Letters to the Editor: November 28, 2012

Fight back against gas prices

While gas prices are lower across BC and the rest of the country by 12 to 23 cents per litre, the good folks who peddle gas in Powell River have lowered the price by a whopping 3.2 cents per litre and I bet they feel good about themselves [“Gas prices are unreasonable,” October 26].

Not enough, I say, and way, way too late. Gas prices have been falling for a couple of months now and Powell River has just had our first fuel price drop since the carbon tax was tacked on again in July 2012.

I believe the gas merchants in this town are all in collusion. There is no competition and motorists have absolutely no choice to fuel elsewhere, unless we want to catch a ferry to the tune of $150 return to leave this town. The station owners in this town know it, and we are all being held hostage and made to pay their ridiculous prices. People, they are getting rich off us.

We need to show these guys how to hurt. Don’t buy your smokes, pop, chips and Cheezies, pizza and coffee at their convenience stores. It only adds to their radically inflated bottom line.

To the visitors who come from out of town, fill before you come here and get out with just enough fuel to get to the next station on Vancouver Island or the Sechelt peninsula. Even Garden Bay is several cents a litre cheaper than Powell River. That speaks volumes to me.

Don Pellegrin

Chilco Avenue

Having attended the Remembrance Day ceremony in Powell River on November 11, I was struck by the community pride that was exhibited during the occasion [“We remember,” November 14].

I had the honour of laying a wreath on behalf of the people of Canada, but prior to that official function, I listened intently to the reading of the names of Powell River armed forces personnel that made the ultimate sacrifice. I counted the names of 55 men who perished during World War II, and while I reflected on those names, it occurred to me that Powell River families made a huge sacrifice to maintain our freedom.

A search of the Internet reveals the wartime population of Powell River, including Texada Island, was about 8,000 residents. That means about one per cent of the Powell River region’s total male population did not return from the conflict. One can guess that many more were injured in battle and while providing the ancillary services to maintain the war effort. Given the number of service personnel who enlisted, it is safe to assume that many Powell River families were touched directly by World War II.

On Remembrance Day, there were certainly throngs of community members who came to pay their respects to Powell River’s brave armed forces personnel, who have also served in World War I, Korea and the many conflicts since.

Powell River’s soldiers have requited themselves well during battle. For example, Lieutenant-Commander John McGregor, Canada’s most decorated soldier, served in both the first and second world wars, winning the Victoria Cross, which was the highest distinction that Canadian military personnel could receive. That excellence in Powell River military service was exemplified on Remembrance Day when Nigel Greenwood, Rear-Admiral (retired), and his father, Frank Greenwood, Lieutenant-Commander reserve (retired), took the parade’s final salute. This community continues to be strongly represented in all branches of the Canadian Armed Forces.

War is never to be glorified but I’m touched by the glorious commitment made by this community in defending Canada’s freedom.

John Weston

MP for West Vancouver-Sunshine Coast-Sea to Sky Country riding

I just read the article in the Peak regarding the incident at Olive Devaud Residence when a resident died as a result of a head injury that was determined to be caused by human error [“Family fights for accountability,” October 24].

I worked with the caregiver involved in this unfortunate accident. We are talking about someone who has worked longer than most people at Olive Devaud, management included. This person never flaunted her seniority or exercised a position of authority over others. Instead, she acted like a caring member of a family to everyone and because of people like her the workplace felt more like a home than an institution.

This is a workplace filled with challenges, it is physically demanding and can be very stressful and draining. The caregiver who is supposed to be held accountable never rushed people or showed disrespect. From what I witnessed she treated the residents like gold, as though they were her own grandmother.

It upsets me to think that she should be treated disrespectfully. Where is the gratitude for all those years of care that she provided? I think it is shameful that we would want her to feel any worse about this situation. God help us for being human and making errors.

Kama Anderson

Westview Avenue

I wonder whether the Peak is aware that the format of the advertisement for the Clark government propaganda looks just like a report made by one of its reporters [“The plan is working,” November 14]? Even the Minister of Jobs, Tourism and Innovation Pat Bell’s name appears to be highlighted as if he was the contributing reporter.

I expect that the perpetrators of this hoax rely on the poor observational abilities of the paper’s reading audience...isn’t that insulting? Is the Peak so pro Liberal government that it would support the government’s phony article/ad scam?

Kerry Williams-Freeman

Scotch Fir Point Road

I heard a well-known demographer compare the city of Vancouver to a huge feedlot dependent upon the hinterland for its sustenance. It’s a generalization, but it asserts the importance of maintaining a healthy hinterland to support the well-being of Vancouver.

We are social creatures who thrive on personal interactions. My experience has been that the bigger the city the less people you know around you. In small towns you know more people in the neighbourhood and the workplace compliments it nicely. This makes small towns the choice for enhanced lifestyles.

Decentralization should be encouraged and not stifled by lack of affordable ferries and transportation in general [“Residents turn out for ferry consultation meetings,” November 21]. The health of the hinterland is dependent on transportation. We need long-term statesmanship—beyond an electoral term—to solve this problem.

Solve the transportation needs of the province and Vancouver will reap the benefit.

Ted Cooper

Massett Court