Opinion

Dear editor, I would like to respond to Marc Rutten’s (P. Eng. for the CVRD) letter to the editor in the June 17 edition of the Comox Valley Record.

Dear editor, I had the pleasure of attending the 8-80cities.org (Google) presentation by Gil Penalosa on how many communities are transforming to be more people oriented, easily accessible, safe and enjoyable.

Dear editor, A selection of opinions around the Valley on the proposed downtown homeless shelter site reveals something rather disturbing in the democratic, egalitarian society that we like to think Canada is: an idea that the homeless are somehow ‘other,’ different than us upstanding citizens.

Let’s assume that when everyone in B.C. gets to be finance minister for a day, a majority choose to throw a $3-billion chair through the office window to show how mad they are about the harmonized sales tax. The cleanup will take two years, but first there will be a provincial election to decide who holds the broom and dustpan. And the choices are becoming clear.

The matter of this coal mine is completely political as noted by CSIS director Richard Fadden in a rare June 22, 2010, interview where he indicated that certain B.C. provincial and municipal politicians were being influenced by various Asian powers, one being China. This coal mine represents part of his message.

With the provincial government’s move to eventually force industry to plan for the end use of its products and packaging materials, it may force companies to change the way they market and distribute their goods.

The mood was festive at the grand opening of the newly renovated kidney dialysis unit in Cumberland until Health Minister Michael de Jong spoke. I could not believe my ears that he misidentified what disease was being treated at the unit ... not only once, but three times!

The editorial cartoon in the Friday, June 10 issue showed – yet again – the need to have accurate information put forward regarding water restrictions.

The Liberals are at it again, and I am referring to deception, in their stick ads promoting the HST.

A special article extolling the many tourist attractions and virtues of the Comox Valley would be a good way for BCAA's Westworld magazine to show it is sorry.