Letters to The Province: Friday, April 19, 2024

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Re: High Immigration blamed for required TransLink cash infusion

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The chair of the mayors’ council on regional transportation, Brad West, is fully justified in asking for more federal funding for infrastructure and transportation for Metro Vancouver. It is the federal government that controls immigration for every province and territory except Quebec. As such, it is a federal responsibility to ensure that there is adequate funding to support newcomers. Next to the Greater Toronto Area, Metro Vancouver is the favourite place to move, not only for new immigrants but also those who are well-settled in other parts of Canada. The current housing crisis and the high cost of living has put extra pressure on the provincial and municipal governments here. It is time for the federal government to come up with adequate additional funding for our regional transportation network.

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Balwant Sanghera,  Richmond

We don’t like to believe it, but fish suffer

Re. Canadian caviar is cruel and costly

I wanted to thank The Province and Jessica Scott-Reid for exposing the cruel caviar industry. We like the idea that fish don’t feel pain. But what these animals go through is horrific. So we desperately need to open our hearts, for fish are like cats and dogs. Fish have friends, and just like cats they like to groom each other and love to play, like a dog nudging a ball with his/her nose. And one way fish are not like our beloved cats and dogs is that fish are artists — pufferfish make sand sculptures. And even if fish didn’t do any of these things, the caviar industry needs to end because as Animal Justice’s investigation shows, just like cats and dogs, fish can suffer.

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Jennifer Dunn, Chatswoth, Ont.

War on drugs is failing

This past weekend a good friend’s addicted son died of an overdose 50 feet from his grandfather’s front door. He went unnoticed, lying there dying in a patch of long grass on an empty lot. He was 28 years old and had been clean for a short while, staying with his grandfather. It is a tragic loss for his family, who loved him dearly. Periodically, a large drug bust hits the news with pictures of drug bricks piled high and claiming a victory over “the war on drugs.” I have never noticed an article where a street drug dealer was arrested. We need to fight this battle on that level. Without them, the deadly product would never be available. And we need to charge them with murder, not just dealing. We have to nail the guys that are pulling the trigger, as well as the ones that are giving them the guns.

F. Ron Yorston, Delta 

Pedestrians need to be attentive too

Re. City of Vancouver considers 30 km/h speed limit on all local streets

So they are considering making all residential streets 30-km/h zones. Is that going to make pedestrians more or less attentive as they step off the curb, gawping at their phones?

Peter Rose, Delta

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