Re: “$17M contract awarded for Laurel Point cleanup,” Sept. 23.
Victorians must be happy that the British America Paint Co., a highly polluting industry in the Inner Harbour, was closed in the early 1970s. The property is now the site of a hotel and park. Few will remember the group of environmentalists who helped to bring about the closure of the paint factory.
When the highly profitable company denied discharging effluent into the harbour, members of SPEC (Society Promoting Environmental Conservation) paddled out to the factory and collected gobs of paint and other contaminants from wooden pilings. The bucket-sized pieces of coloured sediment were displayed on the causeway opposite the Empress Hotel. To draw attention to the problem, SPEC invited the press and public to view the evidence.
Now, four decades later, we are left with the cleanup. The federal government has awarded $17 million for the cleanup at Laurel Point. BAPCO was allowed to walk away, and now it is the taxpayer who is remediating the mess it left behind. This is a continuing problem where the polluter leaves with all the profit, and the taxpayer cleans up.
Shelagh Levey
Cordova Bay
We need more results in cancer treatment
Re: “Aunt’s $250K gift to fight ovarian cancer,” Sept. 26.
I saw the article on ovarian cancer and the kind donation made to ovarian-cancer research by Patty Pitts. The outlook for ovarian-cancer research needs to improve, Pitts says.
How true. We need to see more concrete results in cancer treatment overall.
I am mad, also. I lost my beautiful daughter this year to what started out as thyroid cancer 15 years ago, then spread to her lymph nodes, then to her spine and bones. She died a horrible, painful, lingering death this year.
Treatment goes through all the old tried and failed crap that doesn’t work. With all the millions of dollars donated to research, much better results have to be demanded. All we ever hear from cancer research is about what looks promising, testing, trials, etc., then we never hear about it again. Tell us when you have something that works.
Sorry about my rant, but it hurts.
Hunter Johnson
Victoria
Be thankful for Charter clause
Re: “Taking a look at the Charter,” editorial, Sept. 26.
The editorial makes the point that there “is no point of certainty here.”
If it is referring to the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, it is very certain. If it is referring to Section 33, it too, is very certain. If it is referring to where parts of the Charter begin and federal or provincial jurisdiction end, then that is in the nature of constitutions.
Actions to invoke parts of the Charter are subject to challenge. And Section 33 is a part of the Charter to guard against courts’ encroaching on governments’ jurisdiction and hence policy-making.
In this case, the Appeal Court of Ontario (three judges) has ruled that the lower Superior Court judge erred in attempting to use other parts of the Charter, i.e. free expression, to usurp the exclusive jurisdiction of the province under Section 92 (8) of the Constitution. Premier Doug Ford’s actions to invoke Section 33 were in order, but, thankfully, the Appeal Court confirmed the original bill of the premier’s government, and made unnecessary the use of Section 33, the notwithstanding clause.
This is in the nature of constitutions, especially in federations such as Canada, where distinct divisions of power exist, especially when later in the evolution of the country, something like a Charter is introduced that might challenge that jurisdiction.
As a person involved in developing the Charter, I am happy that Section 33 is a part of it, and available in 2018 to preserve the delicate balance between the judiciary and Parliament, if necessary.
A. Brian Peckford
Former premier of Newfoundland
Nanaimo
Just laugh at the mean comments
Re: “Echo chamber of hate,” editorial, Sept. 25.
No one forces you to read the comments.
I should know. With a social media following of my own, I receive a torrent of crude comments and uninvited messages each and every day. It comes with the territory.
The advent of social media has created many exciting possibilities. You can reach millions of people directly from your phone to theirs. You can connect with fellow citizens on shared issues of concern in your community.
In short, you can speak directly to Canadians.
And they, in turn, can speak directly back at you.
It’s not always pretty. It certainly is not always respectful. But in this country, we count freedom of speech and expression among our most cherished rights.
Fortunately, there is a solution.
On Jimmy Kimmel’s late-night talk show, a popular segment involves celebrity guests reading out “Mean Tweets” written about them. And then they do something extraordinary — they laugh.
They laugh at the outrageousness of the insults. At the absurdity of it all. And then they move on with their lives.
It’s an example our politicians would be wise to follow.
Aaron Gunn
Spokesperson, B.C. Proud
Victoria
Camp cost estimates are misleading
Re: “Costs for Regina Park camp could add up to $1M,” Sept. 26.
It is misleading to have the public believe that Saanich police incurred additional costs of $315,000 to the end of September for the antics in Regina Park, unless every officer was at the park on overtime.
The uniformed officers are salaried. Saanich police provides 365-day/24-hour service to the community.
The almost-absent chief constable has the ability to deploy officers on each shift from traffic duties or school liaison to any emerging issues on general patrol. This is not an additional cost to the department, it is moving resources to where the greater need exists.
Much goes the same for the parks department. The employees might not have been performing activities in the seasonal operational plan when cleaning up at Regina Park. However, they were still budgeted to be at work.
We should remain aware of the cost, compared with the additional costs incurred.
B.R. Smith
Duncan
Campers could move to a cheaper city
Re: “Campers get reprieve at Goldstream,” Sept. 21.
I have to ask: What is keeping the homeless in unaffordable, nowhere-to-rent Victoria?
It’s certainly not their jobs holding them here (although there are many available). It mustn’t be close family connections or they would have a place to stay. So why not move somewhere affordable?
Maybe the province (or a combination of Victoria, Saanich, Langford, etc.) could chip in and pay to have these decent, upstanding leavers of feces, used needles and other drug paraphernalia, etc., moved to an affordable area of the province.
Julia Pollard
Victoria
Election signs are a safety hazard
As happens every election cycle, I can only scoff at the disregard for public safety shown by almost every candidate.
The placement of election signs at intersections, roundabouts and highway on/off ramps is totally baffling. These areas have a higher-than-average risk factor where driver inattention could make a huge difference in someone’s life.
Lawmakers at all levels usually do their best to lessen the impact of distracted driving, but they seem happy to ignore the problem when trying to draw my eye off the roadway toward their message. I can only conclude these candidates care less about public safety than they do about being elected.
I understand the need for name recognition in local elections, but I think there should be strict rules about appropriate placement where there are just inches between drivers and their surrounding hazards.
Steve Ireland
Denman Island
Irony in Trump’s views on the UN
U.S. President Donald Trump declares his country independent of any international authority and at the same time tells North Korea it must be bound by decisions of the UN.
He tells Iran that they must bow to the wishes of the United States. I don’t think I’m the only one who sees irony in this.
Ken Hiebert
Ladysmith
