Farnworth should ignore critics of intersection cameras
I hope Public Safety Minister Mike Farnworth isn’t getting lily-livered and letting cries of “cash grab” deter him from doing his duty by bringing in intersection cameras. A cash grab is when the police set up a radar trap at the bottom of a steep hill. But redlight runners are dangerous and need to be deterred.
I see someone run solid red lights daily. In 2017, ICBC paid out $4.8 billion in claims, more than 60 per cent of which were intersection “accidents.” An average of 60,000 people are injured and 73 killed on B.C. roads each year.
I say grab as much cash as you can from these infractions. Share the proceeds with municipal police forces and ICBC. Maybe a hit or two in the wallet will help these characters change their driving habits. Harry Powell, Surrey
Speed cameras are urgent
The provincial government needs to get the speed cameras up and running before daylight saving time ends on Nov. 4. Without fail, on the first afternoon rush hour after we turn the clocks back, some pedestrian gets hit by a car and is injured or killed. Carol Beatch, Burnaby
Third crossing needed
North Shore traffic gridlock is the result of increased volume of both commercial and non-commercial vehicles travelling to and from Vancouver Island, Squamish, Whistler and the Sunshine Coast. Due to higher housing costs on the North Shore, employees often live elsewhere and are forced to commute.
We need a third crossing to Belcarra Regional Park, connecting to the highway system in Coquitlam and onto the Port Mann Bridge. That would reduce a lot of traffic on Highway 1 through Burnaby. Joe Hussey, North Vancouver
Unload $10 bills, ease guilt
I know a lot of people must be feeling guilty about having $10 bills with a picture of Sir. John A. Macdonald on them. To end those feelings of guilt, please send them to me and I will be happy to put them to good use.
I am just showing my kindness by helping folks during these trying times to be free of any of Macdonald’s sins, which I will bear. Roger Reimer, Burnaby
Enough playing victim card
Was I the only one who laughed reading about how an authentic Haida totem pole was erected in Surrey, all in the name of reconciliation, when the Haida themselves were known to come down the coast and into the Fraser Valley to hunt for slaves? Everyone else must apologize for their ancestors owning slaves, don’t they? Or is that just for non-natives?
Enough with the political correctness baffle-gaff of native reconciliation. Everyone needs to get on with life without perpetually playing the victim card. Robert Rock, Mission
Surrey homeless not served
There is a big difference in the modular housing in Vancouver compared to Surrey. Since the people from the Surrey Strip were housed in their new prison compounds, the city has turned its back on the rest of the homeless people.
My husband and I are still homeless and so are lots of other people. If you drive past the MCC Thrift Store any morning, you will see people who have been kicked out of the modular housing.
Why doesn’t government buy up some of the houses that are sitting empty? My husband and I and my uncle would love to have one of those houses to live in and fix up for ourselves. Dawn Aitken, Surrey