Time to rethink spending priorities

A few days ago I read that the Interchange at the airport was on. It came to mind at about 2 p.m. while I was snailing my way through the intersections on the Trans-Canada Highway at Tillicum Road and McKenzie Avenue.

There has been so little opposition to such misdirected funding. Perhaps our tax dollars would be better spent at McKenzie Avenue or on the new bridge in downtown Victoria. Hundreds of millions have been spent on bridges in Vancouver ... what are we, chopped liver?

I think our government needs to shake their collective heads when it comes to priorities. Vast sums are being spent, yet things we value are being cut.

Ron Kirstein

Langford

Follow Colwood’s lead on EM bylaws

Re: Colwood tackling electronic interference, News, Oct. 23, 2009.

As radio and cellular tower placement is regulated federally, municipalities have no influence unless they choose to specifically create policies and bylaws in order to do so.

The pending electronic interference bylaw in Colwood puts some limitations and accountability on the shoulders of those who rent their land for communication tower placement.

Would you want your garage door opening when you are out, or asleep? Would you like your municipality to be powerless to mitigate it? One FM radio station transmitter on Triangle Mountain operates among a neighbourhood of homes at more than 90,000 watts. This level of constant power output does not come close to “everyday electronics” that the average citizen would own.

While individuals continue to have no voice, Colwood council has stepped up to be this voice on its citizen’s behalf. My hope is other municipalities do the same.

Robert Jeske

Langford

Clean up after your dog

My family and our dog have enjoyed going to Albert Head Lagoon for the past few years. It seems that every time we are there the beach has become more littered with dog feces. As a responsible pet owner we come prepared with dog waste bags. And say you might have forgotten yours?

A thoughtful beach-goer has made a container so that people with spare bags can leave some for those who are without. To those who can’t be bothered to pick up your dog’s waste I would like to send you my son’s shoes, pants and coat that have your dog’s waste smudged on them.

I love this beach as do many other people so please do the right thing and give your dog to someone with a conscience.

Shannon Caudwell

Langford

Pork barrel abounds in Ottawa

What does two cups of coffee and your life have in common? That’s the cost per Canadian for the physical repair of the Chalk River medical isotope facility, according to expert testimony on Parliament Hill last week.

However, rather than spending what amounts to pocket change today to help the sick, Minister Lisa Raitt said roll the dice and Prime Minister Harper said cancel it — guaranteeing excessive suffering and premature deaths for thousands of Canadians —- because Mr. Harper’s focus is elsewhere.

Rather than providing good management, the Harper government has undertaken the largest pork barreling spending spree in Canadian history by diverting most of the multi-billion dollar economic stimulus package to Conservative ridings — even to the extent of feeding Conservative caucus member companies.

Mr. Harper’s focus is plainly pork barrel spending and not responsible leadership.

Eugene Parks

Victoria