No real incentive to be a landlord
I, like many others, have experienced exploitation by a tenant. Converting short-term rentals to long-term housing seems unlikely due to the unfair practices of the Residential Tenancy Board.
I echo the sentiments of those who have shared their nightmarish tenancy stories. As a landlord since 1998, fairness has always been my priority. Yet, I’ve never been so outraged and discouraged by such unjust practices.
Upon signing the 12-month lease and welcoming our tenant into our mortgage helper suite, they falsely claimed the brand-new carpet emitted toxic fumes and there was mould. We hired a mould specialist from an environmental engineering firm to investigate, finding nothing. Despite efforts to resolve it directly, the tenant escalated to the Residential Tenancy Board.
To our disbelief, the Residential Tenancy Board ignored all evidence, including the lease, dismissed the mould specialist, and ordered us to pay the tenant double the damage deposit.
We went two and a half months without rent, unpaid utilities, mould inspection costs, re-advertising, and the double deposit refund. This decision is unjustifiable.
Others we’ve spoken to faced similar ordeals, even after appeals. People are losing faith in our government.
Meanwhile, the province bans short-term rentals, imposes vacancy taxes, and pressures homeowners to rent long-term. This heavy-handed approach not only fails to address the housing shortage but actively undermines landlords’ rights.
By disregarding fair treatment for property owners, the Residential Tenancy Board’s actions perpetuate a cycle of distrust and deter much-needed rental housing supply. It’s no surprise people are increasingly reluctant to become landlords under these conditions.
Dana Adams
Victoria
Non-profits give us beacons of housing hope
It makes abundant sense that non-profit developers, whose focus is to provide safe and affordable housing to low-to-moderate-income individuals and families, should be expedited through Saanich’s development process.
It should have always been this way.
Yet, while developments for low-income residents might have limited high-end conveniences, it doesn’t mean they should be devoid of amenities such as parking options, and trees, or essentials like heat pumps in the development’s overall design.
Additionally, low-income housing should not suffer from a lack of social spaces, both indoors and on the building site, that contribute to the enjoyment and good health of residents.
A two-tier housing system has no place in the future we want.
With Saanich’s position on lower-income amenities, we are now left to look to non-profits as beacons of hope for designing fair and equitable housing that caters to every individual, regardless of their economic status.
Carmel Thomson
Saanich
Shelter enforcement is not going to work
While the violent incident on Pandora Avenue on July 11 was unacceptable, I don’t think Victoria council’s subsequent decision to enforce bylaws about sheltering on boulevards and parks will have much of an effect on the crowds there.
The same people will most likely hang out on that block during the day, minus the tents, given their social network and the fact that block is where services such as Our Place and the pharmacy are.
Or council’s decision may just have the effect of spreading the problem out to other nearby areas of Victoria instead of containing it to one city block.
Richard Konopasek
Victoria
Callousness towards those on Pandora
I was pleased to see the Victoria councillors with the exception of Susan Kim vote for a motion for city staff to look at options to address daytime sheltering on streets and boulevards in Victoria.
As a trained social worker, I suggest that approaches to improving conditions on Pandora Avenue be advanced with compassion and pragmatism.
Such approaches will require an exploration of options to both support those who need assistance and at the same time improve public safety including for those who live or frequent Pandora.
Voting against looking at solutions shows callousness towards the people of Pandora and complacency with the status quo, which is out of touch with the priorities of Victoria residents.
My questions for Kim are:
1. On what basis would you vote against such a motion?
2. If city staff cannot talk about the problems and think about solutions, how can you expect any improvement in the situation?
Jon Menold
Victoria
Keep Victoria’s streets safe for everyone
It’s about time that the Victoria mayor and council have stepped up and called for an end to sheltering on the streets of Victoria. Especially now with the violence towards first responders. Enough is enough!!
While I have empathy for those who are suffering homelessness, mental health issues, and addiction, taxpayers have a right to feel safe in our city.
Giving the bylaw and police officers the mandate to keep Victoria streets safe and free from homeless encampments and open drug use is the way to go.
Give Victoria their streets back.
Pam Bevan
Victoria
Campaign for pool is simply entitlement
Saturday’s edition featured two nicely written commentaries by a couple of the university’s socio-economic elites, despairing at the removal of their beloved swimming hole.
Their pleadings were no doubt heartfelt and only made to maintain the glorious benefits of swimming for the university community and others of similar economic status.
One writer was even astute enough to cravenly state “it is ironic that the same week the pool closure was announced, the Times Colonist featured a story about the risk of drownings in our local lakes….” and a tragic death.
What is ironic is that the same week these writers bemoaned the tragic loss of their swimming facilities the Times Colonist and local news featured the truly horrendous images of the obliteration of the living facilities of those poor souls on Pandora Avenue.
The half page of that Comment page was entitlement gone wild. We must do better.
Max Miller
Saanich
In defence of those paper transit tickets
I am very upset about B.C. Transit’s plan to eliminate paper tickets and monthly passes by October.
I have attempted to use Umo and have found it difficult to reload with more money and difficult to use when boarding the bus. I have reverted to a monthly pass with paper tickets as a back-up.
The move to an entirely electronic system may be convenient for some, but it is huge inconvenience for many others — those who don’t own phones, those who don’t wish to have to use their phone for everything, occasional users who don’t want do download an app just to ride the bus, visitors, those who are physically challenged, etc.
