What strata bylaws are allowed to restrict
Re: “Make landlords use a rental agency,” letter, Dec. 31.
The writer suggested that strata corporations make a bylaw requiring landlords to use an approved rental management agency. The Strata Property Act does not allow this.
It says: “The strata corporation must not screen tenants, establish screening criteria, require the approval of tenants, require the insertion of terms in tenancy agreements or otherwise restrict the rental of a strata lot.”
The words “otherwise restrict” mean, for example, that the strata corporation cannot have bylaws that impose conditions like requiring a rental manager, or charge any extra fees like a rental fee, rental deposit, or increasing strata fees.
Any bylaw setting terms, conditions or restrictions would be unenforceable.
Bylaws that apply to all residents are permitted, such as bylaws regarding smoking, pets, noise, age, parking, garbage, use of common facilities etc. To be enforceable, bylaws must be properly passed, filed at the Land Titles Office, and not contravene any enactment of law.
Wendy Wall
Victoria
No taxis available, so what can we do?
Another New Year’s Eve with no taxis available. The local company we contacted told us that they only had two drivers on for the night. What do we have to do to get Uber available here?
Dorothy Whittome
Duncan
Next, let’s fix the airport B.C. Transit schedule
Kudos to B.C. Transit and the province for the bus lane and queue jumper improvements not only on Douglas Street but more recently on the Pat Bay Highway.
For years Victorians and visitors have asked for direct bus service to the airport, rather than the current confusing and frustrating schedule.
Now with the times improved for the No. 70 bus to Swartz Bay there is additional time for the express ferry bus to make a turn at McTavish, do a loop through the airport, and still arrive at the same time at the ferry terminal.
Christopher Causton
Victoria
Good Pat Bay idea, dangerous solution
For drivers sharing the merge lanes on the Pat Bay Highway with the buses (going north or south), it is just a matter of time before collisions between the two will become a routine occurrence.
The only notification for drivers entering these merge lanes are two small, rather inconspicuous signs, “yield to buses.” By the time you check to see if one of these several-ton vehicles has the right of way, they are on top of you!
The solution should be a flashing red/amber light to let drivers know a bus is coming.
A previously safe intersection has transitioned into one which cost $7.6 million to save time (minutes/seconds) for bus commuters. Sorry, not worth the risk to drivers under its current design.
John Stevenson
Victoria
The gift of mercy is true compassion
Re: “Assistance in dying is not compassion,” letter, Dec. 31.
My brother died two years ago, choosing Medical Assistance in Dying (MAID), rather than waiting to suffocate on his own.
He had ALS, which left him unable to move anything except his eyes and head. It was love and compassion that led members of his family to help care for him as his motor abilities rapidly declined.
It was also love and compassion that allowed us to accept his decision to utilize MAID. In his final communication he thanked his doctor “for helping with his gift of mercy.”
MAID absolutely has a place in a compassionate society.
Tom Zimmerman
Victoria
Freedom to choose to end suffering
Re: “Assistance in dying is not compassion,” letter, Dec. 31.
The writer apparently believes that suffering is an integral part of life and is overall a necessary part of our humanity thing.
I do not believe that. I do not believe in suffering unnecessarily. I demand the freedom to choose.
The letter did, however, remind me to send off a donation to Dying With Dignity.
David Pearce
Victoria
Keep religion out of MAID debate
Re: “Assistance in dying is not compassion,” letter, Dec. 31.
What a relief for humanity! The writer proclaims that “suffering has a purpose in life. It is part of our collective humanity and always has been.”
By this definition MAID (medical assistance in dying) for intolerable suffering is, for her, an absolute no-no. The starving millions in the world surely will be assuaged by her reassurance.
We won’t need to bother trying to improve the lot of our homeless. Maybe painkillers should be removed from our pharmacies?
The sentiment expressed reeks of theological vapours. If so, I confess to not suffering such dogma lightly. My own response is to “mind one’s own religious business.”
Dr. Adrian Fine MD, FRCP
Victoria
Give me freedom to depart on my terms
Re: “Assistance in dying is not compassion,” letter, Dec. 31.
A reader asks if we as Canadians will join her in opposing the idea of medical assistance in dying and its proposed further liberalization. We are told that suffering is good for us — how else can we learn compassion and empathy? — and will we not rise up as one in opposition to medical assistance being made still more accessible?
No, we will not. Nor should we.
In 2016, the Supreme Court of Canada decided by a 9-0 vote that MAID was to be the law of the land and henceforth an option for those who both want and qualify for it.
I am sure the late Sue Rodriguez, having nothing much left to learn about compassion and empathy, would have rejoiced at that. It is a freely made choice and, notwithstanding what the alarmists would have us believe, not forced on anyone.
If the reader cannot support that position that is, of course, her right, but death comes to all of us sooner or later and when her time comes she is free to leave by whatever means fate has in store for her.
Meanwhile, please do not deny the rest of us the freedom to depart this life on our own terms.
Bob Beazley
Victoria
It is your right to hang on the bitter end
Re: “Assistance in dying is not compassion,” letter, Dec. 31.
Human suffering does have a purpose in our lives — it tells us something has gone wrong with our bodies and that we should try to find the source of the problem in order to alleviate the pain.
