Dear Editor:

"Retain the Downtown Core Area’s position as the Heart of the Region: The role of the working harbour as an essential part of Victoria’s economic base is enhanced through land use and development policies", according the the city's web site.

As the city attempts to balance the economic benefits of tourism and development with maintaining a 'working harbour', the residential developments conflcit with this objective with a long-lasting affect on property values, lifestyle and the environment.

Where working harbours such as Halifax maintain the Port's global competitiveness, while reserving new and redeveloped sites for marine industrial and marine commercial uses, when we consdier the sustainability of the Point Hope Shipyard and the limited benefit it brings to the local economy: Are we flogging a tired old seahorse?

There are clean industries such as high tech, that combined are a billion dollar a year generator, that possess no smells, dust and noise disturbances, and do not require an opening bridge to accommodate it's needs.

William Perry

by Victoria Adams

Well, it seems that we’ve barely begun the New Year (incidentally it’s the Year of the Rabbit according to Chinese astrology), when the minority federal government, led by a colorful political personality some have called the “Mad Hatter”, has decided that it would be helpful to Canadians to launch a salvo at the opposition Leporidaen leaders (“The White Rabbit”, “Thumper”, and “Bugs Bunny”).

As an aside, no one dares to heave anything at the secular symbol of fun, fitness, and fiber food choices – the Easter Bunny - for fear of alarming the kids, (future voters in the Canadian parliamentary system devoted to “peace, order, and good government”).

Alas “attack ads”, whether they are created by the Liberal, Conservative, New Democratic Party, or the Bloc Quebecois, appear to be increasing both in size and scope. Perhaps this should not be surprising given the declared international “war” on drugs, terrorism, and now politically-incorrect language used by the revered 19th century American author, Mark Twain in his classic tale, “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn”.

Rather than respond with inflamed passion to these political party “attack ads” or to try and grab the fin of a rather slippery “red herring” (like “merit pay for teachers”) thrown out by a candidate wishing to ‘chum the waters’ in a bid to secure the leadership of a BC provincial political party, perhaps voters should keep a level head and a firm grip on their pocket books -- particularly when floppy-eared folks come knocking on their doors promising to secure their homes from “The Rabbit of Caerbannog” (a killer rabbit from Monty Python and the Hold Grail). No fuss, no muss, just three easy payments of $14.95 plus 12% HST to eradicate the pest, or, alternatively, the “no cost” option of an electoral approval in the form of a “yes” vote in the ballot box.

More to the point, perhaps voters might consider not becoming attached to a particular political party or to a political personality and their particular way of seeing the world. Instead, voters might consider the merit of relying on their own experience of life and lessons learned as a useful way to identify the key issues they want addressed by any political party or by any political personality wishing to represent them.

In my humble opinion, as long as voters get caught up in the deals and dramas orchestrated by various political parties and personalities they become drawn into a self-serving game of “Kick the Can” replete with all manner of “dirty rascals” vying for top spot as “King of the Castle” and the right to carve up the public treasury pie as they wish. For those who don’t like playing this game, they can always become a spectator (provided they have purchased an expensive ticket and are willing to applaud the “winning” team or the actors performing in an amusing play about bread and circuses).

Canadian voters will not be able to address difficult problems and find appropriate solutions to issues they face, nor will they be able to exercise their fundamental right to “peace, order, and good government” if they become sidetracked by slugfests, soap-operas, and slippery scales being foisted upon them by political parties and their personalities, all which are designed to undermine the act of engaging in serious dialogue, discussion, and decision-making about things that truly matter to the majority of people living in a representative democracy.

Are you new to Victoria? We would love to meet you.

Join us for lunch at 11:30 am on Wednesday, January 19^th at the Cedar Hill Golf Club, 1400 Derby Road.

 Our speaker is Sherry LePage, a Victoria filmmaker specialising in arts and social issue documentaries and educational videos.

 For reservations call Kathy (778) 430 1892

Settling the Salish Sea

Author Richard Mackie will recall the life and times of George Drabble, Vancouver Island's pioneer settler. This talk is based on Mr Mackie's book The Wilderness Profound: a Victorian Life on the Gulf of Georgia. January 27^th 2011 at 7.30 pm at the James Bay New Horizons Centre, 234 Menzies Street. Everyone welcome. More information at victoriahistoricalsociety.bc.ca.