Yearly Archives: 2007
Where have all the corner stores gone?
Published in Fernwood News (Victoria), 21 October 2007 Against the backdrop of rising land values and a booming village centre, half of Fernwood’s corner stores have disappeared in recent years. Is this a sign of gentrification? Since 2004, the following small retailers – all operated by Chinese-Canadian families – have closed their doors: Wall’s Food … Continue reading
Big defence spending the wrong priority
Letter to the Editor published in the Victoria Times Colonist, 7 February 2007 The Conservative government’s decision to spend $3.4 billion on four “super-jets” is good news for defence contractors, but bad news for ordinary Canadians who support other priorities. Climate change, child care, housing and health and education require a substantial injection of federal … Continue reading
Hagen asked for help
Published in Monday Magazine, 7 February 2007 Western Forest Products Ltd. had 35 acres onSkirtMountainremoved from what was then the forest land reserve after a company official sent a pressuring e-mail to Stan Hagen, then the minister of sustainable resource management, asking to have it released. “Western Forest Products Limited, a Doman company, has an urgent … Continue reading
Chair denies Bear conflict
Published in Monday Magazine, 24 January 2007 With Langford councillor Denise Blackwell taking over for Victoria mayor Alan Lowe as CRD chair, there was some question what it would mean for the ongoing dispute over Bear Mountain resort’s plans for Spaet—or Skirt—Mountain and the destruction of a cave representatives of several first nations say is … Continue reading
School District 61 and the NDP
Published in Lower Island News (Victoria), January 2007 It is not pleasant to question the actions of fellow New Democrats in a public forum like this newspaper. But sometimes it is essential, particularly when NDP members hold positions of trust and public responsibility. We must question the decision of a majority of School District No. … Continue reading
When property rights conflict with the right to shelter: Victoria’s homeless and Winnipeg’s Derelict Building Bylaw
Published in Fernwood News (Victoria), January 2007 The private real-estate market does not provide adequate housing for low-income people. As the cost of land escalates in Victoria, property owners (like myself) can realize large capital gains, but a growing number of fellow citizens are squeezed into substandard housing and onto the streets. This is the … Continue reading
Public sewage treatment saves money
Letter to the Editor of the Victoria Times Colonist, 28 November 2007 Why is it that Halifax can build a public sewage treatment system for $400-million (one-third municipally funded) and the CRD considers a $1.2-billion, public-private system? The population of Greater Halifax was 372,000 in the last census, compared with 330,000 in Greater Victoria. Even … Continue reading »