Skip insulting language Langford council not dysfunctional

Don’t use insulting language in letters

Re: “Actually, our efforts will make a change,” letter, May well 14.

The letter about e-bikes provided the statement that regardless of what Saanich or Canada does will have in essence no impression on climate.

I was upset to see a rebuttal in which the phrase “moronic” was made use of when the context of the offending letter was factual. A person can disagree with an feeling but to vacation resort to insulting, bullying language is hardly the scientific process and speaks volumes about the author.

The details are that Canada creates a pretty compact percentage of the world’s greenhouse gases and Saanich a small portion of that. Consequently, Canada’s (and Saanich’s) impression on local climate will be equally minuscule.

So, I agree with the original author that e-bikes becoming backed by Saanich taxpayers to assist the natural environment is an pointless and imprudent fiscal intrusion lacking any sort of prevalent sense.

Using harsh and insulting language simply because they do not concur with an viewpoint is not valuable to the point of the primary letter. Possibly the author of the rebuttal ought to glimpse in the mirror in advance of writing these types of all over again.

David James

Victoria

Taxes are higher — but that is not dysfunction

Re: “B.C. is plagued by dysfunctional municipal councils,” commentary, May 15.

I laughed when I browse this commentary. The examples supplied of dysfunctional councils provided seven municipalities: Langford, Delta, Kamloops, Surrey, Harrison Hot Springs, Lion’s Bay and Sayward.

A person of these is very obviously not like the many others.

Six of the municipalities on that record have witnessed different degrees of infighting between users of council. This contains calls for resignations, true resignations, community censures and removing from duties, investigations and lawsuits, senior employees resignations, attempts to dissolve the municipality, and appointments of provincial advisers to support wade as a result of the muck.

This is the variety of dysfunction that prevents these councils from properly carrying out their governance obligations in their respective municipalities.

Langford council has found none of these matters. They have passed two report-significant tax raises, which is the motive they ended up included on the listing.

There are political divisions in the metropolis. Langford council has confronted significant backlash from some customers of the community.

However, council by itself has continued to function with no any of the inside drama of the other municipalities named above.

In simple fact, the performing of council as a governing overall body has enhanced from the past council in Langford, which featured two members commonly and publicly at odds with the mayor and council greater part.

Better taxes and dysfunction are not the exact point.

Frazer Johnson

Langford

Langford council creating the rough decisions

Re: “B.C. is plagued by dysfunctional municipal councils,” commentary, May 15.

The off-handed characterization of Langford metropolis council as “dysfunctional” is quite off the mark.

Finding the municipality’s financial property in buy and transitioning to extra sustainable spending budget tactics appears to me to be the reverse of dysfunctional.

We should be electing leaders who can make the necessary decisions, even when they’re challenging, with their precedence being the general general public fascination.

Low taxes should not be the only driver in the equation for correct governance — and unquestionably have to be balanced with the need for investments in infrastructure, features and unexpected emergency-services staff manufactured all the more urgent by the exploding populace in Langford to be served. The bulk of Langford council’s decisions are unanimous, but with a healthy amount of break up votes to reveal democracy in action.

And the break up votes have never ever been adopted by any general public shows of acrimony or infighting. There are quite a few illustrations of dysfunctional councils out there — but the present Langford council is certainly not one particular of them.

Sarah Plank

Langford

Municipal money really should not be utilised for bikes

Saanich council has unanimously permitted supplying a subsidy to citizens for the order of an e-bicycle. In my look at this is an illustration of ideological surplus.

To believe that this extremely, extremely infinitesimal assist to globe greenhouse fuel reduction is in any way powerful is pretty astounding, and makes use of taxpayer cash in precedence over significantly a lot more useful endeavours.

I think Saanich council has no mandate to use municipal funds for a subsidy of this nature, definitely creeping into territory that belongs to federal and provincial governments (which also appear excessively ideological these times).

I strongly item to Saanich council’s actions in this regard and hope that a lot of far more citizens desire far better, a lot more effective use of our tax bucks as well.

Stan Brygadyr

Victoria

Tax avoidance is not evasion

Re: “$1.3 billion in unpaid taxes in real estate sector,” May possibly 16.

The tale quotes Erica Shiner of Canadians for Tax Fairness as saying: “Tax avoidance proceeds to be a issue in numerous sectors, costing Canadians billions in ­revenue each individual 12 months.” It is disappointing that the spokesperson for an entity set up to promote tax fairness does not feel to recognize the difference amongst avoidance and evasion.

It is beautifully authorized to set up one’s affairs to limit or steer clear of taxation in accordance with the Earnings Tax Act and Laws. On the other hand, evasion of tax because of to a failure to report or other nefarious usually means is a felony offence.

Ashley Witts

North Saanich

Forestry procedures contribute to fires

Re: “Link between fires and weather alter,” letter, May perhaps 16.

There is a further link with forest fires that is not remaining created about: fires and modern-day forestry tactics. A mature Canadian forest has the desired coniferous fibre trees as effectively as deciduous trees and shrubs. These deciduous trees and shrubs make the forest much more resistant to fire.

A popular forestry practice is to spray glyphosate to rid the forest of these non-coniferous vegetation considering that they are thought to compete with the ideal higher-price fibre trees. The present-day observe of very clear-reducing destroys deadfall and mosses as nicely as washes considerably of the natural and organic make a difference from the forest ground, all things that would hold dampness very well into the summer season dry periods.

Very clear-chopping also destroys snags and other trees that sort habitat for birds, squirrels and bats, creatures that prey on tree-damaging bugs. Insect hurt also tends to make the forest far more vulnerable to fireplace.

If one wishes to make the forest in particular inclined to fireplace, then use the contemporary exercise of producing plantation forests.

The densely planted coniferous forests are bereft of deadfall, mosses and deciduous trees and shrubs, and as the resin-containing coniferous trees improve their reduce branches die due to deficiency of gentle, therefore furnishing enough gasoline for fireplace.

Finally, Canadian forests have been net carbon emitters due to the fact 2002, thus contributing to weather improve.

Bernhard H.J. Juurlink

Mill Bay

Lighten up and love Raeside’s cartoons

Raeside is a gem. No matter of irrespective of whether you concur or disagree, just enjoy the intelligent graphics and wording. Lighten up and immediate your narrow-minded view somewhere else.

Valerie Axford

Qualicum Seaside

Owning a vehicle might not be feasible

Re: “Give Old Town people their personal parking areas,” letter, May well 16.

The letter says that biking and transit are not practical for residents of Aged City. Contact me skeptical, but just how feasible can possessing a car be if you have to compose a letter to the editor about needing free of charge parking?

Kevin Hampton

Victoria

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