Letters

It is great that large crowds attend the Nov. 11 Remembrance Day service at the Sidney Cenotaph. What amazes me is that they come knowing that a large number will be unable to hear or follow the service.

Aryze Developments has had the ear of Victoria council past and present. The company proposed a dense townhouse development in Foul Bay that, when ready to market, is to include two units at ‘below market’ cost. A company representative says that Aryze now wishes to be exempt from providing these two units, because ‘costs have risen.’ Instead, the developer will offer council $60,000 as ‘a community amenity.’

I see the BC United party has a new advertisement bashing NDP policies and offering fixes to various issues. Seems quite ironic given the drivers of B.C. were “fixed” by leader Kevin Falcon’s old party (BC Liberals) to the tune of $1.2 billion being taken from ICBC and put into general revenue to show a later proven false and deceitful balanced budget.

Langford Mayor Scott Goodmanson told the Goldstream Gazette that a $23,570 conference was “a chance for a new city council to listen to what is working in other communities across Canada.”

As attributed to Daniel Patrick Moynihan, “Everyone is entitled to his own opinion, but not his own facts.” Letter writer Jan Cook (Nov. 15 Saanich News) claimed “All (Saanich) parks are leash only, except for a few off-leash optional ones between 6-9 a.m.”

I finally got in for complex spinal surgery after a three-year wait. My surgery was delayed not due to the lack of a surgeon but due to a shortage of health-care staff, supplies, equipment and infrastructure. I observed this firsthand when I was in the hospital.

It’s both perplexing and disturbing to me to witness the division and often hostility between drivers and cyclists. Since I use all modes of transportation, preferring to cycle when possible, I can view the issues from both sides.

COVID, double-digit inflation of basic staples, and decades of wage stagnation have caused Canadians to hit an affordability wall. Social media is now full of tearful testimonials from citizens who after taxes don’t have enough left over to meet their basic needs without going further into debt, going hungry or even becoming homeless.

I am writing to thank Amy Read so very much for her courage and integrity to speak out about the appalling violence and behavior problems that you are witnessing amongst very young children in your classroom.

I would like to thank the local governments of North Saanich, Saanich and Metchosin for their prompt attention and approval of the two most recent membership applications to the Peninsula and Area Agricultural Commission (PAAC). As one of the approved applicants, I am looking forward to providing my agricultural expertise to the commission. However, the District of Central Saanich has surprisingly “blocked” those same appointments.