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Enormous challenges ahead for Liberals
Editor:
The elevation to cabinet of Richmond's three MLAs indicates that this community will be very well represented in Victoria.
Certainly, all three of them-Geoff Plant, Linda Reid and Greg Halsey-Brandt- are very hard working and capable people.
Our newly elected government has great many challenges ahead of it.
A number of burning issues is staring Premier Gordon Campbell and his colleagues in the face. Finding appropriate solutions is going to be extremely difficult.
Of course, the ongoing concerns of the nurses, the lingering health care crisis and the bus strike are some of the major issues that require this government's immediate and prompt attention. Then there are some issues such as dealing with the First Nations, aboriginal and treaty negotiations which are critical to any economic development in the province.
Also, it will be interesting to see this government's approach to multiculturalism in this culturally diverse province.
British Columbians have given Mr. Campbell an overwhelming mandate. Let's hope that he will use it wisely.
In the meantime, congratulation and best wishes, Geoff, Linda and Greg.
Balwant Sanghera
Richmond
Premier should make transit an essential service
Editor:
I am a high school student who is concerned about how the bus strike is affecting the public.
I am relatively unaffected by the bus strike, but this does not, however, make me insensitive to the plight of those whose livelihood and quality of life are being greatly disrupted and affected.
This bus strike, which has lasted over two months, greatly impacts senior citizens, who rely on the buses in order to get around to various places, such as grocery shopping and to visit friends and family. Senior citizens are significantly inconvenienced because many do not drive or cannot afford taxis (being on limited incomes).
The bus strike is causing many seniors to stay at home and miss doctor appointments, social events and other activities, which help keep them active and healthy. Some seniors and students like myself are losing their independence and freedom because they are now greatly dependent upon their friends and family to drive them to their destinations.
For commuters who rely on the bus service to get to their destinations, it is a significant inconvenience to be without public transit. This problem is especially relevant to university students who depend on the buses in order to arrive to their classes at various times and locations.
Also, not all commuters and students can afford to pay for daily taxi services. Although some argue that the bus strike creates more carpooling, the bus strike also increases the amounts of cars on the roadways, and therefore increasing the amount of pollution released from emissions.
The strike is also creating drastic and harsh measures upon many employees who are losing their jobs due to the fact that they are unable to get to work.
In order to resolve the bus strike, the entire transit system needs to be re-evaluated and restructured.
Premier Gordon Campbell should classify the bus service as an essential service so that future strikes will be avoided.
He should also move in to order the bus drivers back to work as soon as possible because there is impending urgency and increasing restlessness from the public who deserve to be able to conveniently and economically travel around the Lower Mainland.
The bus strike is not fair to the commuters. We, as citizens living in British Columbia, deserve the right to be able to travel freely and be able to rely on public transportation services such as buses in order to get to our destinations.
The bus strike has been going on long enough and someone needs to step up to "the plate" and take charge to resolve it so that we can all enjoy the bus services once again and return to our normal lives.
Karen Wong
Richmond
Held hostage by TransLink
Editor:
As a regular public transit rider I resent being held hostage by Coast Mountain Bus Company and TransLink.
It is irresponsible of either management to maintain they need part-time workers to be efficient. Studies in other cities, such as Seattle, have proven this does not work. It's become obvious over the course of the last 70 days management is only interested in saving money (to pay for their own retroactive increases?) and breaking the transit union.
As a society we should all be concerned about the move to more and more part time jobs in this province. Too many people are already working one, two, and sometimes three part time jobs, with little or no benefits to support their families.
I'd like to understand how TransLink can spend thousands of dollars each to build new bus shelters (that leak) while justifying taking away people's right to work a fulltime job?
This strike is hardest on those of us that can not or chose not to own a vehicle. I'd like to see more support from our elected officials.
Nancy Mooney-Forhan
Richmond
Pay now or pay later
Editor:
By forcing nurses to work overtime, the taxpayer is hit with excessive overtime pay and nurse burnout.
Getting sick now means long waits and problems with your health care. Recent union action shows, by just banning overtime for a few days, the 'on the edge' state of B.C.'s health care.
A hospital simply cannot run without nurses. Hospital bed closures and surgery cancellations are caused by a lack of nurses to staff them. There is also a global shortage of nurses.
Hiring foreign registered nurses only provides an entry point into the United States where wages are much more competitive as with compensation packages.
Training new nurses takes a long time and money plus the same problems exists, just go south (or east) and earn much more along with attractive compensation packages that may include paying off student loans. Hiring more licensed practical nurses would help, but not enough to alleviate the RN shortage as LPNs cannot give medications or injections etc.
B.C. registered nurses have not had a substantial raise for close to two decades, while wages have risen everywhere else.If wages are not immediately increased to globally competitive levels, expect severe problems with your health care should you get sick in the near future, as more registered nurses leave for financial and professional respect.
Like the TV commercial, you can pay now or really pay later.
Landy Lee
Richmond
Bus strike is hurting many
Editor:
Although I am only one person and my family may not have much of a voice I felt it was time to voice my opinion on the transit strike.
The media is saying how the strike is not really affecting a lot of people. The newspapers are offering free ad placements for car pools and such. But it is affecting my family very dramatically.
My husband is a construction worker who builds high rises, so car pooling with office workers is not an option for him. He comes home from work covered in form oil, dirt and sweat and people do not want this in their nice cars.
We have lived in Richmond for more than three years, but now we are being forced to move because if my husband cannot get to work we cannot live here.
I realize TransLink is saving a lot of money with this strike but it is affecting people. It is affecting the poor, the elderly, the single moms, and the families that struggle everyday just to stay afloat. Something needs to be done and now.
Josie Audet
Richmond
And another thing...
Editor:
Two things I have to gripe about!!
1. I would like to know if the police are doing anything to try and catch the "Midnight Coward" who is doing all the graffiti around Richmond. I was really disgusted to see it on the side of a church on Blundell recently, and I hope this loser gets caught.
2. I also think people who leave their garage sale signs up after the sale is over should be fined, and the money should be used to paint the graffiti over. Both are eyesores.
B. Marshall
Richmond
Reinstate Re-Entry
Editor:
I am deeply concerned about the recent closure of the Re-Entry program alongside other special needs services.
I do not completely fault the Richmond school board, but rather the provincial government, which on a regular basis does not transfer sufficient funds to the school districts for our special needs children. The funding falls short of the "real costs" of a completely integrated school system.
I challenge the new government to look at this dilemma and make the necessary changes in funding so that all children will have an equal opportunity for learning within their own community.
I am interested in knowing what Richmond East MLA Linda Reid has in mind for a solution when she made the public statement in The Richmond Review she would attempt to have Re-Entry reinstated?
D. Wells
Richmond
Avoiding E-Comm?
Editor:
With all the press in our local papers regarding the current 911 crisis and specifically Coun. Derek Dang (Richmond Review, May 27), I have yet to see any response from our council. I am wondering if all these allegations of blatant avoidance to this labour dispute are true.
As a resident of Richmond and an employee of E-Comm I am concerned for the safety and well being of persons living in the Greater Vancouver Regional District (many of whom may have to dial 911 in the near future).
If no one on the E-Comm board of directors takes the initiative to help end our dispute, I am wondering just what is Richmond's function on the board?
I am extending an open invitation to Richmond council to come to E-Comm and see for themselves what it is we do and the conditions we work under.
Amy Aporta
Richmond
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