While the B.C. Liberals are busy railing about how the opposition will kill the economy, just what, pray tell, are they doing by exporting raw logs to China so that they can be processed there instead of in B.C.?
If, instead, we exported processed products, we’d keep the jobs here where they are needed to boost our economy. Every job lost is money not being spent in B.C., therefore that money is not being returned to the economy in the form of taxes.
To a citizen like me, it seems like a no-brainer to keep as many jobs here in B.C. as possible.
Linda Sutton, Chilliwack
MLAs should cut wages
Please inform the finance minister that true fiscal discipline would be more easily achieved if he and his fellow MLAs reduced their salaries to mirror the percentage raises that were given to their employees over the last few years. This would set a good example for fiscal discipline.
Also, remind him that investing in your future workforce is good fiscal discipline, so please reinstate class-size restrictions in our schools and stop ignoring the court decision that reinforces them.
Keith Davis, Nanaimo
‘Respect in Sport’ has changed hockey for the better
The culture change in minor hockey can be described in no less a term than astounding.
Accountability is there like it was not there before. One person can make a difference and that person is Sheldon Kennedy. The program that has changed minor hockey in Canada for better is Respect in Sport, which Kennedy helped initiate and develop. If good can come from evil, Mr. Kennedy can be the example for us.
Respect in Sport is mandatory for all coaches and trainers, and in my view should be mandatory for all parents as well. It provides and develops a different attitude and perspective for hockey and the atmosphere around the game.
Can we as volunteers and parents do a better job at managing conflict and provide a safe place to play? Of course we can. But at least there is a pathway we can follow to get there.
Clay Foard, Sorrento
Natives need to quit committing crimes
First Nations say they are concerned about the new crime bill. Apparently more “aboriginals” will be placed in prison than before if the bill passes.
Maybe they are guilty.
Chief Shawn Atleo feels that First Nations should take care of their own offenders in “aboriginal facilities.” If they have not done a very good job in the past, why should it change in the future?
Natives make up 20 per cent of our prison population. The question Atleo should ask is, “Why?”
Maybe it’s because native people break the law more often and are caught more frequently. It’s not some sort of crusade against native people. I’m tired of more concessions being made to natives.
George Pearson, Richmond
C-30 will make cops lazy
While critics of Bill C-30 may fear some sort of mass surveillance conspiracy on behalf of the conservative government; I believe that even when we presume the sincerity of Public Safety Minister Vic Toews, and entertain his notion of honesty, Bill C-30 is still wrong.
Currently, in order to intercept electronic communications, it requires a court-ordered warrant. In order to obtain a warrant, law enforcement must have evidence called probable cause.
When laws are changed, and law enforcement does not require a warrant, the substantial investigative work that would have been conducted in order to obtain that warrant does not take place. Law enforcement skips a step and merely conducts surveillance.
Toews is being a lazy policeman, and children will be in more harm from child predators. By passing Bill C-30, law enforcement is reduced to observe and report rather than being on guard for thee.
Peter Lenko, Langley
Sunday used to be ‘Family Day’
After reading and listening to reasons for a Family Day, thinking back a few decades, we had a Family Day, a day most families could be together, eat together and have fun together. That day was called Sunday.
All the reasons for a Family Day now are pretty much those we lost when we gave up Sunday as our day of rest. And that Family Day was every week, not once a year.
Terrance Fisher, Surrey
We get the municipal politicians we deserve
There is much talk lately about the densification of our communities. What is not talked about is the crime, pollution, traffic congestion, etc. that always follows.
People buy their properties in municipalities because they like what they see. What most are getting from their city halls is little understanding of what their citizens want.
Much of this blame must be accepted by the citizens. Municipal voter turnout is notoriously low. We must spread the word to the citizens to pay attention to municipal politics. The wrong people vote for the wrong people.
Wendy Qureshi, North Vancouver
The editorial pages editor is Gordon Clark, who can be reached at gclark@theprovince.com. Letters to the editor can be sent to provletters@theprovince.com.
