Letters

With reference to the article ‘Spike in mental health calls alarms frontliners’ in the Nov. 4 Goldstream Gazette, I submit the following.

We would like to thank Coun. Terri O’Keeffe for her public stance on retail cannabis business applications at Sidney council meetings. We agree with her position that these retail stores are different from any other retail business given the clear warnings from Island Health regarding location buffers and their broader points about the availability of cannabis.

I am writing in response to the Nov. 4 Saanich News editorial concerning the Transport Canada regulation prohibiting passengers from remaining in vehicles accommodated on enclosed car decks.

The large Monterey cypress trees that grace some of the older streets in Sidney are very beautiful and provide an attractive and functional street canopy.

A proposal to extend the life of the Hartland landfill, which involves an expansion entailing the destruction of more than 70 trees is being contemplated by the CRD.

Re: Sidney considers third retail cannabis application. If the business of government should not be to enforce morality on the people, then the business of government and governing bodies should neither be to enforce immorality on the people.

Like many, I am susceptible to smoke and I dread this time of year when so many feel the need to light up wood-burning fireplaces and do so with little or no concern about the impact they have on their neighbours and local air quality.

I invite Saanich residents to join me in expressing gratitude to Saanich staff for their incredible work during this pandemic.

While I understand (but do not agree with) your complaint with respect to having to leave the enclosed vehicle decks of BC Ferries I take issue with the misconceptions and falsehoods you used to support your position.

This past Halloween was particularly distressful for me as fireworks were lobbed into my yard from a neighbouring yard.