Letters

I recently spent five days on the train to Toronto, doing something I never expected — being illuminated by fellow travellers on proportional representation (Pro Rep). The train was full of tourists from abroad — from Germany, Australia, Sweden, Japan, New Zealand, Ireland, and more. Without our usual distractions, people had real conversations wherever they congregated.

If Victoria Mayor Lisa Helps truly believes that she has been given a strong mandate to implement her vision for this city, and that her victory by a margin of more than 3,000 votes over her closest rival is something to boast about, then surely she would not have any problem with holding a referendum as soon as possible so that the 2022 mayoral election results will be determined by a ranked ballot, which was used to elect the mayor at the polls in London, Ontario on Oct. 22, 2018.

I am sick and tired of political parties with huge financial backing from you know who getting elected and running the country for the benefit of their friends.

I can’t help but wonder why we don’t think it’s too complicated for our children to learn how to listen and co-operate, yet those who oppose Proportional Representation would have us think we cannot manage it as adults.

In response to taking the Island highway around by Saltspring Island, I would suggest that we drive a tunnel from the top of Tunnel Hill for the two southbound lanes to come out by the entrance to Goldstream campground.

If you sign a contract that has a problem, then you start with a problem. The voting referendum is an example of a problem.

I commend David Willows’ audit of accessible parking spots in downtown Victoria .

Judging by the revival tent rhetoric at their recent rally, the NDP and the Greens expect B.C. voters to blindly vote for Proportional Representation, and then trust some unknown legislative committee to work out the details later.

Re: Change can be a scary thing (Victoria News, Our View, Oct. 26)

With the introduction of poverty reduction legislation, I am hopeful. I’m hopeful because the provincial government undertook an extensive consultation process this past spring that asked citizens about their experience, their observations, and their solutions to poverty in this province.