We are more damaging now than 60 years ago
Re: “We are responsible, so we should try to fix it,” letter, July 18.
I am really disappointed in Elizabeth May’s letter. Instead of standing against all forms of discrimination, she doubles down by continuing to play the intergenerational blame game.
Like many politicians, her letter ignores the root cause of environmental damage, which is out-of-control human population growth.
On a per capita basis, Canadians living in 2024 would need to emit half the emissions and have half the consumption of a Canadian living in 1964.
As a nation today we are doing more damage to the planet than we did in 1964.
We can’t change the past, but we can change the future.
Kim Christensen
Esquimalt
Show us credible data on school liaison officers
Re: “Youth counsellor says lack of liaison officers is making things worse in schools,” July 18.
I wholeheartedly support liaison officers in schools. As a retired high school counsellor in Campbell River, I worked closely with RCMP liaison officers and witnessed first-hand how effective and approachable they were to support our students.
I did not observe any students who were uncomfortable interacting with them.
My issue is with Kasari Govender, the B.C. human rights commissioner. She has recommended that no liaison officers be placed in schools because of concerns raised by “Indigenous, Black and other marginalized communities.”
So despite the plea by Mia Golden and VicPD about the value of liaison officers, she continues to insist that their information is anecdotal and needs credible data to show its success.
Where is her credible data that Indigenous, Black and marginalized communities are against liaison officers?
She says these communities have raised concerns. Can she show us her comprehensive credible data that shows this to be true?
If you are denying support for liaison officers based on your belief that the professionals like Golden and Const. Gord Magee are anecdotal, then you need to present credible data to back up your claims rather than just raising concerns.
Doug Puritch
Campbell River
Not a retailer, and not demanding
Re: “Our rights matter even when inconvenient,” letter, July 18.
The letter states, referring to my recent letter, that “a Victoria retailer has demanded to know why rallies protesting Israel’s genocide in Palestine should be allowed to continue.”
I am not a retailer. I was not demanding to know why. I am neither the pot nor the kettle.
Then he remarks “… same letter writer asserts, entirely without evidence … genocide have never declared [themselves] to be an expression of free speech.”
In fact, their very existence, week after week for over nine months, through downpour, wind and uncommon heat, despite violent assault on their participants and regular cries for police and authorities to suppress them, is a powerful declaration of freedom of speech, a reiteration of the fundamental rights guaranteed in this country.
This reminds me of the many times people declare their habits to be justified by their existence over time. Sometimes we do things poorly for decades.
The claim is a somewhat hyperbolic interpretation of what has transpired. There is a hint of gaslight in the air here and at the protests.
The media has never, to my knowledge, cited a speaker at a rally cheering on their rights to free speech. This may be a result of nobody outwardly and publicly challenging it.
As a matter of fact, I don’t recall anyone calling out any alleged “hate speech.” What evidence did I miss?
Please define “genocide.”
Mark Engels
Victoria
Some rights are more equal than others
Re: “Our rights matter even when inconvenient,” letter, July 18.
George Orwell wrote, in Animal Farm, “All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others.”
According to the letter, “declaration of freedom of speech, a reiteration of the fundamental rights guaranteed in this country” is for all groups, regardless of any inconvenience they cause.
Is this justification for the interruption of the Pride Parade by pro-Palestinian marchers? Are the rights of the Palestine supporters more valid than those of the Pride Parade participants?
Sandra Levy
Victoria
Get to the bottom of those CBC bonuses
Re: “CBC board approves bonuses despite layoffs, budget cuts,” July 16.
A more interesting question would be “of those employees eligible for a bonus, how many didn’t get one”?
I suspect that the vast majority, if not all, did.
John Stevenson
Victoria
Turn down the noise at Centennial Square
We had no idea when we purchased our condo in Lower Johnson how noisy it could be, but the biggest surprise is the noise invading our condo from Centennial Square. Many groups can book the space and use the sound system and lights paid for by our tax dollars. There does not seem to be any regulation of the quality of the music or decibel levels.
Eventide on Wednesday evenings is the worst. So far, fewer than 100 attendees on average (we count) enjoy the primarily loud, lots of bass and banging, and not much talent.
If you check out the programming for the summer, though they tout it as music for all ages, it is clearly one dark and dystopian band after another. Can’t we have music that is fun, beautiful, musical, family friendly, and uplifting?
The hotel going up on Government and Pandora is marketed as family friendly. These families will prefer family friendly musical events and the ability to sleep.
We have pleaded to the organizers of these events to turn down the amps so we can open our windows. Sometimes nothing is better than something.
There is nothing wrong with peace and quiet.
Madam mayor and city council, please attend these events. We know you don’t live downtown and have no idea what it is like.
We live in this neighbourhood. It needs to be livable.
Lisa Tindall
Victoria
No evictions until new accommodation found
Re: “Tenancy branch approves evictions for Esquimalt apartment building,” July 17.
My fairness protocol for evicted tenants in Esquimalt: Until an evicted tenant secures a new home of the same quality and cost, then that tenant should not be evicted and can remain in the unit they’re currently occupying.
With vacancy availability at near zero, the evicted tenant has precedence over the landlord unless the person doing the evicting can find an equally suitable and equally affordable place for all of the tenants to move to.
One question: Where are the tenants’ equalizers to help them out?
Steve Hoffman
Saanich
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