Opinion

A recent letter (“Increased density not the answer for Oak Bay”) decries Oak Bay being painted “as old fashioned and anti-change” and goes on to say that many questions are unanswered about how more densified communities are faring, post-densification.

As stated in its Housing Strategy Task Force Final Report (March 2021), which is available for public input until April 30, Saanich council has stated it’s looking at evidence-based solutions. However, after reading the actions proposed in the report and seeing physical results from recent council policy decisions, I wonder if council has accurate data for these purposes, and if so, if any council members have read it.

Isn’t it interesting how bike enthusiasts require the total surrender of the automobile for Victoria’s six per cent of bicycle commuters? Brighton Street could be used for east-west bicycling much as Vancouver is for a north-south route. Downtown bike lanes are a grievous danger to a pedestrian not totally alert to buzzing cyclists.

The 610 people who completed the Oak Bay Marina lease questionnaire need to know their opinions have reached council with no analysis whatsoever. Staff’s report provides no tabulation of preferences, grouping of interests, or synthesis of issues. Falsely titled “a summary,” it is in fact 641 pages of individual responses. Similarly, the 59 residents who wrote council should know that council has received their 83 pages of comment without any analysis.

I was shocked, dismayed, and quite frankly, disgusted to learn about the proposed budget cuts to music programs in the Greater Victoria School District (SD61).

At the age of 67 and introverted, I’ve contemplated over the years the unfolding world events around me. No more so than over the last year.

Reader says premier shouldn’t allow logging of old-growth forests

Industry, union leaders seek balance on old-growth preservation

A record 1,724 people in B.C. died in 2020

Thirteen municipalities do not appear to contribute to a cohesive, cooperative area-wide transportation system because progress is seemingly minimal.