Donors instead of government; pollution reports ignored

Private donors do government work

Re: “Victoria Hospitals Foundation campaign reaches $11 million for imaging equipment,” July 30.

How wonderful for the provincial government that volunteer donors have met the financial need to finance essential equipment for our hospitals.

This “offloading” and disregard by government has been festering for years and years and is truly shameful. So the least the Premier and Minister of Health can do today is to thank the foundation and donors profusely for their generosity and at the same time apologize to the people of BC for failing in their responsibilities.

Stanley Brygadyr

Saanich

Additional lanes between Helmcken and McKenzie

Spending $95 million on bus lanes, especially building light rail, is a great idea.

Did I miss the addition of extra lanes in both directions connecting Helmcken to McKenzie? That bottleneck is causing brutal congestion (which is only getting worse) and seems like a glaring omission from the McKenzie overpass construction.

Can someone who knows about this explain to us why this was left out?

Ryan Armstrong

Victoria

Slow response to Cecelia Creek oil spill

Re: “City investigating allegations that polluted water entered creek leading to Gorge,” July 17.

I was shocked when I saw the story about the illegal dumping of chemicals in Cecelia Creek. I saw this in January and reported it on a Sunday. I took pictures and sent them to them.

They took my details and said they would contact me the next day. About a week later I called back because I hadn’t heard from them. We basically had to start all over again because there was no record of the report.

I did it again and sent them the pictures.

About a week later they asked me for a file number this time.

I explain that I didn’t get one, they took my details again, for the third time, and didn’t respond anymore. It was now mid-March.

That this is still happening is a huge joke. I reported this in the winter. How can the response be so slow?

James Nadeau

Esquimalt

No problem filling prescriptions

I also need medication regularly. My pharmacy automatically fills my prescription, which is prescribed by my doctor. If there is a question, the pharmacy calls my doctor.

If I need a repeat prescription, I call the pharmacy and pick it up the next day.

I have none of the problems complained of by the writer of your letter of July 19.

Cliff Boldt

Fern wood

Inner Harbour needs a new showboat

From 1935 to 1953 there was a showboat stage in the Inner Harbour at the Welcome to Victoria flowerbed.

In 2015, I worked with the Esquimalt and Songhees nations and the provincial government to present the idea of ​​the Lekwungen showboat in the Inner Harbour.

We even approached the Victoria Symphony with the idea of ​​creating a permanent stage for them, replacing the boat idea.

They wrote a letter of support.

The overall project in 2015, with a letter of support from Minister John Rustad, letters of support from the symphony orchestra, and many others, was an exciting way to create a large stage suitable for First Nation focused performances, honoring traditional lands and creating a potential revenue stream, while also creating a stage large enough to accommodate the entire symphony orchestra.

The original cost estimates, including large outdoor screens for the parliament lawn, lighting, sound and stage, were approximately $3 million, including grandstand seating.

The project was stuck at the Greater Victoria Harbour Authority at the time and with the new government we didn’t have time to proceed.

It is time for the City of Victoria to revisit this great idea, working with the Songhees and Esquimalt peoples and bring about true reconciliation through something that benefits the peoples and also provides a much needed and timeless return to our Inner Harbour.

Derek Sanderson

Victoria

SEND US YOUR LETTERS

• E-mail: (email protected)

• Mail: Letters to the Editor, Times Colonist, 201-655 Tyee Rd., Victoria, BC V9A 6X5

• Aim for 250 words or less; subject to editing for length and clarity. Provide your contact information; it will not be published. Avoid sending your letter as an email attachment.