‘We are all related’ a mantra for today
Re: “How I deal with discrimination,” comment, June 18.
This opinion piece beautifully articulates the concept, shared by me, that “there are no races.”
My husband and I were early participants in the National Geographic Geographic Project — for the personal information that it gave us plus the contribution to the scientific study of human ancestry.
Several decades ago, I designed a T-shirt for my husband with one of his favourite mantras on it.
As he would say: “We are all related.”
B.H.E. Crawford
Victoria
Been to drug store more often lately?
Since the pandemic began, and some hoarding and supply concerns were being swiftly dealt with, pharmacies began dispensing only a 30-day supply of medications, instead of the regular 90-day supply.
The 30-day rule means that people who need regular medications have to go to the drug store three times as often as before. It also means that dispensing fees have increased because they are charged every time they reorder.
Health Minister Adrian Dix says the government did not mandate this rule. It appears it was the pharmacies themselves through the Canadian Pharmacy Association.
They said hoarding and supply chains were the issues. I don’t know how anyone hoards their meds. We all take them and re-order as needed. The supply chain may have been a concern at one time, but that is not the case now as supplies are almost back to normal.
What people may not know is that many pharmacies have stopped the 30-day dispensing rule.
However, they don’t tell you when reordering that you must ask for a 90-day supply again or you’ll continue to get just the 30-day supply and be charged the dispensing fees.
It’s time that pharmacies cease this practice of gouging those who need regular medications.
Shan O’Hara
Victoria
Give stimulus money back to taxpayers
Re: “Province seeks citizen guidance on how to spend $1.5B stimulus fund,” June 18.
The B.C. government is asking people how it should spend $1.5B of taxpayer money.
The answer is very simple, it is our tax money and it should be given back to us as a tax reduction.
Any project that is initiated with that money will in the end cost more, and there will be significant associated administrative costs.
So, it was not a gift, and it should be given back to taxpayers.
Roger Cyr
Victoria
Why all the secrecy in B.C.?
We as citizens and taxpayers are entitled to know which hospitals are reporting patients with COVID-19.
Other provinces don’t have a problem supplying this information, which leads me to wonder what is really going on in B.C.
Ontario, one of the worst-hit provinces, is opening up and soon their nursing homes will be open to families. The isolation of the elderly has been detrimental to their health and the well-being of families who care.
There is no reason for B.C. to follow draconian health measures. I can do the math and it makes no sense. People who have nothing to hide, hide nothing. So, why the secrecy?
Vici Schwan
Ladysmith
Economic inequality an age-old problem
Our democracy is not working when the top 1% of Canadian families hold 25.6% of our wealth. That just leaves 74.4% to be shared by 99% of Canadian families.
This is nothing new. I am currently reading a book about Islam. The prophet Muhammad, who lived from 570 to 632, took some actions that attempted to (in his words) “alleviate the divide between the ridiculously wealthy and the absurdly poor.”
How far have we come.
Vince Devries
Ladysmith
Safety escort is sad indictment of park crisis
The city was installing new signs in Beacon Hill Park this morning. The crew was accompanied by two bylaw enforcement officers who told me they were there to protect the workers.
What a sad indictment of the crisis in Beacon Hill when workers need a safety escort to do their job at 9.30 a.m. on a Thursday morning in a public park.
Alan Humphries
James Bay
Are we too reliant on automation?
Re: “Cyclone crash caused by ‘conflict’ between pilot, helicopter: DND,” June 16.
The similarities between the crashes of the Cyclone helicopter and the Boeing 737 MAX jetliners is striking.
There were “conflicts,” or “competitions” between the aircraft and pilot while the autopilot was engaged and the pilots apparently tried to override the “flight director” when they experienced situations they “had no previous experience [of] nor exposure to.”
Are we becoming too reliant on automation and software for our safety? It is frightening to think that the same industrial organizations are developing the systems for autonomous (self-driving) vehicles.
Geoffrey Archbold
Saanich
Local businesses need immediate help
As the new CEO of the Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce, Bruce Williams seems optimistic that “the Canadian economy is in relatively good shape” as our country recovers from COVID-19.
However, the bitter day-to-day reality of many businesses at my neighbourhood mall are in stark contrast to his rosy vision. These businesses are not merely suffering from pandemic-related losses — their hard-won success stories have been annihilated one by one.
Nothing could have prepared me for the dystopian horror show at the local mall. I was informed that six businesses are closing shop and many are in various stages of bankruptcy. They constitute some of the biggest fashion brands in Canada. Thousands of jobs have been lost nation-wide and the unemployed workers have nowhere to go, aside from the welfare line.
Since the pandemic has caused economic devastation in communities from Victoria to St. John’s, it seems to fit the definition of a “large-scale natural disaster.”
In any kind of cataclysmic event, Public Safety Canada provides financial assistance to provinces.
So why are Canadian workers and businesses being forced to apply for money that should be freely given to them?
Recovery from this pandemic means losing the pink glasses, facing reality and governments being willing to provide as much help and support to individuals and businesses as needed — no strings attached.
Doreen Marion Gee
Victoria
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