Government support crucial for recyclers

Thank you for your view on recycling (Our View, Nov. 26).

For about five years I have been taking my recycling to Pacific Mobile Depot’s drop-off centres. I am amazed at the variety they take. I am almost down to zero garbage, one small grocery bag every three months.

I am worried that they will not be able to continue their service. I think it absolutely necessary that the government subsidize these companies to keep them alive.

Besides keeping so much out of the dump, they create jobs and support recycling businesses across the country. It also is a great education process.

Joanna Wilkinson

Victoria

Conservative move a stab at democracy

The proposal to eliminate public subsidies to Canada’s major political parties is yet another display of Conservatives’ irresponsibility – turning a troubled economy into an opportunity to gain political advantage.

The meagre savings generated from this attack on democracy would amount to roughly $30 million, a pittance to the budget. However, this will cost much more in losses to freedom, democracy, and equality.

This tactic isn’t a solution to the economic crisis; it’s an attempt to sneak in political advantage while the opposition is recovering. Harper is effectively kicking Canadians while we’re down and striking at equalization policy to give Conservatives an advantage – all this when just a few months ago Harper broke his own election law and wasted $300 million of Canadian taxpayers’ money.

I’m convinced Harper’s only goal is to gain political power by tilting the political scales in his favour and not to serve Canadians.

His job is not to control the people of Canada, but to represent us.

Adam Saab

Victoria

Stephen Harper changing his tune

Stephen Harper recently stated, “The opposition has every right to defeat the government, but Stephane Dion does not have the right to take power without an election. Canada’s government should be decided by Canadians, not backroom deals.”

I vote in the riding of Vancouver-Kingsway. Perhaps Harper can explain why MP David Emerson became a Conservative government minister through a backroom deal and not by a decision of the voters. That was then, this is now, eh Stephen Harper?

Larry Kazdan

Vancouver

Educate voters about STV system

My name is Liz Durward, I’m 15 and in Grade 10.

In the interest of making sure people know all the options available to them, I think you should include more information about the single transferrable vote (STV) system of voting.

For those who don’t know, the STV system is when the ridings are made larger and more than one candidates is elected from the riding. This would mean that there would be more than one representative from each party in each riding.

When voting, the voters number candidates in the order of their preferences, so that if their first choice is not chosen or already has enough votes, choice two or three would get credit. However, it is not necessary to vote for more than one candidate. The voter chooses how many people they want to vote for and only number the candidates they would like to be elected. This system would help eliminate voting for the party instead of the candidate.

To be adopted, STV must be supported by 60 per cent of the population. During the last vote in 2005, 57 per cent of voters supported it, only 2.3 per cent short of being passed. It is commonly accepted that many people did not vote for it because they did not properly understand it. This issue is very important now, because the topic will again be up for vote on May 12, 2009.

People should be able to know what they are voting about. I believe that this system would greatly improve the B.C. government by making voting more representative. It would give voters more power. If I was a voter I would definitely want more power. If that also meant I would be better represented and be better able to contribute to choosing a more responsible government, that would be amazing.

Please feature more articles about this topic so people are more informed and better able to make an educated decision.

Liz Durward

Saanich

Consider crisis when budgeting for B.C.

The economic crisis is on everyone’s mind. As a student it will be harder for me to find work, harder to get a loan and harder to pay off my bills.

Yet when I look at the rest of the country, I cannot help but feel relieved. We are one of the only provinces that will most likely not go into a recession. The B.C. government is fiscally responsible and has the leadership to weather the economic storm. When the crisis is over we will come out stronger than ever.

The most dangerous thing facing B.C. is a fiscally inept NDP party. We cannot put our future into the hands of a group that continues to promise the impossible. A budget based on numbers decided before the crisis is not responsible, it is ignorant.

The people of B.C. are doing just fine Carole James – let’s keep it that way.

Geoff Sharpe

Oak Bay

Amalgamation could help voter turnout

Seems low voter turnout is fine, if you’re anti-car or anything that doesn’t fit in your perfect world.

The only way to stop this is amalgamation. How many more perfectly safe roads will be ripped up like Harriet Road in your Burnside-Gorge area, Mr. Fortin?

Robert P. Nicholas

View Royal