The dangers are there, so keep wearing masks
With flu infections coming down and COVID going up, I would like to ask why more people in crowded settings are not wearing masks still.
This COVID pandemic is not over, and who would like to be sick with COVID at Christmas, even if it is mild?
No family dinner, no social events with friends if you are sick, unless you ignore the symptoms and gather anyway.
I wish Dr. Bonnie Henry and all government notices would recommend mask-wearing more.
I went to a play and only about five per cent of the audience had masks on.
Cathy Bhandar
Victoria
Find the efficiencies and bring them in
Re: “We need to measure health-care efficiency,” letter, Dec. 16.
I agree that there are so many efficiencies that can be explored and used within our health-care system. Our current health system in B.C. is very top-heavy. There are “too many chiefs” and everyone protecting their turf.
They can look into how to run each department efficiently. A good example is the Imaging Department, which does not serve outpatients on the weekend. Why? The resources are there for emergencies.
In between, the staff, technicians and resources are sitting idle. Why can’t they have an on-call system to accommodate outpatients in between emergencies?
People are willing to come on a short notice to avoid long lineups on weekdays. It is because some bureaucrat made a policy not to allow outpatients on the weekend.
Doesn’t make sense, especially when the system is overcrowded and can use some reprieve. If 15-20 people can be served on a weekend, that reduces the wait list by 80 in a month.
There is a health crisis, but also the perception of health crisis as well. Injecting more money into health care is not the only answer. Managing it well is the answer.
We all need to take care of our health programs as if we are paying from our own pocket. Spend our dollars with care, and effectively. The bureaucracy is too rigid to think outside the box.
There are many efficiencies that can be realized within our current system. It is high time to tap into them.
Mano Sandhu
Victoria
New Riverview hospital is long overdue
It’s obvious what is required to “contain” those unhouseable, severely mentally ill unfortunate souls wandering our streets and resorting to petty crimes and drug abuse.
The replacement of Riverview Hospital is long overdue and, as mentioned in other letters, the Cowichan District Hospital, instead of being torn down, is an excellent choice for Vancouver Island’s poor souls.
Premier David Eby, it’s time to act.
Butch Boucher
Victoria
Outrageous increase? Fight the assessment
My wife and I received the advance notice of our 2023 property assessment; the increase was an astounding 43 per cent for our standard two-bedroom condo in a 14-year-old mid-rise (vs. an average increase of nine per cent for Victoria).
No reason was given. Our strata did not gold-plate the building.
The assessment office claims they are being helpful by giving us this advance notice. Actually, it demonstrates that they have no proper quality control of their work; otherwise such a large increase would be red-flagged and the assessor’s work would be critically reviewed.
Last year, the assessor attempted a similar unjustifiable increase of 39 per cent. I appealed it; I prepared an extensive spreadsheet of the assessments, along with dollars per square foot, of all units in our building, a similar building next door, and comparable properties that had been sold in our neighbourhood, and proved beyond a doubt that the increase was unjustified.
The Assessment Review Panel accepted my proposed assessment of an 11 per cent increase. Although this process is time-consuming, it saves thousands of dollars in taxes.
I wonder if other people have received unreasonable assessment increases. My concern is for elderly people who do not have the inclination or energy to fight against government officials. If this problem is widespread, the Office of the B.C. Ombudsman should investigate.
Kenneth Mintz
Victoria
Good pay will bring us better MLAs
Re: “Even frozen, MLA salaries still plump,” letter, Dec. 16.
Yes, democracy is expensive for the taxpayers, but I like to remind people why we pay them well.
We don’t want to be governed by people who are rich and don’t need the salary, who just want the power so they and their friends can continue to make and keep their money.
By paying our MLAs very well, we can get the best people that have ethics, morals and intelligence.
Bobbi Sheridan
Colwood
Add a bike lane, and add congestion, too
Congratulations are in order. City planners have managed to transform the Victoria area: Why have two lanes of traffic when you could have one and a bicycle lane?
Consider north Shelbourne, where the formerly two-lane stretch of road has been squeezed into one, making room for new separated bike lanes.
The resulting automotive congestion is simply managed with additional traffic lights. Vehicles spend more time waiting for the lights, waiting to turn, waiting for the gridlock to move.
This is a worthy sacrifice to make room for new bicycle lanes.
Ah, bike lanes: they are the best place to go in Victoria if you want to be alone.
Mike Mitchell
Victoria
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