The notion that pain itself is somehow good for us is a pernicious one that has been propagated by certain religious doctrines in the attempt to rationalize the cruelty and injustice we find throughout the world.
Why would a benevolent God permit atrocities such as a child with inoperable brain tumour, masses of starving refugees, millions of indiscriminate pandemic deaths?
Oh, I forgot: suffering is good for us. I assume the author of the letter in question shuns all earthly means of alleviating physical pain by employing any sort of anaesthetic or analgesic.
MAID is indeed a compassionate service to hopelessly suffering people — just ask one of those who seeks such merciful release from a body that no longer will, and never will, function as it should.
Some, like our letter-writer, may choose to hang on until the last possible breath and that, of course, is their right. But I fear that in so choosing, they may be victims of a doctrine that will not be kind to them.
Gary Bauslaugh
author, The Right to Die
Victoria
Hospital at Home a great experience
I’ve had an experience with Island Health and the staff at Victoria General Hospital that needs to be applauded.
These are some of the things I want to say about an incredible program I was eligible for, through Island Health. I was in hospital for 17 days, with multiple health problems.
Once my surgery was completed, I was just in hospital recovering. I was offered the Hospital at Home program, which transitions a patient from the hospital to their home safely.
This program provided these things for me, every single day, until I was discharged.
1. In my case, I received five-plus weeks of daily 24/7 care by registered nurses and doctors by phone and in my own home, at lower cost to the hospital as well as opening staffing and beds for other patients.
2. Necessary equipment was provided (e.g: blood pressure monitoring, oxygen levels and electronic thermometer, for daily monitoring). A tablet linking the patient to the program was provided, to record and send appropriate information.
3. The response was fast and friendly, and the team members were all reassuring and a delight to deal with.
4. Any necessary lab tests were done at home, through the program, with RNs taking appropriate samples as directed by program physicians.
5. Most lab results are reported to the patient by the program doctor, usually that day.
6. Visits were always pre-arranged daily, after results of my evaluations were sent in. A phone call from the RNs confirmed daily visit time.
7. I had fantastic care, one on one, with returning nurses. There was a good rapport during all encounters
8. As I was still considered an in-patient, I was not permitted to drive, but taxi vouchers were provided if necessary, for other health care needs such as X-rays.
9. Medications provided in hospital were also provided at home by the program, biweekly.
I really can’t say enough good things about this program! I recommend it to anyone who meets the criteria for acceptance.
Janet van Klaveren
View Royal
In a disaster, bike lanes matter
It is refreshing to see Adrian Raeside address a serious issue in such a thoughtful and knowledgeable manner. I am referring, of course, to his editorial cartoon suggesting that the City of Victoria would give priority to the clearing of bicycle lanes in the aftermath of “the big one”.
Raeside is no doubt aware that much of our important transportation infrastructure is at risk of failure in a significant seismic event and that which remains may be rendered unusable by cars and trucks.
He is similarly aware, apparently, that our supply lines for products like gasoline and diesel fuel will almost certainly be severed and the region will be without fuel within a day or two.
Raeside is no doubt aware of the “Fuel Network Analysis” by Bethany Dobson, which identifies particular vulnerabilities in the supply of fuel to the South Island post disaster.
He is familiar, I suspect, with the 2021 modelling exercise carried out by the provincial government that found that “gas stations may become unserviceable as underground fuel storage tanks are displaced and become unsafe [for use].”
He knows, as we all do, that our fuel supply can be disrupted even by something as simple as a heavy rainfall as it was in November 2021, never mind a major earthquake.
He has concluded, quite correctly, that facilitating post-disaster bicycle travel should be a strategic priority for transportation authorities in the region. No gasoline, or billiard table smooth roads, required.
Well done Raeside! Now if we can just get him working on climate change.
Oh wait, that’s bike lanes too! I’m picking up a theme here.
Patrick Webb
View Royal
Hope bikes can get around after Big One
In response to the Raeside cartoon about post-earthquake rubble clearing of bike lanes, I would like to point out that with cell towers down, phone lines jammed, and roads impassible, deliveries of first-responder messages and items such as blood for transfusions has been and will be accomplished by bike volunteers.
We’d better hope they can get around. You can volunteer for the team and training on the City of Victoria Emergency Services webpage.
Cynthia Brossard
Victoria
It’s not New York, but she can afford it
At the risk of seeming unfeeling, I must agree with the commentary that said we should live where we can afford to live.
Housing as a human right? Nope. A human necessity yes, but not a right.
While I believe one can judge how evolved a country is by how we treat the unfortunate, I also believe in self-determination. I had to live with roommates until I was 30!
While I would prefer to live in London or New York I simply can’t afford to.
So I live where I can. Simple.
Barbara Dunmore
Saanich
Many thanks for help during the snowy days
I would like to thank the Good Samaritans who worked so hard for 45 minutes to get me going when I was stuck on ice on Kristina Place in Colwood on a snowy Friday before Christmas.
I was trying to deliver papers in the early morning hours and so appreciate the construction workers, the fellow with the truck who towed my vehicle and the Times Colonist customer who also got some chains to come to my rescue.
Thank you all so very much and I hope you have a safe, healthy and happy New Year.
Sharon Mellin
Langford
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