Letters

There is a lot of concern being expressed regarding delays in the justice system and the response of police and law enforcement agencies to what appear to be straight forward law enforcement issues. Based on my experience in law enforcement it is my opinion that a significant part of the problem is the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. To have rights and freedoms cast in law without associated responsibilities is bad law and has resulted in a host of problems.

Fee charged works out to $2 per hour, says park board chair

Has anyone else noticed the sharp increase in property taxes this year? In the Nov 3, 2016 issue of The Times , it was noted city Hall was going for an increase of 3.5 per cent for our 2017 taxes. When I received my tax notice this year I realized our taxes had increased from $2379.72 to $2700.10 for this year.

An acute residential parking problem is surfacing in Chilliwack which is creating both discord and serious ethical failings by some people. Inconsiderate residents who own multiple vehicles, trailers and boats are offloading their parking problems onto their neighbours. There’s a tacit understanding in most communities that the public space on the street in front of a home is prioritized for that homeowner.

Tuesday night on the CBC’s TV’s The National , Chilliwack-Hope MP Mark Strahl yelled his support of the Trans Mountain Pipeline during Question Period in the House of Commons. While I appreciate his passion, Mark Strahl is abdicating his responsibility to his constituents. This is because the Trans Mountain pipeline endangers the Sardis Aquifer, the source of drinking water for most of Strahl’s constituents.

“How sad that even though it’s in our ‘backyard’ we will no longer get to enjoy it on a regular basis.”

Taxes. That evil five letter word not to be mentioned in polite company anywhere in Chilliwack. Our city council, both individually and collectively, cringe at the mere mention of the word. “Heavens no, we would lose our jobs on council if we even considered raising taxes.”

“I didn’t rat these people out but they probably deserved it.”

On Saturday I attended what is probably the last ever performance at the University of the Fraser Valley Theatre in Chilliwack. The play, The Romeo Initiative was a tragically fitting last show, with its allusions to the secretive dystopian regime of a Cold War East Germany. It was superbly performed and staged by members of the Chilliwack Players Guild; for there is no longer a University Theatre program in Chilliwack, this has moved to Abbotsford, where it is yet to find a theatre.

The current standings are: Liberals 43 seats, NDP 41 seats, Greens 3 seats. The Liberals are leading the NDP in Coquitlam –Burke Mountain, and the NDP is leading the Liberals in Courtenay-Comox and Maple Ridge-Mission by less than one per cent. The absentee ballots have yet to be counted. If the Liberals pick up one more seat they will form a majority government and Christy Clark will be free to pursue her agenda as she chooses. Otherwise, she should resign.