Mayors call for support for health-care workers
As mayors of B.C.’s largest communities, we are standing together in support of our health-care workers who have been working tirelessly since March 2020 to save the lives of those who have contracted COVID-19 during this pandemic.
While we support the right to peaceful protest, demonstrations of this nature should not impede people’s safe access to health care and workers’ safe access to their workplace. From Kamloops to Kelowna and communities across our province, health-care workers deserve everyone’s respect, gratitude and support.
The B.C. Urban Mayors’ Caucus supports the decisions of the public health officer and Centre for Disease Control to keep people safe and curb the spread of COVID-19 and the Delta variant through proof of vaccination cards for non-essential services.
The best action we can all take is to get vaccinated and follow the public health orders set out by Dr. Bonnie Henry.
This pandemic has taken a toll on people’s physical and mental health, which has exacerbated many of the challenges facing our communities. The BCUMC looks forward to working alongside our provincial and federal partners to stem the spread of COVID-19 so that we can address the concurrent mental health crises as noted in our Blueprint for B.C.’s Urban Future.
Colin Basran, Mayor of Kelowna
Lisa Helps, Mayor of Victoria
On behalf of the B.C. Urban Mayors’ Caucus
Smartphones and lack of privacy
Anyone who balks at the QR code requirement for entry to private businesses claiming invasive surveillance, but also carries a smartphone around, is not paying very close attention to the tech world.
Steve Ireland
Denman Island
Toss that smartphone to find real freedom
In the report on the protests, one organizer was quoted as saying:
“We believe that the ability to move freely in society without being surveilled is a basic human right.”
I hope that all who attended were encouraged to throw away their smartphones, as I am sure they must realize they are under continual surveillance by Apple, Google and many other large corporations that constantly monitor their location, preferences and choices.
Doug Woollard
Sidney
Many of life’s rules for the good of all
This abuse, harassment and intimidation is an erosion and denial of democracy that gives these anti-vaccine bullies the very rights they use to demonstrate for their own redundant paranoid cause not to be vaccinated.
I think they have every right to not be vaccinated if they wish, but I and the rest of the population have a right to know if the patrons in a club venue or any enclosed space have been vaccinated or not, mainly for their safety, not yours.
In the same way that when I drive, I expect all other drivers have been assessed and qualified to drive the class of vehicles they are driving and know which side of the road to drive on.
My point is that there are many rules in life which are for the safety of all citizens to go about their lives without fear and concern for their welfare and health as much as possible.
I believe in our democracy and the right to free speech and demonstrate peacefully, provided this does not deny any other citizens their rights in any way to enjoy the same rights and privileges to do the same.
This means to not constrict, withhold or interfere access or right of way to going about their lawful business and right to free speech that any other protesters expect to enjoy. To do otherwise is to deny other protesters their rights and is undemocratic.
John V. Martin
Nanaimo
How do we get the message across?
Was enjoying lunch downtown when we heard all the commotion coming from the legislature grounds.
We discovered a very large, noisy anti-vaxxer group of demonstrators spouting their ludicrous views. I find it truly frightening that there are so many ill-informed — dare I say, stupid — people among us.
Trying to engage them in a meaningful exchange is hopeless. What to do?
Lucy Waldo
Victoria
Maybe a side benefit to the misinformation
Looks like the medical disinformation industry (including but not limited to a major U.S. news network) has succeeded in “whipping up a winner” in the inaugural running of the Gullible Futurity Stakes. At least those who rely on the equine deworming agent ivermectin as opposed to actual vaccines won’t have an itchy rectum when they get put on a ventilator.
And maybe if they recover they’ll be able to run six furlongs in 1:12.
Sandy Szabo
North Saanich
Neighbours, police not getting support
In Esquimalt, a convicted sex offender attempted to break into a woman’s home.
Fortunately, neighbours prevented whatever atrocity this man had in mind, and then the police did their job.
The next morning the guy is released, albeit with some restrictions, with the hope that he adheres to them. His history indicates that this isn’t likely to be the case.
The neighbours and the police did their job. Why can’t the courts do their part in keeping our community safe?
It is no wonder that the police whose lives and well being are often at risk become disheartened. They do not have the support of the judicial system, and in fact as in this case, it has actually betrayed them.
We can’t blame them for asking: “What’s the point?”
Greg Robinson
North Saanich
Catch and release works in fishing
I’ve always imagined that catch-and-release was for sport fishing, but now it’s also used for people suspected of violent crimes.
Why?
Eric Manning
Victoria
Judge’s decision must be reversed
A 63-year-old man attempted to break into an Esquimalt woman’s home in the early night. The woman screamed and some neighbours chased the fleeing suspect, caught him and held him until police arrived and arrested the man.
The man has a police record going back to 2004, which includes convictions for kidnapping and sexual assault. After he was caught in Esquimalt, he appeared in court and was released by the judge.
How is this possible? The convicted sex offender was caught in the act of intending to reoffend.
The Judicial Council of B.C. is a nine-member panel that makes recommendations on judge applications to Attorney General David Eby, who makes his decision on the names submitted and passes them to the cabinet. In the end, the premier and cabinet members finalize the selection.
The council has the power to undertake inquiries into the conduct of judges.
This terrible and dangerous decision needs to be reversed, for the health, safety and comfort of Victoria citizens.
Jim Laing
Saanich
Stuck in Kabul and feeling abandoned
Imagine these citizens:
• stuck in Kabul feeling abandoned as it became clear that the promised help with evacuation was looking increasingly unlikely;
• had hoped to be evacuated this week said they had heard nothing from officials since late on Thursday, and were feeling increasingly hopeless about the possibility of getting back to their homes;
• described the evacuation operation as “hugely mismanaged” and a “shambles”;
• said they were increasingly concerned about their safety; and
• voiced frustration that it had become impossible to get through to the Foreign Office’s Afghanistan helpline and said emails to the dedicated Afghan assistance account were not being answered.
Canadians?
No. British citizens, as reported in the Guardian.
It would appear that Canada was not the only ally sold out by the United States.
Alan Humphries
Victoria
They had enough time to help the Afghans
Our government has known for six months or longer that the Americans and Canadians were leaving Afghanistan.
Our government had plenty of time to get all interpreters and their families and everyone that helped our troops out of Afghanistan.
I lost two nephews trying to protect the democracy of the Afghan people. We failed.
When a woman is pregnant she usually does not start planning for the arrival of the child until after the first trimester (three months).
If a pregnant woman can be organized for the birth in the six remaining months, why is it that Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and the so-called defence minister cannot get their act together to get the Afghan troops, and all the other people who were loyal to us, out of there, rather than being left behind to be harmed or slaughtered?
Carolyn Morrison
Youbou
A quick way to identify non-compliant businesses
We need some way to identify those restaurants and other businesses that refuse to comply with COVID-19 restrictions.
How about painting a skull and crossbones on their front doors?
C.J. Crow|
Brentwood Bay
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