Clarifying the position on biosolids disposal
Re: “CRD has a plan for biosolids management,” letter, Dec 7.
As a public school teacher, I tell my students to be clear and accurate in their written work. And if they err, to correct it. In the case of my Dec. 7 letter, I need to heed my own advice.
In my submission, I wrote that the benefits of using Class A biosolids at Hartland Landfill when Lafarge’s cement plant is unable to receive them for use “are numerous and meet the regulatory standards.”
I neglected to also acknowledge the Capital Regional District board’s long-standing policy opposing land application of biosolids and the letter I wrote Minister George Heyman in July asking the province to reconsider the prohibition of landfilling this material, which triggered the requirement for land application.
While it is true the province has deemed land application of biosolids to be safe, I have recently written again to the minister asking the province to reconsider their position and have urged them to provide clear and detailed information for the public outlining how it is a safe practice.
In my haste to engage on this topic, I penned a letter that did not accurately convey the direction of the CRD board.
I would like to thank the members of the public who pointed out my inconsistency. I will learn from this experience and appreciate the opportunity to clarify.
Colin Plant, board chair
Capital Regional District
Biden is trying to reduce global warming
The opposition of U.S. Democratic Senator Joe Manchin to President Biden’s “Build Back Better” legislation is being universally lauded in Canadian media as a sign of hope in spiking preferential treatment for U.S.-made electric vehicles.
How did our mainstream media become so parochial? Even the union representing U.S. coal miners is now asking Manchin to reconsider. The legislative package will stimulate the U.S. economy, which is good for Canada.
But much more fundamentally, the legislation will help the U.S., which already has a better climate record than Canada, do more to reduce greenhouse gases fast enough to hold to no more than 1.5 degrees C warming.
Our hellish summer and fall of heat domes, wildfires, floods and mudslides occurred with warming of 1.1 C. That warming is not going to be arrested. It is accelerating. And Biden’s bill is an important step in preserving a livable world and holding to 1.5 C.
It does matter that Canadian-made electric vehicles and parts have a level playing field with U.S. EVs. But championing that issue hardly justifies celebrating the actions of a senator hell-bent on a warming world.
A future Trump administration will not be helpful to Canada or the world. And our national media voices should consider planetary well-being above jingoism.
Elizabeth May, MP
Saanich-Gulf Islands
Gyms are much safer than restaurants
So new provincial health orders say it is OK to go to restaurants, pubs and cafes but not gyms and fitness centres. Have they been to a gym?
I wear a mask to the gym. I carry a spray bottle of sanitizer with me and clean the equipment before I use it and after I use it. I get no closer than about four feet from another person and usually much greater distance as nobody wants to be in your face while exercising. I bring my own water bottle.
Contrast that with a restaurant where you can sit six people close together at a table some space apart from another table of complete strangers.
Then, you literally put things in your mouth that have been sitting around in the possibly COVID-laced air. Without a mask on, you breathe the air. Then put more stuff into your mouth.
You won’t catch that happening at the gym.
Margaret Magee
Victoria
Let museum know you oppose dismantling
I share the anger and frustration of many letter-writers at the destruction of the Royal B.C. Museum’s much-loved exhibits when the long process of replacement has barely begun.
I would urge others who deplore this decision to make their feelings known directly to those who made it and those who supported it.
The list of museum directors is easily found on the museum’s website. You may find you know one or two of them, and you should share your views with them.
You should let Indigenous and minority board members know that you support the equitable representation in the museum of the contribution of their groups to the B.C. of today, but that destruction of the current exhibits while the process of developing new ones continues over many years will breed resentment rather than respect.
You should let your MLA and your municipal council members know that they should speak up for the interests of the South Island. We are the people who visit most often and are most likely to share our pride in the museum with our visitors.
Your simple request of all these decision-makers should be to consult and plan first, then demolish, rather than the reverse.
Geoff Young, councillor
Victoria
Let’s celebrate our entire history
I was thinking about the dismantling of the Old Town (settler town?) exhibit and wondering: Why we are stopping there?
There are lots of much larger examples of Old Town buildings around Victoria that are reminders of the colonizer past. We even have a historical society that makes rules to protect these buildings and provide funding for their renewal.
Take all of these down, make it as if they never existed. Replace them with glass and concrete towers of our modern society.
There are two cultures that established where we are today, and yes there are reconciliation steps that must be made.
I am not ashamed that my ancestors came to Canada from Europe, so I would appreciate it if we could celebrate both the cultures in a museum that is supposed to highlight the history of B.C. — all of the history.
Norm Johnson
Victoria
Tossing out the baby with the bathwater
A travesty of the impending destruction of the Royal B.C. Museum’s Old Town is that they are purposely throwing the baby out with the bathwater.
There is no dispute that the Old Town is a genuine reflection of the times, conditions and paradigms of the white settlers’ voices.
The museum has the rest of the entire floor to change the narrative on other aspects of our history; the Old Town reflects only a small but important part of the story.
Why deny it when it is the truth and so uniquely compelling to so many stakeholders? We are all stakeholders in the truth of the whole story.
Rob d’Estrube
Victoria
We cannot escape our colonial history
It is clear that the Royal B.C. Museum should update and modernize its collections and give more relevant interpretations to its collection and increase its scope and obtain more indigenous grassroots-level input.
However, in spite of its prevalent usage, I object to the term “decolonization” because it is a misnomer.
To decolonize is a political term; a colony is a political affiliation of a governing body; one can become decolonized politically by becoming independent politically of the “founding” nation.
Canada cannot escape having been a British colony. One can hope to “delouse” a body, by killing off all the lice, but those who came to Canada as colonials were a pervasive wave of visible development, settlement and political dominance; its cultural norms, social classes, attitudes, values and beliefs, often diverse, shaped a large part of the Canada that the museum has partially attempted to represent.
This is not to say that it is the only history of the landscape of what is known as Canada, but it is of historical significance and relevance.
I urge the museum to put renovations on hold until there is a clear plan.
Susan Nickum
Victoria
First Peoples display is a huge loss
Many of those who oppose the decision to close the third floor of our acclaimed provincial museum cite the loss of the Old Town display.
I agree that closing the third floor is wrong, but the primary loss will be the First Peoples displays that compose about one-third of the floor space.
This area displays magnificent poles and house posts carved by Indigenous artists. The beautiful masks are arranged by geographic region and have detailed commentary to assist in developing a deeper understanding of their importance to Indigenous culture.
Of special interest are the beautifully carved argillite trade items. Our museum has a large and varied collection of these valuable pieces.
The rare black argillite was quarried from a single location on Graham Island in Haida Gwaii and the carved pieces are collected worldwide. To deny the public and visitors the ability to view and learn from this outstanding collection is a particular shame.
Let us hope the provincial government has the maturity to admit its mistake and reverse the decision.
Richard McCandless
Saanich
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