Alberni Valley News Friday, March 30, 2012
◆ OPINION
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QUESTION of the week
www.albernivalleynews.com
Mailbag: Feedback on rail, magazine fail, meter tale.
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Rail could solve Malahat
Are you ready for spring to truly arrive?
Yes – 18 No – 11 This week’s question: Do you support MLA John Van Dongen’s decision to leave the Liberals and join the Conservatives?
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Bill 22 all about who has control From / 10 It also includes a mediator to demonstrate those “good faith consultations.” University of Victoria business professor Ken Thornicroft noted last week that ceding control over class size to the union amounts to delegating authority over spending to someone who is not elected. The legality of that will no doubt be examined
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in the BCTF’s next courtroom assault on the provincial treasury. It’s an important comparison for voters. Which party is better able to represent the public interest in hardball negotiations with 300,000 unionized employees? Tom Fletcher is legislative reporter and columnist for Black Press and BCLocalnews.com tfletcher@blackpress.ca
To the Editor, I’m all for safety, but we all know the only thing that will really ‘fix’ the Malahat problem (until more cars inevitably come) is to widen and separate the road. Price: $250 million! (CTV-VI Feb 28) That amount would rehabilitate the entire 289-kilometre length of the E&N from Victoria to Courtenay and Port Alberni not once, but twice. (The BC government in 2009 estimated $123 million for full rehabilitation including stations.) It would be far more than the estimated $73 million to put in commuter service between Langford and Victoria and, I wager, extend it over the Malahat and put enough trains on it to move thousands. Freight (aka diesel in Goldstream), commuters, tourism— you name it, the E&N could handle it if our government chose to put as much money into it as it does highways. It is up to government to put the money down, and create incentives for industry, business and people to move
more efficiently. And on Vancouver Island, where more than 80 per cent of residents live within five kilometres of the E&N, that means rail. Chris Alemany, Port Alberni
Mag’s criteria sorely outdated To the Editor, Re: Alberni fourth worst place to live in Canada– MoneySense, www. albernivalleynews. com, March 20. The criteria this magazine uses to rate towns is outdated and clearly indicates a bottom feeding publication. Port Alberni rates fourth lowest? The friendliness of the population, the beautiful surroundings and the general optimism of a community are far more important than the amount of new cars on the road. Why do they publish such antiquated bunk? Mike Wright, Tofino
City work caused closure To the Editor, Re: Water’s Edge closing doors, March 23. Before the city
started any work, Thomas Geiger was told the work would only take two months and it would not have any affect on the restaurant. Well, that two months turned into one year. Now how does that not affect a business? When we complained to the city they basically told us we were lucky to be getting a new deck. Nobody liked it because it was completely surrounded by glass with a walkway between the deck and the water. The old deck was open to the water. The restaurant just couldn’t make up the lost revenue and the city basically said ‘too bad.’ Perry Pelletier, Port Alberni
Smart meters a cash grab To the Editor, Upon learning that BC Hydro will be coming soon to Port Alberni to install smart meters, I have installed a “smart cage” over my analog meter to send a strong message to BC Hydro and the BC Liberal government. These smart meters and the billion dollars of taxpayer
money to install these devices are symbolic of just how far the energy company and our provincial government will go to fleece the public. Everyone’s utility bill will skyrocket once these contraptions are mounted. Recently, Alberni Valley News published a story about a VIHA report which describes the poverty conditions of children in Port Alberni. Our Local Health Area (LHA) has some of the worst child poverty in British Columbia (which happens to be the worst province in Canada for child poverty). Next winter will take its toll on lowincome families unable to pay their hydro bill. Right now in England, fuel poverty is predicted to increase to 43 per cent in the next couple of years. In other words, almost half of the people in England will have no heat during the winter. I could think of a billion ways that a billion dollars could be better spent in this province. Our public schools, hospitals, ferry system and BC Hydro have deteriorated under
the management of Gordon Campbell and Christy Clark. Smart meters are a cash grab by BC Hydro and the B.C. government. Smart meters will increase the suffering of children and seniors on fixed income in this city. I can’t believe how most of our city councillors wouldn’t call for a moratorium. Ellen Chambers, Port Alberni
A Special Olympic thanks
To the Editor, On behalf of Special Olympics BC Port Alberni, I would like to thank the people of our wonderful city for their generous donations during our tag days in March. We raised more than $3,500, which will be used to transport our athletes to the regional qualifiers for softball, track and soccer. Without the help of those who live in our community we would not be able to offer the sporting opportunities that enable us to improve the quality of the lives of our special athletes. Anne Evans, local coordinator, Special Olympics
Letters Mail: Letters, Alberni Valley News, 4656 Margaret St., Port Alberni, B.C. V9Y 6H2 Fax: 250-723-6395 E-mail: editor@albernivalleynews.com Letters should be no longer than 300 words and will be edited. Include your address and phone number (although those won’t be published) and a first name or two initials. We won’t publish anonymous letters, or letters to third parties. We regret that, due to the volume of letters we receive, not all will be printed.
Trinity Church Anglican & Lutheran
4766 Angus Street, Port Alberni PALM SUNDAY SERVICE !02), 34s !WEDNESDAY 10 AM
Everyone Welcome 250.724-4921 Trinity Church Port Alberni Phone:
Pastor’s Pen
HOLY WEEK
(By George Pell, Trinity Church)
Once again we are on the verge of Holy Week! It always seems to come at the time that Spring is also producing its first flowers, and bushes and trees are beginning to produce buds, and leaves and blossoms… Both Easter and Spring remind us of ‘new life’. As a Church Community, our call is to pass through times of winter and darkness, and to share the news of God’s ‘spring’. It is good news! Churches in our valley offer a variety of services and events to mark Holy Week. Please take time this next week to join these various opportunities, and to read the scripture passages of Jesus’ last week and resurrection. Then we can join together on April 8th to say, with great enthusiasm, Happy Easter!
CEDAR GROVE CHURCH A Christian Community of the Reformed Church in Canada Sunday Worship Service -10:30 am Wed. 9:30am - 11am Bible Study Everyone welcome to worship with us at the 7th Day Adventist Church at
4109 Kendall St. s 250.723-7080
Alberni Valley United Church
3747 Church Street, Port Alberni Reverend Minnie Hornidge SUNDAY WORSHIP SERVICE Praise Singing - 10:15 am Worship Service & Children’s Worship -10:30 am www.albernivalleyuc.com Phone: 250.723-8332
Seventh Day Adventist Church
4109 Kendall, Port Alberni SATURDAY (SABBATH) SERVICES 10:00 am ~ Bible Study 11:00 am ~ Family Worship Service Listen to Christian Family Radio VOAR 104.5 FM in the Alberni Valley Leave Message: 250.723-6452
4890 Locke Road Pastor: Ron Nickel Sunday School: 10:30 am Worship Service: 11:45 am Tuesday Service: 7:00 pm
Interpreter available for the deaf Phone: 250.723-7382