Traffic nightmare on South Main
Dear Editor:
Do any of you ever drive down South Main Street? We live just off of it and use it regularly and have seen a couple of issues. Now that the roundabout and 鈥渓andscaping鈥 has been completed at Galt Avenue, the right turn off of Galt onto South Main Street is treacherous. For some reason the traffic has to move to the left heading straight into oncoming traffic. Several times we鈥檝e seen traffic stop either just before the yellow/black sign to let a large truck or bus get through and same with traffic coming down South Main towards the roundabout. They have to slow down or stop to let vehicles of all sizes get by who encroach on their lane.
I can鈥檛 see why the 鈥渓andscaping鈥/concrete just couldn鈥檛 have been made smaller so the road is not so tight there. At night time with the bright headlights itB次元官网网址 scary! With all the other new concrete barriers and signs the stretch of Galt to Green is totally confusing.
I鈥檓 not sure why any of this was done since very few bikes ever use the street -- especially in winter when we have snowbanks to contend with. We need wider streets, not narrower.
Every last person I have talked to about this issue agrees wholeheartedly. Please take the time to check this out yourself. Park at the Restore (if you can get into their lot now) and walk to the roundabout and spend 10 minutes observing what is going on.
Marion Robbins
Penticton
Save 106-acre playground
Dear Editor:
Something is rotten in the state of Denmark. Rumours have it that at B次元官网网址 city hall a major, almost unanimous decision to save the B次元官网网址 Springs Golf Course property is about to be overturned.
Background: B次元官网网址 Springs Golf Course was bought by a developer in October 2022 for about $30 million, or $25 million over the assessed value. Their plan is to fill the beautiful 106 acres with warehouses, based on the fact that the land-use designation was changed to industrial in the 2040 Official City Plan.
However some councillors felt this was wrong and during their campaign that fall, they committed to turning the property back to recreational. Mayor Tom Dyas made the strongest commitment to preserve the golf course (鈥淩esidents have told me that they expect their next mayor to fight to save B次元官网网址 Springs, and thatB次元官网网址 what I will do.鈥) The purchase by the developer occurred just days before the election knowing full well the designation would be changed back to recreational.
The property has remained an 18-hole golf course for the past two years but now the developer has closed the back nine holes and there are comments relating to the fact they are about to develop as planned. It is recreational land so who at city hall is meeting with this developer to allow them to feel comfortable with pursuing development plans? And why?
This property is first and foremost an important flood-control asset, also wildlife habitat, and fantastic affordable golf course. If the city bought the property it would also be a 106 acre winter playground for all types of activity. All within city limits.
Please take a moment to call city hall at 250-469-8500 to express your concerns.
Don Henderson
B次元官网网址
The times they are a changin鈥
Dear Editor:
Canada Post employees are on strike. And Canada Post management has formed their battle lines. I think we have seen this trench warfare before.
However this time the public has many options via emails and through social media. As soon as the strike was announced I received numerous emails directing me how to conduct my business without the need for Canada Post. I鈥檓 a firm supporter of Canada Post and prefer receiving documents through this facility. But this recent impasse has me really looking at the alternatives being pitched at me.
I have some time sensitive documents I had expected to be delivered by Canada Post. Now what? I have Christmas Cards I want to send. Shall I join so many others and find alternatives?
To Canada Post employees and management, times have changed. ItB次元官网网址 time for you to change too. Trench warfare is not the answer. Settle your differences and get competitive. Or both can participate in the requiem of Canada Past.
Steve Burke
West B次元官网网址
Controversial Poilievre memo
Dear Editor:
Re: 鈥淐onservative MPs frustrated after Poilievre bars them from promoting housing fund: sources鈥 (CBC, Nov. 14)
One party source says MPs are being prevented from helping cities 鈥榝or partisan reasons controversial memo.
Their unease stems partly from a press release distributed to the media earlier this month by PoilievreB次元官网网址 spokesperson on behalf of 17 Conservative MPs. One source said the Conservative leaderB次元官网网址 office distributed the release without consulting the MPs it named.
The release lists 17 Conservative MPs who wrote to Housing Minister Sean Fraser to request a share of the housing accelerator cash for their communities. They are Dan Albas, John Barlow, Michael Barrett, Kelly Block, Frank Caputo, Adam Chambers, Michael Cooper, Branden Leslie, Rob Moore, John Nater, Rick Perkins, Blake Richards, Lianne Rood, Gerald Soroka, Karen Vecchio, Ryan Williams and John Williamson.
