We should elect better-qualified people

Re: “Opening pushed back to 2018 for new Johnson Street Bridge,” June 16. Sadly, recent events demand we should no longer be satisfied with amateur politicians and unqualified public representatives. The Blue Bridge debacle is the prime example of how amateur ineptitude has cost everyone in the region dearly. Only now is there professional management in place, but this does not excuse the decisions and lack of oversight that allowed the contractor to consistently fail with its commitments. Inadequate contracts that allowed the use of Chinese steel, rather than buying Canadian, is a travesty.

Decisions to force personal agendas onto the region continue with little council opposition. Yes, I mean the contentious implementation of cycle lanes and the insistence that they will propagate, irrespective of the effectiveness or success of the Pandora exercise. The reluctance to adopt best-practice solutions from other regions and countries is another example. We are by no means unique when it comes to capital projects, so unless there is real need to deviate from established and successful designs and practices, then we do not need to reinvent the wheel.

We need to consider the abilities and agendas of candidates in future elections to ensure the interests of the region overall are best served, and this means electing people who are demonstrably qualified to lead. There is a desperate need for stronger and clearer visions that will allow the region to flourish, and this might well mean amalgamation of at least parts of the current fiefdoms.

We cannot continue bumbling along as we do now. Chris Drake Victoria