Opinion

I agree with Mr. Trudell’s suggestion regarding adapting military helicopters to fight forest fires. Unfortunately, our armed forces are in such a sorry state of neglect that out of 25 nations participating in a two-week-long “Air Defender” exercise in Germany, the largest deployment exercise in NATO’S history, including little countries like Bulgaria, Latvia and even two non-NATO nations Japan and Sweden, Canada is embarrassingly absent.

I read Darrell Wick’s letter titled “Dogs should be excluded from PKOLS-Mount Douglas.”

As bummed as I was to receive my property tax notice demanding an additional $475 from me over last year’s amount, a 13% increase, I was consoled by the fact that council will be using some of that money to subsidize the cost of electric bikes with zero impact on the climate but positive dividends for virtue-signalling councillors and electric bike manufacturers and sellers.

Saanich says the People, Pets and Parks draft strategy is a balanced approach – it absolutely is not!

For 18 years my wife and I enjoyed one and later, another Newfoundland dog on Cadboro Bay Beach and parks. They were off-leash so they could be dogs and we could enjoy them swimming and playing and fetching and running. The benefits of dogs for people’s health and well-being are well-known and documented.

Saanich Mayor Dean Murdock and councillors are tasked with a challenging and divisive decision to make on June 26 regrading the People, Pets and Parks strategy. Their decision will affect current and future generation’s families, their pets and parks usage.

Some PNR readers will know that for the past eight-and-a-half years I’ve been writing up notes of North Saanich council meetings and, through the auspices of the North Saanich Residents Association, getting them out to members.

I waited until the rain had eased today before taking my dog to our local park for a walk and a bit of fun with her ball. I go there every day. The park was empty when I got there, then slowly filled up with fellow dog walkers, a woman taking a brisk walk, and a few families who showed up to play basketball.

Why is Saanich contemplating the expenditure of some $5-$7 million over the next five years and an additional $800,000 for the foreseeable future to amend the current dog leash bylaw?

I live in Cadboro Bay with my lovely three-year-old golden retriever, who happens to be a certified therapy dog. He does good work, and when he is not working he needs to enjoy life. He lives for running free along trails with me. His health and mine both depend on this. I moved to this area specifically because of the wonderful opportunities to be outside with him, off-leash, and safe.