action鈥� rifles with limited magazine capacity to be legal for hunting and sport shooting. Problem solved.
Stan Brygadyr
Victoria
Happy to get the newspaper during crisis
I would like to express my appreciation to all Times 91原创 staff for their commitment to publishing and distributing the newspaper during this difficult time in our history.
Their perseverance in working through the many financial, physical, family and health obstacles is impressive.
When the COVID-19 pandemic was officially declared and restrictions implemented, I just assumed paper delivery would be suspended. I am happily surprised that it continues to arrive on our doorstep every morning.
Thank you for continuing to provide important news and commentary everyday and for supporting the community through advocating for the Rapid Relief Fund, front-line workers and various other local causes.
Susan De Stephanis
View Royal
Jump on chance to build rapid transit line
Re: 鈥淐adillac commuter rail isn鈥檛 needed, says lead advocate,鈥� April 30.
Building a proper transit line is a golden opportunity Victoria should jump on.
The line is already there and lots of examples to follow are out there: The C-train in Calgary, tram lines in Toronto or in Europe, concrete bus guideways in Adelaide etc.
Building new roads is not going to happen and bicycles are not a solution either. Buses could work with dedicated lanes.
Start with Victoria to Langford. This is the greatest need and that need is only increasing.
C.V. Stewart
Victoria
Let鈥檚 get back to fighting climate change
Our premier recently stated that fighting climate change is at the heart of our recovery strategy from COVID-19.
A completely necessary thing for saving our skins from far worse than COVID-19 appears to be so far.
This does not square in the least with promoting or even permitting the production and export of gas, fracked or not.
We have to stop believing or allowing such sort of fairy tales, as Greta Thunberg called them, face the truth, and do our duty to our children and grandchildren.
Climate chaos will do way more to threaten our food and necessities security聽than the present supply line glitches and hoarding panics.
Let us use this reduction of a mere 7% of our emissions in the pandemic as a springboard to the much greater reduction through the social change we need to save our selves.
Glynne Evans
Saanich
Poisoning rodents is聽inhumane
Re: 鈥淧andemic sparks survival of the fittest聽battle between pesky rodents,鈥� Lawrie McFarlane, May 3.
Simply put, poisoning rats is inhumane. I lived on a farm for four years and the owner used poison to control the rat population. There were mornings when I would enter the horse barn and see a poor rat, bleeding through its nose and mouth barely alive, struggling valiantly to hold onto its life. It was sickening to watch and I wouldn鈥檛 wish that kind of death on anyone.
Yes, I understand the damage that rats can do but wouldn鈥檛 hiring a cat be a better solution?
At least it鈥檚 a quick 鈥渘atural鈥� death rather than prolonged toxic suffering.
Lia Fraser
Victoria
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.
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