Letters

There is a simple, cost-effective, and environmentally sound way to make travel past the Malahat more reliable. Upgrading the ferry docks at Mill Bay and Brentwood Bay to allow full-size buses to load would allow 450 people to travel on one of BC Ferries new Island Class electric ferries when the Malahat is closed. Six doubledecker buses can carry over 500 people.

I have observed on many occasions, people using gasoline-powered devices chasing a few leaves from the pavement when a million more leaves are still on the trees. They are not only noisy, but smelly and add to air pollution. Get rid of them, please.

Power cuts can affect many aspects of our lives.

The question needs to be asked: Why is the sport of pickleball that is inexpensive, easy to learn, can be played by all age groups, is fun, makes us laugh at ourselves, keeps us active and during COVID dark days helped us stay calm – why is it a problem?

Although I admit to not having a thorough understanding of the history of Island Rail, I feel that it may be that very history that actually slows this idea from ever moving forward. It’s my impression that those who enjoyed the Island rail system from years ago, including nostalgic dreams of a classic train ride, may actually be preventing the idea of a more modern rail system in our future.

Sidney is an economic and boating hub for the Peninsula and Gulf Islands, yet there are no public docks near downtown. Meanwhile, many communities along the B.C. coast have docks for all to use. Why not Sidney? This oversight can be addressed as we choose a future for Beacon wharf.

Rather than turning back the clock back in the fall, why can’t we instead turn it forward another hour? We could call this new time-change DST2.

I have just received an e-mail from Island Health informing me that I am eligible to get a booster shot for the COVID-19. Imagine my surprise when I went to book it and found there is no place in Sidney and the surrounding area to get this shot.

The planned removal of third-floor exhibits related to settlement at the Royal B.C. Museum is clearly and truly an Orwellian political pogrom against history itself and has been devised in a way that is clearly politically biased and racist against Europeans and those of their descent.

This is in response to the ‘Ballad of the Banned Dog’ in the Nov. 6 letter “Beaches less joyful without dogs at play.”