Unfortunately, I have not found any coverage of this in the B次元官网网址 Courier. I believe this could affect voters in the Okanagan Valley when a local MP is involved.
Don Aitken
B次元官网网址
Artists expected to always be free
Dear Editor:
If I ask doctors to operate on several patients free, for 鈥渢he exposure,鈥 they might think I am delusional. Or ask a plumber or electrician. How about city council? Maybe they鈥檇 really enjoy working free most of the time... for the exposure.
Artists are expected to entertain free, provide free artwork: give and give and give. Apparently, artists do not need money. Apparently, we don鈥檛 have bills to pay.
By some strange magic, we are all very wealthy and can give everything away. ItB次元官网网址 a heartbreaking feeling to be exploited. Some people say, 鈥渨hat are you going to do with it all, anyway?鈥 That is up to the artist and is no one elseB次元官网网址 business.
Apparently, the work of our hands and hearts has appeared magically after a lifetime of learning, contemplation, workshops and lessons online and tips from other artists, costs of materials.
(Not much of that is free.)
Is our work valued? Murals appear and disappear in this city where bland seems to be the rule and we live in boxes stacked on boxes without a hint of elegance or style.
Art is precious.
And maybe itB次元官网网址 time we paid for it. Or offered exchanges, such as free tickets or free meals. Some artists dance or play music at various functions and do not even get a free meal.
Why would anyone take your art, your time, your energy, your hard work without paying for it? Isn鈥檛 that theft?
Artists have intellectual property rights. Every single piece of original art is the work of hands and minds: there is nothing like it anywhere in the world.
The work an artist creates is like a child - unique and wonderful. Many artists do not let our work go out into the world easily because it represents years of struggle, emotion, accomplishment.
We are all creators. Maybe itB次元官网网址 time to strike for fair wages for artists. Maybe we鈥檒l leave walls bare.
The beauty of our art work, sculptures and music could all disappear. Your beautiful objects -- those objects you plan to pass down through generations -- I hope you paid a fair price for them.
Lynn Greene
Penticton
Unfair voter
representation
Dear Editor:
When people encounter seemingly complex problems, many will quickly find ways to savor the status quo or, shoot the messenger.
Whoa! What about first identifying the factors that comprise the nature of the problem?
David Farrell, in his book. 鈥淓lectoral Systems鈥, suggests: 鈥淎 judgment on which electoral system is best for a given country should be made in the light of that countryB次元官网网址 history, social composition and political structures.
So how does an individualB次元官网网址 vote currently play in the Canadian representative democracy?鈥
Provincial and federal election agencies have a set of rules for voting, including establishing ridings by region. This suggests electoral integrity, where voters are represented the same within and across ridings of a region (proportional parity) and in the same way across regions (electoral parity), ensuring fair voting procedures.
Yet something is not right.
Authority for change to the political structure rests within their respective governments. Candidates with the most votes per riding are elected by plurality vote. Votes cast for losing candidates are for naught. Voters deserve better. What is missing is a means to address the popular vote.
We need an approach for improving complex systems, one that helps create innovative and dynamic solutions through integration of various pieces of information and ideas. ItB次元官网网址 called synthesis.
LetB次元官网网址 begin by calculating the popular vote by the number of ridings in the region. Entitlement to parity seats is then determined using a partyB次元官网网址 popular vote and this standard. Rounding up of left-over party votes may be necessary to harmonize the number of parity seats and ridings. A fledgling party or Independent candidates may qualify for a parity seat/riding by harmonization. When a party doesn鈥檛 field a candidate in a riding, votes may be cast for a partyB次元官网网址 regional vote.
Lists of candidate results per riding and regional intra-party ranking of candidate vote percentages are then compiled. Between party ranking across ridings is then used for riding allotment. Candidates with the best ranking percentages and a party entitlement to a parity seat are then assigned their ridings.
So why do politicians avoid implementing electoral proportional parity? Therein lies the rub. Hollow promises and floccinaucinihilipilification (an attitude of estimating something as worthless) do diddly-squat for fair voter representation. No question is so difficult to answer as that to which the answer is obvious.
Albert Madsen
B次元官网网址
Horgan tribute: he was one of us
Dear Editor:
As news of former premier John HorganB次元官网网址 death spread quickly throughout Sooke I was surprised at how many reactions were 鈥淚 knew him well鈥 or 鈥淚 spoke to him many times鈥漮r 鈥渉e was a good friend.鈥
He was truly one of us and we are grateful.
Gunny Tennese
Sooke
