A provincial emergency is not a time for profit
Supply and demand establish the price for goods and services. In an emergency, the demand for accommodation, travel and essential supplies skyrocket and unscrupulous merchants will always take advantage. It’s called profiteering.
When Premier David Eby declares a state of emergency, he should warn suppliers of emergency services that any profiteering will result in the loss of their business licence, and mean it. This includes airlines, hotels and all others who may see windfall opportunities.
Victims of natural disasters have enough troubles of their own. One of them should not be trying to make others rich.
Don Armstrong
North Saanich
The need to translate is always with us
Re: “The difference between asking for an Indigenous name and being offered one,” column, Aug. 20.
Columnist Charla Huber, makes an interesting and important point in her column.
She writes “If the Shishalh community changed how they spoke to me and used only English words where they normally wouldn’t, I wouldn’t have learned anything and they would have been changing themselves for me, which clearly wouldn’t benefit anyone. “
This is a deeply significant observation. In a bilingual world, a thought or mood of a person can be expressed in two entirely different ways. Put another way: a translation at some level is always doomed to be a lie.
I have begun to make heavy use of computerized translation package, from English to Dutch and vice versa, and it has become painfully clear how these two closely-related languages deal with certain thoughts in a totally different way.
I can quickly correct the “howlers” but some expressions defy translation: it may be colourful in one language and bland in the other . How much bigger must be the challenge in switching between a Salish language and English?
Professional translators attempt to bridge this gap for their living, but all are doomed to fail somewhere.
Language is fundamentally an oral means of communication. Even committing spoken sounds to a series of symbols is an exercise in futility. Donald Trump for instance is far more effective as a communicator when using the microphone than when using Twitter.
In our multicultural, multiethnic world we are stuck with our uncomfortable reality requiring translations.
Boudewyn van Oort
Victoria
Let’s pay tribute to Lolita and her family
Like many people, I am deeply saddened by the captive life and subsequent death of Lolita. Let her suffering not be in vain; let us all consider what we can do to reduce the suffering of sentient animals.
Whether that means refraining from the use of animals in entertainment (such as zoos and rodeos) or going all the way to leaving them off our plates — some, most or even all of the time – it would be a suitable tribute to Lolita and her family.
Mel Ransom
Ottawa
Several outdoor pools needed in the region
Re: “We need an outdoor swimming pool,” letter, Aug. 11.
The author asks, “Can a single public pool suffice for the growing community’s recreational needs?”
No!
It boggles my mind that there isn’t a public outdoor swimming pool in the Capital Regional District. Sure, you can buy a guest pass from Bear Mountain for $45 a day, but the fact that an outdoor pool doesn’t exist is just incomprehensible. However, we need more than one outdoor pool in the region!
I used to love swimming next to the ocean at Second Beach and Kitsilano pools when I lived in Vancouver, and when I was recently in Ontario visiting family, I escaped the oppressive heat and humidity while getting in some laps at the great local outdoor pools.
While we are blessed to live surrounded by water here in Victoria, not everyone wants to or feels comfortable swimming in the open water, and these bodies of water are not always safe for swimming due to “unsatisfactory bacterial results.”
In addition to the author’s suggestion of a pool at Beacon Hill Park, it would be great to see others in Saanich (Commonwealth? Gordon Head?), Sidney, and the West Shore.
I am sure that they would be jam packed during the summer months, and also on weekends from May to September. They would also provide respite to the increasingly warmer temperatures that we will undoubtedly experience.
Michael Jones
Saanich
Outdoor swimming pool? Remember the wind
An outdoor swimming pool in south Fairfield would not be a good location for the same reason that picnic tables at Clover Point are not a good idea: wind!
The temperature drops considerably as one travels south into Fairfield and the idea of lounging poolside would also drop.
Alanna Wrean
Victoria
Crosswalks are vital to those being persecuted
Some letters have questioned the value of rainbow crosswalks when there are other needs.
We should not trivialize attacks on different groups of people.
The Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms is one of the most important laws in our country and defines us as a people. It includes, among others, the right to equality, freedom of religion and freedom of association.
If we turn a blind eye to one group being under persecution, what will be next. Our Charter, one of the country’s great accomplishments will begin to unravel and we cannot allow that to happen.
Al Niezen
Saanich
Taxpayers would not pick those crosswalks
The “lots of bad things in the world” and “we need to respect diversity” arguments, while they have a point, miss the nitty-gritty of life here on the South Island.
A recent report of vandalism (which should never be condoned) contained information about the price tag for a rainbow crosswalk, just short of $14,000.
Given the number of such crosswalks which have popped up in the interests of political correctness in the region, that amounts to a lot of money.
Meanwhile, food banks are pleading for donations. Potholes abound. Sidewalks need to be constructed to make walking safer.
If politicians were to ask taxpayers in the region about their priorities in each municipality, it is doubtful that rainbow crosswalks would be at the top of the list. Perhaps that is why we don’t get asked.
S.A. McBride
Cordova Bay
The best results come from early prevention
Re: “Six months in, is decriminalization working?” Aug. 8.
The main takeaway from the item on decriminalization of drug use is that more treatment beds are needed so that when the person asks for help, help is available.
And there is an individual out there who tells us the police ruined his life by taking his drugs away and that he should not have to pay thousands from his own pocket for treatment.
He is not representative of all drug addicts, but the attitude projected does not make me sympathetic to his problems.
How much does it cost the rest of us when public servants are out there trying to prevent addicts from hurting themselves, other people, or property? We could use better cardiac care in Nanaimo, too, so how do we portion out the taxpayers’ funds?
Meanwhile, it should be possible to restrict drug use/abuse in certain public places. It was done for tobacco and alcohol. Why not for other drugs?
Enforcement would focus on where the consumption takes place, rather than on what is consumed or how much. Although the law does define “impaired” and restrict an impaired person’s activity.
The other takeaway is that addicts cannot be helped if they are not ready. Love does not save them and the people who loved them wonder why no one else could.
The most success would come from a program that prevented people from starting drug or medication abuse.
Heather Phillips
Sooke
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