Some thoughts on three big local issues

If there is one thing I have learned from writing this column, it is that there are many opinions on all subjects and that friends, colleagues and strangers all want to share their own opinions in the hope that you will write about them.

This is an opinion column, so I decided that I would take advantage of the start of the year to write down some of my own opinions on a variety of topics formed after listening to many others share their ideas.

Fluoridation: It shocked me when this matter, dealt with by a plebiscite many years ago, was brought up and fluoridation was cancelled by the city with little input from the public.

At the time, I stated this was a direct attack on the children of the more economically challenged in our community and I still feel that way. Having seen the pictures of children's teeth and gums when there is not sufficient fluoride in the water, it is a tragic problem.

This was a bad decision, but the issue will be back on the table in 2021. Fluoride is needed; it protects children's teeth. My opinion? Put it back in our water as soon as possible.

The Green Line: Wow, is this a hot potato! We are all Keynesian economists in our hearts and the idea that governments build things when times are tough still makes sense. That is, unless governments forgot to stop building things when times were good, which results in excessive debt.

The costs of this project — along with the potential for overruns, the uncertainty of how it connects to the downtown core, the questionable demand for service and why we decided to use a different system of train car than our

I support bike lanes, but they need to be looked at in terms of impact on traffic flow, the real months of demand and their impact on parking and retail businesses.

existing system — all lead to difficult questions.

We have council members opposed to private vehicles and committed to public transit, but this project is a big risk with not only potential cost overruns but annual losses for years into the future. My opinion is that the provincial government is right in putting this on hold until there is more certainly about the costs and about the demand. There are billions of dollars at stake; we cannot afford a mistake on this one.

Bike lanes: Again, we have a number of members of our city council who seem fundamentally opposed to the use of private vehicles. As a result, we get “traffic calming” measures, which are anything but that; we get proposals for speed limit changes; and, we get bike lanes.

Actually, I am a fan of bike lanes if they are well thought out. Why they had to be put on certain roadways is a mystery to me and why they could not be maintained only during the summer months is another question that goes unanswered. Some cities only operate their bike lanes from April to October and that makes sense.

The fact that we clear snow from bike lanes before we clear many roads and sidewalks is just frustrating. So, my opinion is that I support bike lanes, but they need to be looked at in terms of the impact on traffic flow, the real months of demand and their impact on parking and retail businesses.

These are just a few opinions. I certainly do not expect anyone to agree, but I do hope that I may have sparked a bit more debate. The business of government is to manage the business of its constituency. Primary goals must be to create jobs, create wealth and improve the infrastructure of all communities. Imposing ideological decisions and making huge investments simply to satisfy some philosophical result does not cut it with me ... but, that is just my opinion.

Happy New Year! It is going to be an interesting one, that's for sure.

George Brookman is chairman and corporate ambassador for West Canadian Digital Imaging Inc.