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Education offers unforeseen benefits
The recent strike by support staff in B.C.’s public schools resulted in the provincial government passing back to work legislation, arguing that the striking workers provide an essential service.
The children in our province, according to the government, have a right to education—a right which is denied even by a week’s interruption. While it cannot be denied that the strike was a disruption for students, it should also be noted that the access to education which we consider a right for our children, is, by world standards, a privilege.
In developing countries, more than 140 million children never attend primary school, two-thirds of whom are girls, and another 150 million children are forced to drop out before attaining basic literary and functional skills. According to its State of the World’s Children Report put out by UNICEF this year, basic education “has the power to transform a society in a single generation...and offers (children) protection from a multitude of hazards, such as a life consigned to poverty, bonded labour in agriculture or industry, domestic labour, commercial sexual exploitation or recruitment into armed conflict.”
It is hard to ignore the research that documents the benefits of ensuring that girls are given the same access to education as boys. In Zambia, rural women with eight to 12 years of education are half as likely to be living in extreme poverty than those with no formal education. In the Uttar Pradesh State in India, education has had a drastic effect on fertility rates, which have dropped by 30 per cent.
We understand that education is essential for our children’s development and well-being. Now it is time to ensure that education becomes not just a privilege, but a right, for all children in the world.
Sonia Furstenau
Victoria
-via e-mail
Support is music to our ears
On behalf of the Board of Directors and the members of the Richmond Orchestra and Chorus, I would like to thank The Review for its support and promotion of our recent “A Century of Note” millennium concert held at The Gateway Theatre on April 2.
It is no secret that in today’s competitive climate for non-profit societies that the Richmond Orchestra and Chorus has become increasingly dependent on the community’s support so that it can provide the expected artistic contribution.
Thank you for recognizing (by your support) the musical arts in a growing community and the place we hold for amateur musicians (both instrumental and vocal) to be able to thrive, learn and prosper in our Richmond community.
Pam Koerner executive director,
Richmond Orchestra and Chorus
Library fixed my goof up
I would like to express my gratitude to the staff of the Brighouse branch of the Richmond Public Library.
I returned what I thought was the right compact disc to them after a week of use.
After a couple of days I realized that I had returned the correct case but with one of my personal CD’s inside!
When I called them and explained what had happened they informed me that the CD was on loan for a week. Apparently this isn’t uncommon so I didn’t feel too bad. I was told that I should call back after one week to see if it had been returned and that a comment would be put on my account describing what had happened.
After a week I called back and found out that my CD had been returned and to collect it as soon as possible.
Many thanks to the friendly, courteous and professional staff of the library and the person who returned my “Frankie Goes to Hollywood” CD.
L. Noah
Richmond
Media gets an F on school funding
As expected, the provincial budget has received mixed reviews. Of course, in order to revitalize the economy the government needs to put an extra effort to get the deficit and debt under control. Unfortunately, the mainstream media appears to overemphasize this point and overlook some of the positive attributes in the budget. Increased funding for post-secondary education is a case in point.
Higher education in B.C. will receive $1.65 billion in funding this year. This represents an increase of $85 million including $39 million to create 5,025 new student spaces. On top of that, the tuition fee remains frozen. As a matter of fact, B.C. is the only province in Canada that has increased funding for post-secondary education every year since 1991.
The provincial budget also includes $133 million to build and modernize B.C.’s post-secondary education institutions. All of this is a commendable commitment to higher learning by the government of British Columbia.
Balwant Sanghera
Richmond NDP
Dosanjh supporter had nothing to hide
Re: “Dosanjh camp loses delegate—Wilson wins two”, The Review, Feb. 18.
Your report stated that in Richmond East a Dosanjh supporter, Charanjit Singh Sandhu, had his delegate status canceled as he was alleged to have voted at two delegate selection meetings—Richmond East and Steveston.
The truth is that Sandhu voted only at the Richmond East meeting. This whole mix-up was the result of a very confusing and politically charged and tense environment.
Sandhu appealed this ruling and had his delegate status reinstated by the provincial office of the NDP. Consequently, he participated in the provincial convention of the NDP leadership race as a delegate. As a matter of fact, the provincial office tendered a profuse apology to Sandhu for the distress and inconvenience caused to him.
