Indigenous protesters need to respect court rulings, too
Supreme Court decisions in civilized countries trump everybody, including minorities. Perry Bellegarde, national chief of the Assembly of First Nations, said that using police to remove people “peacefully” protesting was “a violation of their human and Aboriginal rights.” How is it peaceful when they block roads and construction in defiance of a court order?
The curious part is that the large majority of natives will get about $600 million out of employment from this pipeline, so we’re talking here about a minority of a minority trying to run things. No country must ever allow that. Let the Mounties do their job. — Bill Davis, New Westminster
More debt isn’t ‘a success’
A recent article in our local newspaper by Tom Fletcher pointed out that federal environment minister, Catherine McKenna, declared “a success” the 24th annual UN climate summit as Prime Minister Justin Trudeau had “unveiled a plan to borrow more money and lend it to struggling Alberta oil-and-gas producers.”
Would it not be better to do whatever it takes to get the pipeline built? What is better? To have an industry produce $80 million a day or borrow more money and add to Canada’s national debt? How can anyone call borrowing more money a success? — Al Reimer, Sardis
We live in a democracy
I had to laugh at the comment made by Shelagh Bell-Irving at the protest Tuesday: “We need to shut down Canada now and let the government know we the people are running the show and not them.”
Do protesters think they’re living in the Divided States of America and that Canada can just be shut down because the person at the top is having a temper tantrum? Politicians were elected to represent us. If you don’t like their representation, vote them out.
We live in a democracy. Believe it or not, many people are in favour of pipelines. — David Reid, Burnaby
A tax for heating my home
I received my Fortis bill Wednesday and if anyone running the show over in Victoria still doesn’t understand the lowly taxpayers’ opposition to this useless carbon tax then read on.
The cost of the natural gas I used to heat my house and water for the month was $21.69. The carbon tax was $24.33 — 112 per cent of the cost of the gas! On top of the carbon tax is, of course, more tax: a “clean-energy levy,” which I’m guessing is for having the gall to heat my home and, of course, the good old GST, a tax on a tax. How low is that?
I believe this gouging by our elected provincial officials is necessary. How else can a pension after only six years of service be funded? — Stu Orpen, North Vancouver
I’m a nurse, and I work hard
I have been a registered nurse in B.C. for 32 years, 25 of those full-time in the emergency room. I lift people, turn people, bathe people, educate people, perform CPR and hold those who have lost a loved one. I extricate unconscious drug-overdose victims from private vehicles in the parking lot. I’m on my feet 12 hours a day and I love my work.
I have never had a massage. Please don’t lump us all together because a small number of people have abused this benefit. — Leah Smith, Kaleden