Senators back 'at the trough' at taxpayers' expense
LETTERS
Re: Canadians billed for Duffy's Ottawa living costs after Senate reinstatement, Aug. 10
Sen. Mike Duffy is back in the saddle again, vindicated of any and all charges of fraud. The Duffster looked happy as he strolled about the streets of The Hill waiting for the Red Chamber to reopen after such a much-needed summer break.
What a joke the whole fraud issue has become. Duffy, Patrick Brazeau and Pamela Wallin will all be at the trough as soon as humanly possible. We the taxpayers paid the bill and we the taxpayers will absorb their salaries and perks once again.
The never-ending story of how power corrupts ... George Pearson, Surrey
Rental stock neglected
Re: Vancouver to build 400 new affordable homes, Aug. 16
It’s fascinating to watch how powerless our various levels of government are when it comes to protecting affordable housing in the context of a speculative real estate bubble. The push for density at all costs has simply played into the hands of developers by fuelling a runaway condo boom, while driving up land values and detached home prices to astronomical levels. In the meantime, rental stock continues to be sacrificed and more and more people are finding themselves homeless or forced to other neighbourhoods or other towns altogether. All this could have been mitigated somewhat had the powers that be taken action years ago to seriously protect rental housing stock. But of course that would have required both the competence and the political will to do what’s right. Charles Leduc, Vancouver
Endorsement slammed
Re: Trump prophesies about 'rigged' vote, Aug. 2
John McCain spent five years in captivity in North Vietnam and that included two years of solitary confinement. As a son of a war veteran, I was taught to respect all those who were brave enough to wear a uniform and go into battle. This is a belief that I hold dear to my heart and over any religion or school-taught lesson. However, I have lost a great deal of respect for Sen. McCain. By supporting the draft-dodging Donald Trump, despite Trump’s derogatory comment about McCain not being a war hero and Trump’s trashing of the Khan family, it is clear to me that the senator has sold his soul to the devil for nothing more than to ensure his position in both the party and the Senate. I wonder if the young McCain of 1968, barely clinging to life in a Vietnamese war camp, wouldn’t have just spat in The Donald’s eye.
Lest we forget. Tom Cattermole, North Vancouver
Fishing tactic unethical
Re: All sports salmon fishing on Lower Fraser shut down, Aug. 12
Again, Fisheries and Oceans Canada has stopped all recreational fishing on the Fraser River because of low sockeye return and because they, again, have failed to stop the bottom bouncing for all types of salmon. This method of fishing is unethical, as unethical as drift nets, and is only allowed in B.C. It is being used to target all species of salmon and the sooner this method of fishing is banned, the sooner recreational sports fishing that uses ethical fishing methods can get back on the river. Daniel Wright, Abbotsford