Charanjit Sandhu is a very well respected member of our community. He is an honest and law-abiding citizen. For others in the party to put him through such an unpleasant and stressful experience was not only unfortunate but also uncalled for.
Balwant Sanghera
Richmond NDP
Council’s decisions need some explaining
Recently I read in your paper that police were increasing their efforts to eradicate drug dealers. In the same issue, council passed a bylaw allowing raves.
Who are council supporting, the police or drug dealers who are known to be very active at raves?
Then we receive word council had an offer to have free toilets built at Garry Point but council instead decided to spend $412,000 for the same project. Am I missing something?
What is happening in council? Is there something in their water that is causing these stupid decisions? I can only wonder what next?
June Robinson
Richmond
Campbell made me laugh by accident
For years I have said that there is often something amusing that arises out of something depressing.
The labour dispute by the Canadian Union of Public Employees is depressing to all involved, yet an amusing note has been struck by BC Liberal Leader Gordon Campbell.
In pushing Premier Dosanjh to end the strike by force—a typical Liberal tactic—Campbell has called Dosanjh’s lock of action on this point “...an abrogation of public leadership in favour of helping their (the NDP’s) supporters”.
That is surely the hoot of the month because if there is any political party in Canada that has consistently favoured its financial supporters ahead of the public it certainly is the Liberal Party. The NAFTA agreement is glaringly not in the interest of the Canadian public, but the business interests that support the Liberal party wanted it and look what we got.
In attempting to justify selling Canada out on NAFTA, the Liberals used the Daddy Warbucks agreement: What is good for the business interests that support the Liberal party is good for the public. But as the song goes, it ain’t necessarily so.
G. Simpson
Richmond
New minister must act for the girls
The humanity and heart of this NDP government is up for grabs. In the lead up to Christmas, the Ministry for Children and Families removed two little girls from a home they had lived in all their lives. To this day these little girls continue to call Bert and Anna Drayer, their foster parents, pleading to come home.
The previous minister, Lois Boone, is gone from cabinet. A new minister has been appointed. Will this new minister, Gretchin Brewin, reverse this decision and put the wishes of the little girls first?
The Drayers have participated in all the processes the ministry has structured, the mediation, the tribunal, the meetings, which brings me to this question. Is the ministry accountable to the public, to the children in its care?
This is the same ministry who recently launched a complaint against a physician who stood up for the best interests of these little girls, his patients.
It’s time to turn the page and have this ministry behave in a sensitive, thoughtful, compassionate manner.
A week is a lifetime in the life of a child. The lives of these little girls have been in turmoil since Dec. 15 of last year.
I for one don’t wish to see a generation of children grow up homeless, disconnected from everyone they know. We wouldn’t wish this circumstance on our own children. Why would we accept this fate for any child?
Linda Reid
Richmond East MLA
Gay/straight clubs create problems
The dictatorial attitude of the BC Teachers’ Federation is drawing more outrages from parents. Over the years, the BCTF has been trying to push through several programs in schools, ignoring the objections of many parents. These programs include an anti-homophobic curriculum, bringing in books about same-sex parents to Kindergarten class, and now the gay-straight alliance clubs (GSA) in high schools. When parents expressed their concern to the district teacher association, they were told that it was none of their business and parents should not interfere the union’s business.
The BCTF is a teacher union. It should serve to ensure the benefits of teachers rather than to push certain social values in schools. Nowadays, the schools refuse to teach students about moral issues because of the different cultural backgrounds of students. Parents are told that moral issues are to be taught at home, not at schools. However, under the cloak of building tolerance, the BCTF is trying to indoctrinate students about homosexuality that is against the family values of most parents.
While many parents are teaching their children to focus on studying and to have self-control regarding sexual relationships during school ages, the BCTF gives out a different message that it is OK to have sex as well as same-sex partners, as early as Grade 8. The immature relationships among the teenagers usually end up with emotional and physical problems.
The reality is that bullying affects students of all sorts such as fat, short, timid, minorities, etc. Many of them are still suffering from the torment without much help and attention from schools. The problem is that school administrators are not doing a good job in enforcing the anti-harassment policy which is to protect all students. But the BCTF just focuses its attention on the cases of gay students. It makes people wonder if BCTF is being dominated by gay activists.