Umo may be fine for some but to force it on everyone is wrong. I think B.C. Transit will lose passengers by doing this. What’s wrong with paper tickets?
Ken Walker
Victoria
Let’s make sure systems don’t shut down again
Now let me get this straight, in my little pea mind. We, the whole world, are “linked” to CrowdStrike, a cyber security firm that becomes shut down because some idiot programmer introduces an error code into the system, a “faulty update.”
Hospitals, airports, border security and who knows what else are affected by this. Sounds like a Stephen King movie plot.
Are we nuts to throw all of our proverbial eggs into one basket? This has to be a wake-up call to all forms of government services to review what has taken place and have a serious discussion with all those involved in this mess.
No “whitewashing,” no sweeping it under the rug of public scrutiny. Get on it, get it done before something worse happens such as planes falling out of the sky or, worse yet, nuclear weapons firing off all by themself.
John Hobbs
Chemainus
School liaison officers help students in need
Denying school students the benefits and support of school liaison officers because we are unwilling to support some students to overcome their fears makes no sense at all.
Cancelling an invaluable opportunity to make and strengthen connections with elders whose role in society at large is a fact of life, is also illogical and irresponsible.
I have a great deal more respect for people in leadership positions – such as Kasari Govender – who are able to respond to the community on issues like this rather than dig their heels in and perpetuate a myth.
If any student is exhibiting signs of discomfort or fears with any aspect of a responsibly-constructed learning environment, we must empower them to heal from those feelings, not deny the majority the enormous benefits of – in this case — school liaison officers.
Linda Baker
Victoria
Special ideas for the grocery code of conduct
I am delighted that the federal government is that much closer to finalizing a code of conduct for grocery stores.
However, rather than leaving things to faceless bureaucrats and rapacious executives from mega-store corporations, I believe that we need to enter into an extended period of public consultation and, potentially, a royal commission to set the terms of the code.
For starters, I would offer the following ethical guidelines:
Tomatoes should not be permitted to be displayed next to avocados or onions as it subliminally creates the desire for salsa sauce.
Needless to say, corn chips should be at least 10 aisles away from the said vegetables.
Along the same lines, it is simply cruel to sell both the fixings for salsa and pre-made salsa in the same store: Imagine the horror the vegetables feel when they see their extended family members chopped up and confined to clear glass jars for all to see.
And don’t get me started on the problems associated with having oranges and apples in the same store; I will save the problems that poses for making comparisons for another day.
Howard Brunt
North Saanich
Check our schools for evidence of violence
I am a GP in Victoria. I was dismayed to hear of human rights commissioner Kasari Govender’s reckless decision not to reinstate the school liaison program after experts reported increased sexual violence in bathrooms, and severe injuries in children due to gang violence.
I know one school student who sustained a skull fracture after being thrown down stairs by a gang-member.
In medicine, our principle is to minimize harm, using the best evidence available.
Currently, the best evidence available to the commissioner is direct, eyewitness reports from professionals working in schools, of increased sexual and physical violence against children since liason officers were removed.
She dismisses these reports as anecdote when, in fact, this is expert opinion.
She says that a causal link between removal of the officers and increased violence has not been proven. The only way to “prove” causation would be a randomized control trial comparing school districts with and without a liason officer.
Is the commissioner aware that it is unethical to perform a randomized control trial where one cohort is subject to conditions that are plausibly harmful?
Given the reports from schools, the study she requests is unlikely to pass ethics review, because such a study would violate the human right of security of the person.
How long will she wait before acting to protect children on the best evidence available?
Dr. Lindsay Waterman, MD
Victoria
Listen to the people on the front lines
It is so disappointing reading about how B.C.’s rights commissioner, Kasari Govender, is still steadfast on the removal of school liaison officers from our schools.
Govender continues to say, “We have no evidence about the impact of this problem.”
Really? Are those on the front lines, as is school counsellor Mia Golden, and teachers, school administrators, parents, students, Police Chief Del Manak and other police officers, not to be trusted with what she calls “anecdotal” accounts?
Anecdotal comments from those who work directly with and within our schools are, in my mind, direct and honest appraisals of what our schools are experiencing.
What is the data that she is looking for? If it is available and taking so long to acquire, why not maintain the SLOs, based on front line individuals’ facts.
There is no evidence of harm as she has stated although she does say “SLO programs might cause more harm than good.”
That is a statement acknowledging that she really doesn’t know but is still preferring to go against those who are our front line, who are skilled individuals and who really do know.
This is an ongoing challenge that really needs a quick resolution to ensure all our students are safe at all times.
Dave Hockley
retired principal
Victoria
Seniors need pools, so approve a new Crystal
As a senior, I believe an accessible pool and recreation centre is a top priority.
Walking and exercise are getting hard, but swimming and water-classes are keeping me healthy and giving me community.
I’m hopeful many seniors will support the new Crystal Pool designs and help keep our seniors’ community healthy and active. This is money well spent.
Wendy Friesen
Victoria
SEND US YOUR LETTERS
• Email letters to: [email protected]
• Mail: Letters to the editor, Times Colonist, 201-655 Tyee Rd., Victoria, B.C. V9A 6X5
• Submissions should be no more than 250 words; subject to editing for length and clarity. Provide your contact information; it will not be published. Avoid sending your letter as an email attachment.
