He was hired because of his qualifications
Re: “Former Nanaimo CFO wins human rights complaint against city,” Aug. 16.
Victor Mema was dismissed for improper use of a city credit card. The B.C. Supreme Court dismissed his unfair dismissal appeal.
Now the Human Rights tribunal claims that his race paid a part in his dismissal.
He was hired as he had the qualifications for the job, not because of his race. He lost his job because he misused his employer’s credit card, not because of his ethnic origin.
Why would any employer hire a minority employee if they can claim discrimination if they are terminated?
Malcolm Berry
Nanaimo
Electric fire trucks? What’s the point?
Back in 1994, Victoria hosted the Commonwealth Games, and the city was at its finest.
The streets were clean, the flowers were plentiful, the boulevards were manicured and police and security protection for the athletes, visitors and our community was properly in place.
Almost three decades later, the city has changed dramatically, and it seems that the focus and funding for those wonderful attributes have been curtailed substantially. And we sure are witnessing the consequences.
When I saw the news of a $1.7 million battery fire truck, I was reminded that this year the City of Vancouver, when faced with this question, was advised: “The electric fire apparatus technology is nascent and unproven, which represents risk considering that the equipment’s purpose is life-safety and needs to be relied upon during an emergency.”
Councillors took the hint and chose the non-EV option, which they were also told was cheaper.
Fire trucks don’t rack up a lot of mileage. If the idea is to reduce climate emissions, surely taxpayer dollars would be better invested in workhorse vehicles like garbage trucks.
The same money spent on buying the latest equipment, whether EV or otherwise, would very likely result in lower emissions overall.
It’s a reminder that energy transition policies are not always what they seem to be, and I haven’t even mentioned the human cost of children working in lithium mines in Africa producing the metal for electric batteries.
City councils across Canada are bearing the ever-increasing costs and responsibilities that have been passed on to them from Ottawa and the provinces over the last number of decades.
With those responsibilities comes the need for fiscal stewardship and common-sense decisions, which should be made wisely after considering all relevant information.
David R. Schneider
Saanich
We need more good guys to fight the scammers
Re: “Be careful, online scammers becoming more sophisticated,” column, Aug. 16.
These clever criminals are causing untold billions of our wealth to disappear into the untraceable ether of the cyberverse; Russia and other sovereign powers are known to participate in this theft on a growing scale.
Our best defence is a better educated public. Our defence budget should include daily inserts in print media that alert us to these tricksters.
I’m hoping some of the good guys will be able to use this AI magic to help victims.
It is war and no house is safe from electronic barbarians. We need to reinvent and recruit more intelligence forces to identify and expose these vandals.
It is about time our “Geek Squad” won a few battles against the “Slime.”
Russell Thompson
Victoria
The plea for sympathy pointed to a scammer
Re: “Be careful, online scammers becoming more sophisticated,” column, Aug. 16.
I was nearly scammed the same way except they were supposed to be Prime.
When they wanted the bank account, I told them my husband does the banking and he wasn’t available.
They didn’t want me to go to the bank and this is when I caught on to the fact they were scammers – as well as when the fellow tried to win my sympathy by saying he’d be fired if he didn’t get the money back.
I went to the bank later and no money ($14,990) had been deposited.
After an hour or so, I lost patience, hung up the phone and closed the computer.
No doubt there’s more of us out there.
Sammi Stewart
Comox
It was a pandemic much like the others
Interesting to discover after reading eight books on pandemics that almost all pandemics started and ended the same way as COVID-19, lasting around three years before settling down (some, such as polio, lasted longer and could only end with a vaccine).
During and at the end of all pandemics health-care and essential workers walked off their jobs.
During all pandemics, systems broke down, with fingers pointing for someone to blame. There were mental health issues and all pandemics had anti-vaxxers, and propaganda.
After it was over, the books all said it took about three more years to fix what was broken in the system.
I say, Stay Calm and Carry On. We can get through this as we respectfully and peacefully do it together — along with everyone in the whole wide world.
Candis Zell
Pender Island
A voice of reason about our housing supply
Re: “Victoria council needs to be selective about housing it approves,” Aug. 12.
Why is it that elected officials are unable to apply the same rational logic to inform city policy as Edy Bradley?
As a James Bay resident, Bradley describes how housing development proposals not only severely impact that neighbourhood but others including Victoria West.
Like others, we have written several letters, which the city ostensibly encourages, expressing grave concern for the unprecedented development of the Roundhouse site; “over reach” as Bradley describes.
Multiple highrises which would make an already densely-populated area even more so, affecting livability.
Bradley reasons how each Greater Victoria area should develop commensurate with need, 49 new units per area.
Inherently, we tend to be resistant to change in our own neighbourhoods. However, when the issue is rationally analyzed, this is perceived as fair in the eyes of most taxpayers, thus palatable.
Extending Bradley’s logic and concern for equity to other areas of public interest, I vote “Edy Bradley for mayor.”
Elizabeth Dean
Victoria
Let’s be tolerant of others’ beliefs
Re: “Beacon Hill Park is no place for a religious revival,” letter, Aug. 16.
I write this letter with dismay at the letter writer’s display of anger at a Christian meeting at the Beacon Hill Bandshell.
In Canada, all our citizens have the freedom of religion and press. We are entitled to our beliefs as long as it is not hurtful to others.
If I wrote a letter condemning the gay parade, the rainbow painted crosswalks, the pride week, I would be labeled a bigot or racist or worse.
The letter probably would not even be printed.
Grant us more tolerance for our fellow beings through a better understanding of them.
Merlie McGee
Saanichton
Better in a world where we can be offended
Re: “Beacon Hill Park is no place for a religious revival,” letter, Aug. 16.
I believe the park is for all people, races and religions. No one is forcing anyone to attend the performance.
I am a bit confused by the complaint. The writer claims to hear “pleasant tunes” boomed across the park. Sounds like she was fine with it until she chose to approach the show and discovered it was religious.
Inescapable? Really? Maybe try leaving.
I much rather live in a world where someone can offend me than a world where someone gets to decide who or what gets to express itself. History has shown how ugly it gets when religions get banned.
Jakob Wiebe
Victoria
Let’s offer a cruise to drug-free lives
Devil’s Island? That was a suggestion of a caller to CFAX on Monday regarding where to house the homeless who are causing all the problems in downtown Victoria. An island, away from the population who want peace in our city, is where they can get help!
That island could be a decommissioned cruise ship converted into a hospital ship.
A brilliant idea? What else do you have? Ideas? That’s mine.
At least they would be away from the drug pushers. They would be anchored offshore with only the sounds of the sea in their ears and the medical community on board looking after their needs.
The ship could be supplied by approved helicopters for that purpose. The ship is already designed with individual cabins and kitchens and much room to move around.
Who wouldn’t like to “take a cruise” to wellness?
A cruise ship is a floating city! Doesn’t have to be a big one. Could work! What do we have to lose?
Mandatory treatment made pleasant. What is happening now is not working.
E.C. Jewsbury
Saanich
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