What will students do in the GSA club? Is there possibility for students to talk about sexual skills? From the examples of the GSA clubs in the United States, there are conflicts, suspensions of students and court cases. In fact, the GSA club don’t build tolerance, but creates problems.
Schools should be free from union politics. Parents, teachers and students, it is time to exercise your right to speak up and say ‘No’ to the GSA club. Don’t let politicians, unionists and activists manipulate our school system.
Chan Suet Ying
Richmond
City helps poor, but must do more
The following is an open letter to Mayor Greg Halsey-Brandt.
Tn reply to your letter in The Review (“Poor get plenty of help at city,”April 2) the Richmond Women’s Resource Centre is aware of the recreational opportunities that are available for low-income citizens and have been referring women to the program.
We are pleased that the city has recognized the importance of recreation in the development of children and the health of all members of our community. The city deserves kudos for beginning a much-needed program and we hope that funds will be committed for its continuation.
However, access to the program has been limited to people who have been referred from community services or have heard from friends. Therefore many citizens have little knowledge about the recreation program, as it has not been publicized.
We hope that the publicity generated by this dialogue has heightened awareness about the issues of poverty, the participation of all citizens in the excellent recreation programs and the benefits of recreation for the health of our citizens.
For easier access and more participation, we recommend an “access card” similar to Vancouver’s and more publicity about the program.
Louise Hudson coordinator,
Richmond Women’s Resource Centre
Pricey potties upsetting populace
I have spent a good deal of time at Garry Point lately, getting out when the sun does to enjoy the view. What a difference I’ve noted in people’s behaviour since the new bathroom facility has been featured in the news.
People used to pay the simple grey structure no attention, opting to look instead at the natural beauty of Garry Point and the Fraser River estuary. But after the building was featured in newspapers and on TV, I notice passers-by giving it a good hard stare through squinted eyes. When I walk past myself, I overhear snatches of conversion, “It cost half a million dollars...taxpayers money...even two hundred thousand is too high.”
Council may want to consider reactions such as these before deciding to sink further funds into establishing a litter-generating concession stand. After all, the best food in town is only a few steps away in Steveston village. And my informal people watching experiment shows that the average person views council’s previous spending decisions on this project with disapproval.
Wendi Milner
Richmond
Water levies like money down the drain
Re: “Water rates for large homes unfair,” by Francoise Tsang, March 24, The Review.
As noted in Francoise Tang’s letter, the city plans to commence a “user-pay” strategy for water and sewer fees. I am not opposed to this idea; my concern is single-family homes being lumped in with large homes and higher than average increases. We have lived in the same house since 1962 (approximately 1,700 square feet) and were a family of five until 1989. Our neighbours on either side have four people living in their houses, our neighbour across the street lives by himself and there are two of us in our house. There are many single-family homes in Richmond that have rented basement suites. There are also many larger homes with more than one family living in them. Unless the city does a house to house survey, how can this user-pay system be a fair one?
Tang points out that less water is used in their home because the family is older and not home as much, but she neglects to tell us how many people live in the house. Leaving a 2,500 square foot home for a 4,000 square feet home sounds like it must be a large family and larger homes usually mean more bathrooms and water usage.
Perhaps the best way to voice our concerns is to write to the mayor and city council.
Lillian Fraser
Richmond
Smoking ban
Ventilation is the solution to smoking bans. Certain municipalities seem intent on repeating the 80-day devastating fiasco that was the WCB’s smoking ban.
Let’s put the rhetoric aside, stop the crusading mentality of “getting the smokers”, and sit down to a reasonable, rationale debate on the issue of smoking in hospitality establishments and protecting employees.
Regardless of the devastating impact on many small hospitality establishments, the bureaucratic crusaders would have believe that the only solution is prohibition.
Kicking a smoking customer outside is anathema to the hospitality industry; our job is to be “hospitable” to all of our clients both smokers and non-smokers, and at the same time, it is our duty to ensure that the health of our workers is paramount.
That is why the hospitality industry—in a rare display of unanimity—has been calling for a ventilation solution to protect workers’ health and their jobs.
Ventilation solutions have proven to work in a number of cities across North America and around the world. Let’s get back to the negotiation table, get our 700 laid-off employees back to work, admit that this social engineering experiment, failed, and find a ventilation solution that will make everyone happy.
Rick Boyd president,
BC and Yukon Hotels Association
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