91原创

Just when we thought society had moved beyond this ugly stuff comes word of what was meant to be a joke in a newsletter published by a branch of the Royal 91原创 Legion in Cranbrook.

There are good reasons to be skeptical about Victoria businessman David Black's surprise proposal for a $13-billion Kitimat refinery to save the Northern Gateway pipeline.

Re: "United Church backs Israeli-product boycott," Aug. 18. The United Church says it considers Israel's position on the West Bank and East Jerusalem as illegal.

Before people throw up their hands in horror at David Black's proposal to build a refinery at the terminus of the proposed Enbridge pipeline, they should consider the fact that Kitimat owes its existence entirely to heavy industry.

Re: "Central Saanich has low-income housing," Aug. 16. "Low income" is anyone living on social assistance, or persons with disabilities without a supplemented income. "Low income" means poor or in threat of homelessness.

In May, I wrote concerning a proposal by South Island Aggregates to collect five million tonnes of contaminated soil, mainly from Victoria, and dump it into a pit in the Shawnigan Lake drinking watershed.

Clearly, it is high time to take the basic insurance business out of Insurance Corp. of B.C. and public coffers, and into the private sector. The government and unions will have us believe that privatizing will decrease traffic safety.

David Black's proposed oil refinery is a good one. But why Kitimat? Why not build the refinery adjacent to the raw material source? And, in addition, provide more permanent full-time jobs than are envisioned by the Northern Gateway pipeline project.

Before the Insurance Corp. of B.C., there was a simple system of car insurance. You would shop around for the best rate, which was much lower for good drivers (good risks), and signed on.

What has happened to our beautiful Beacon Hill Park? Suddenly the barricades make sense. If access is difficult, then maybe we Victorians will fail to notice that our precious gem has been severely neglected. Enough already.