Slowing growth is better way to fix city
Congratulations letter-writer Gary Tupper for stating what no politician will dare admit publicly: the remedy for the Lower Mainland’s transit woes lies in stabilizing its ever burgeoning and already bloated population, i.e., addressing the demand side of the transit infrastructure equation.
So long as 40,000 people and their 20,000 cars settle here annually, throwing additional billions in tax dollars at the problem serves no purpose apart from making it possible for politicians to cram even more newcomers into the region to the serious detriment of our quality of life.
Of course, a population stabilization policy would require politicians to wean themselves off the immigrant vote and real-estate-developer dollar.
Good luck with that.
Larry Sharp, Vancouver
How can they slow it?
I must admit to being extremely curious about how mayors and city councillors should slow growth in our region, as Gary Tupper suggests.
Given the existing demand for people to move to the most populous area in “the best place on earth” the only logical consequence if housing supply is checked is for demand i.e. housing prices to rise.
If you thought housing in Metro Vancouver is unaffordable now, just wait until there is a moratorium on new developments!
More residents equals more people buying things which equals more taxes raised to support transportation.
Derek Cheung, Vancouver
Let’s bag the board
The mail-in ballot regarding the proposed .05-per-cent sales tax to pay for transit and transportation improvements should include another important question: Do you want a new TransLink board, Yes or No?
In both cases I would vote yes.
Dwaine Turcotte, North Vancouver
Charge bad gamblers
The B.C. Lottery Corporation needs to follow the U.S. in making it a criminal offence if you are caught entering a casino after self-exclusion. I believe this is a more effective deterrent than a slap on this wrist.
Glenn Nordal, Langley
Not good Christians
In regards to Susan Martinuk’s op-ed about Trinity Western University’s law school, I think it’s about time that we Christians started to practice what we preach and accept with open hearts and arms, those who don’t accept or understand our ideals and ways of life.
By only allowing heterosexual Christian students at TWU, we are denying those who may need us the most. For TWU to deny bright and talented future lawyers because our beliefs, or what may seem misguided to us about their sexual orientation, is nothing less than a sacrilege of Christianity itself.
It’s time for TWU to enter the 21st Century and accept these students for who they are — potential contributors to our society and not left-wing perpetrators of evil.
Art Green, Hope
Hydro fees are fair
The fees charged to customers who chose to keep a non-standard B.C. Hydro meter are fair and have been approved by the B.C. Utilities Commission.
These fees are designed to ensure the cost of maintaining two systems is not passed on to the 99 per cent of customers who have accepted a new meter. They help recover the additional costs of maintaining resources, equipment and systems that have now been automated by smart meters.
In Quebec, the monthly fee is a fixed charge only for meter reading. Unlike B.C., the additional costs to run a separate, non-smart meter system are borne by all ratepayers.
Greg Reimer, B.C. Hydro
The editorial pages editor is Gordon Clark, who can be reached at gclark@theprovince.com. Letters to the editor can be sent to provletters@theprovince.com.
