In the news
A couple of recent press releases have really got my attention. The first one is from “Take Back Your Power”; the second is from “Coalition to Stop Smart Meters.bc.ca.”
Both deal with fires and failures of smart meters and what each provincial government has or has not done [“Radio frequency wave exposure concerns smart meter protestors,” June 11].
In Saskatchewan, the smart meter program has been terminated after eight fires and/or failures of the Sensus devices. The CEO of Saskpower has resigned without severance. An independent in-depth investigation by Ritenburg & Associates Ltd. has found that the eight smart meter failures and/or fires were caused by moisture and contaminants, and not hot sockets, over voltages, improper installations or holes in the meter boxes, as previously stated by Sensus. The press release also showed a photograph of the electronics and the buss bars. The separation of the uninsulated buss bars is just five millimetres; and the buss bars are in close proximity to the electronic board. The photo also shows two “burnt out” boards; the primary source of the problem is rainwater. The media in Saskatchewan has termed the smart meter program a catastrophe.
The Coalition to Stop Smart Meters’ press release shows that there have been over 28 documented smart meter fires and/or failures in BC. BC Hydro “officials” continue to deny the events ever occurred. If any fires or failures occur, it is the fault of the home owner. Huh?
BC Hydro has been allowed to ignore regulations such as those in the BC Safety Standards Act.
To sum it up, eight fires or failures of the smart meter in Saskatchewan was enough to call a halt to the program. Twenty-eight fires or failures of the smart meters in BC is enough to keep the program going.
Norm Hutton
Duncan Street
Ferry fares inequitable
Ferries to and from the Lower Sunshine Coast will be free for children travelling for sports-related activity [“Sports teams eligible for free rides,” November 5]. This is a bold move and I commend the government. Children from the Lower Sunshine Coast will now join children from every other ferry-locked community in BC that benefits from this progressive program. It is only Powell River that is not included. As things stand it is simply not equitable. Our teams play in Vancouver Island leagues. We need subsidized trips to Little River.
Teams fold when children cannot afford to travel. A loss of opportunities for children leads to fewer families moving here. Our children and community will benefit immensely when Powell River is added to the list which includes all other coastal communities including all the Gulf Islands.
On a busy Lower Sunshine Coast run this can be borne by a 0.5 per cent fare hike. For the smaller coastal communities the cost has been borne by the whole of BC Ferries. Is Powell River too big to have this subsidized by the whole of BC Ferries but too small to self fund? Adult fares to Little River have increased by 34 per cent in the last six years.
To reference Dr. Seuss, children from Gibsons and Sechelt now have stars upon their navels. There are now star-bearing children in every ferry-locked community in BC. Powell River children want “stars upon thars.”
“When the Star-Belly children went out to play ball,
Could a Plain-Belly get in the game...? Not at all.
You could only play if your bellies had stars
And the Plain-Belly children had none upon thars.”
The policy to subsidize ferry for children involved in sports is a policy that will support our children’s health and our community’s well-being. I am not sure it is possible any longer to justify this benefit not being available to Powell River.
Barrie McDonald
Willingdon Avenue
Honouring our veterans
Dad will be 100 years old, December 20, 2014. I have been told he is the oldest living veteran in Powell River [“War veteran pays tribute,” November 5].
This Remembrance Day I truly appreciated the respect and consideration shown toward my father. Twice came offers to pay for his lunch on November 11.
He joined the BC Dragoons and shipped overseas in the summer of 1941. He trained in England and began as tank commander. He was sent to North Africa where the Allies were chasing Rommel. He continued up through Sicily and Italy. He was wounded in Italy and carries shrapnel in his shoulder to this day. He went to France and Germany and ended up in Holland. He was shipped home to Canada, January 1946.
We are eternally grateful to Sargent Robert James Stutt (Dad) and all our veterans who were willing to fight for the freedoms we still enjoy and did this out of a sense of duty.
Thelma Parker
Lacombe, Alberta
