B.C. falling behind on cellphone ban

Ontario has now become the fourth region in Canada to issue a ban on phones while driving.

Newfoundland and Labrador banned talking on hand-held phones in 2002. Quebec and Nova Scotia did it last year. Manitoba and Saskatchewan are considering similar legislation.

Does B.C. want to be the last one to clue in that this saves lives and is politically popular to boot? Come on, Premier Gordon Campbell, I thought you were smarter than that, and a leader not a follower. Let’s just do it.

Jon Conquist

Colwood

Reduce sewage

costs further

Re: Time a luxury sewage project can’t afford, Letters, Sept. 25, 2009.

In her letter, Judy Brownoff states that an extension of time is a luxury that cannot be afforded for sewage planning in the Capital Region. 

However, I believe what cannot be afforded is a sewage treatment plan that fails to look at all options to lessen the tremendous financial impact that wastewater treatment is going to have on every household and taxpayer of Greater Victoria.

There are substantial opportunities to reduce costs further below the most recent estimate of $715 million that are not being investigated. Jurisdictions such as the West Shore and North Vancouver are pursuing even greater integrated resource recovery systems to generate sustainable and valuable revenue streams.

An additional and very significant oversight by the CRD is the opportunity to locate the liquid and biosolids processing facilities in close to each other in Victoria’s industrial area of the harbour. 

Two teams of experts (at a cost of almost $1 million) have touted the benefits of locating these facilities close together.  Sites in Victoria exist that would significantly decrease infrastructure costs and also boost the revenues from resource streams due to increased efficiencies and proximity to local markets. Why are they not being investigated?

Ms. Brownoff, missed opportunities to reduce costs further is the luxury taxpayers cannot afford.

Kim Bellefontaine

Esquimalt