Behind ferry statistics
Apparently the vessel BC Ferries has used to derive utilization statistics to re-jig schedules is the main vessel on the Comox-Powell River run, the Queen of Burnaby. It holds 192 vehicles, and has an average utilization of 29.6 per cent or 57 vehicles per crossing [“Ferry cuts galvanize community,” December 4].
BC Ferries is currently shortlisting shipyards to build three new vessels—one of which is destined for this route. Vehicle capacity for the new vessels on this route has been specified at 145 vehicles. This means future vehicle capacity is 75 per cent of the current vehicle capacity.
Of the proposed 54 sailings per week during peak season, nine of them show utilization that will exceed the maximum number of cars the new vessel can carry, with an additional two sailings at absolute capacity and two more in jeopardy. After taking the roll-over into consideration (cars left behind from one sailing being added on to utilization figures of the next), this means that for between 17 per cent and 24 per cent of the crossings, BC Ferries is planning or prepared to leave cars behind.
Rob Stokes
North Vancouver
Health service whitewash
I am glad to see the disaster of Provincial Health Services Authority (PHSA) taking over BC Ambulance Service (BCAS) is finally coming to light [“Paramedic pay issues,” December 11].
As far as I know there has not been one single thing PHSA has done that has improved the system. Everything it has touched has become much more expensive, much less efficient, and in some cases downright dysfunctional.
The payroll debacle is just one example. For a perfect example take a look at the patient transfer “system.” It is an unmitigated disaster to say the least. The paperwork load at the station level has quadrupled at least, and all of it must be submitted by all staff via one ancient computer using Windows Vista.
It seems that nothing has been accomplished with this “improvement” other than doubling the bureaucracy and bringing mass confusion to an already over-burdened system.
I guess the best thing from management’s point of view is there are many more hidey-holes so no one has to take responsibility for the ridiculous decisions being made.
We are truly fortunate to have a very dedicated staff in Powell River who put patient care above all else in spite of BCAS and PHSA putting ever increasing roadblocks in place. Heaven help us if we lose them as other communities have.
My fellow taxpayers should be outraged as well.
Cameron Bailey
Huntingdon Street
Grateful for what we have
City of Powell River parks staff are to be commended for taking such good care of Sunset Park in Wildwood. The fields are in excellent shape. During large parts of the year, Sunset Park is my main running spot. So, I feel particularly lucky to have access to such a wonderful chunk of real estate—like a mini Stanley Park with better parking.
In this era of entitlement, I see people asking for things, some of them very expensive things like new libraries [“A new library—now for the good news,” October 23]. I think a sustainable community plan might have a section in it that allows city staff to direct their attention to the silent majority that is happy with what they have rather than investigating every complaint or listening to self-serving interest groups. Save vitriolic comments and protests for issues like human rights and justice. If you want something and if you think it is good for the community, roll up your sleeves and open your wallet to make it happen without begging council to do it.
Let’s take care of each other and let’s take care of what we have.
In my hometown, Simcoe, Ontario, council has reverted to how things were in my father’s day and asked citizens to clear their own sidewalks of snow and to spread salt on them. Kudos to them. Maybe we should consider those types of initiatives here.
Be grateful. This is a wonderful community to live in. Ask for less, give a little more.
Hats off to the people who run for office and hats off to city staff for taking care of our collective stuff. I am pretty sure that the majority of our citizens are happy, they just don’t make much noise. What with the festive season being just around the corner, I thought this might be a good time for me to extend my appreciation.
Lorne Morrow
McMahon Avenue
Legal action
Let me get this straight...14 people are bringing an action against the City of Powell River and against certain councillors and the mayor in an attempt to have them disqualified from holding office based on nothing more than a procedural error made in good faith based on legal advice at the time [“Residents seek to disqualify politicians,” December 11].
The outshot of this is that the city will undoubtedly incur tens of thousands of dollars in legal fees in defence if not more even if the lawsuit is not successful. If it is successful the result will be an unnecessary by-election costing the city even more money.
Wait a minute, the city is us. We the taxpayers, including the 14, are the ones who are going to have to foot the bill for this misguided action of a disgruntled few. Too bad they couldn’t use all the energy wasted on this matter to do something positive for the city instead of costing us all money. We can only hope that they lose the case and are each assessed court costs for this fiasco.
Milda Karen-Byng
Westminster Street
Backyard hunting
This autumn it was a great surprise to learn that hunting is allowed in our backyard [“Texada no shooting area larger,” September 18]. The common pathways and trails within municipal boundaries are fair game for bow hunters.
These trails are frequented by families and dog walkers, not to mention children using them as shortcuts home. I am not against hunting, but I am opposed to it being done within municipal limits in common areas used by the public.
Why is safety being abandoned for a few months a year where brandishing a dangerous weapon is acceptable? Not to mention, the deer who are being hunted here are often as tame as pets. They sleep in our yards and have been known to feed from a human hand. Bating tame deer with fruit behind residential communities doesn’t seem much like hunting. Not much sport in hunting a tame animal is there?
We are surrounded by wilderness in all directions. I would encourage hunters to remember their sportsmanship and take their hunt away from our backyards and into the wild where it belongs.
Tammy Siddall
Manson Avenue
