OAK BAY RESIDENTS RESPOND

The News asked residents what changes they wanted to see council make over the next three years.

"I want to see them legalize secondary suites," Jon Swoveland.

"I love it the way it is. I don't know what people are complaining about," Diane Kallal.

"Keep supporting the arts. We have studio tours twice a year and council supports them. That's great," Imke Pearson.

"We need to see licensed daycare (for babies and toddlers) brought to Oak Bay," Karen Lindsay.

"I cycle a lot and some of the roads are appalling. They need to be fixed," Mel Jones.

"The speed at which the councilors make their decisions," Pam Lafreniere.

Leadership will be crucial in the coming years

It’s an understatement to say that we are living in interesting times.

The world seems to be undergoing a profound shift. On one hand, the looming environmental and economic crises are scaring many of us. On the other, events such as the election of the first African-American president in the U.S. are giving people hope.

We shouldn’t let unrealistic expectations set us up for disappointment, but at least Barack Obama seems to have recognized that new ideas are needed to resolve the problems facing the world, and to seize the opportunities the crises present.

In a speech to the Governors’ Climate Change Summit in Los Angeles on Nov. 18, the president-elect referred to climate change as the most serious threat facing America and the world, and said, “My presidency will mark a new chapter in America’s leadership on climate change that will strengthen our security and create millions of new jobs in the process.”

Although Obama’s proposed targets don’t go far enough to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, they are at least acknowledgement of the seriousness of the problem and represent a reversal of the Bush administration’s attitude.

His promise to implement a cap and trade system is a good step. Economists and scientists agree that putting a price on carbon emissions, through cap and trade and carbon taxes, is essential to combating catastrophic global warming.

It’s a shame that the top two contenders for leadership of the Liberal party in Canada have stepped away from the idea of a carbon tax, blaming it for the party’s dismal showing in the October federal election.

Our governing party hasn’t demonstrated great leadership either. Along with the U.S., Canada has been a laggard among industrialized nations on climate policy and action, and now it looks like we could soon be the worst of the dinosaurs.

But Obama won’t be sworn in until Jan. 20, and a lot is happening now. CEOs of the big three U.S. automakers – Ford, Chrysler, and General Motors – recently flew to Washington in private jets to ask for a US$25 billion bail-out from taxpayers.

They’ve been told to come up with better plans, but those plans will be considered in early December, before Obama takes the reins. Keep in mind that current U.S. President George Bush overruled California’s attempt to require stricter emissions standards for automobiles. Should we have sympathy for free-market capitalists like GM vice-chair Bob Lutz? He claimed climate change is a “crock of” … and that hybrid cars such as those made by Toyota “make no economic sense,” while his company continued to produce gas-guzzlers. Meanwhile, Japanese automakers are doing OK with more fuel-efficient vehicles such as hybrids.

If the U.S. automakers were to show greater commitment to innovation in fuel efficiency and alternative-fuel technology, they might deserve some help – although you have to wonder why it should take a crisis to wake them up. This is an example of how misguided some of our current economic thinking has been.

Economics is considered a science, but the economic theories we’ve been relying on have some serious flaws – including the belief that limitless growth is possible in a limited biosphere. As with any science, we can revise our theories based on proofs of failure and success. Fortunately, many people are proving that taking care of the environment is also the best way to take care of the economy and that we can’t have an economic system that ignores the value of the necessary services provided by nature.

Japanese automakers have shown that keeping up with science and changing conditions puts you in a better position to adapt and survive. Blindly continuing with business as usual as the world changes means you’ll likely be left behind.

On a larger scale, ignoring the seriousness of climate change and continuing to rely on fossil or nuclear fuels for energy can only lead to environmental and economic disaster. Obama knows that measures such as putting a price on carbon emissions and investing in renewable energy are essential for his nation’s energy security, economic progress, and environmental stability. Other countries, such as Germany and Denmark saw this many years ago. The U.S. and the world have a lot of catching up to do to forestall the catastrophic consequences of our outmoded economic thinking. Let’s hope the new U.S. president is up to the challenge and that he helps set an example for all world leaders to follow.

Take David Suzuki’s Nature Challenge and learn more at www.davidsuzuki.org.

David Suzuki with Faisal Moola

Mayor’s election comments shocking

Re: Business as usual, Nov. 19

I was somewhat shocked by Mayor-elect Christopher Causton’s ungracious remarks about newly elected councillor Tara Ney. In a democratic process people tend to vote for the candidates they feel best represent their interests and views.

I suggest it takes more than getting one’s names out there to successfully win a seat on council. It is ironic that this article appeared under the headline “Business as usual.” Perhaps that’s not what Oak Bay’s voters are looking for.

Irene Robertson

Oak Bay

Oak Bay’s allowable driveway width barely sufficient

Re: Council gets tough on senior’s suites, Nov. 21

I sympathize with my neighbour, Judy Bowman, for wanting to increase her available off street parking.

The allowable driveway width is barely sufficient to open the door on a medium size car without hitting the retaining wall. A large number of post war bungalows in this area are fitted with a drive under garage and retaining walls on each side of a very narrow driveway.

In our case the garage is directly under the master bedroom. We never park in the garage, opening the door causes heat loss, a wet car adds moisture and the fumes are unpleasant. Like everybody else we park in the driveway and on the street. Most families here have two or three cars hence the street is always packed in the evening and on weekends.

The problem arose after a sign was installed on Foul Bay Road and Carnarvon Street directing traffic to Carnarvon Park. We now have a virtual freeway of park users and daycare moms in mini-vans.

There must be 15 different ways to get to Carnarvon Park but this is now the route of choice facilitated by those misguided souls who park on the sidewalk allowing for faster driving, in some cases forcing people with strollers onto the road.

In any case I have nearly been clipped many times as well as forced into a game of chicken by these park users and I too would like a wider driveway.

Ed Lien

Oak Bay