Time to calm down
To the Editor,
Re: Laws are made for a reason (Feb. 4)
Fred Mann should relax his concerns regarding the legal technicalities of medical cannabis (marijuana) and in hopefully a short time the plant will be completely re-legalized, through Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s policy changes. Then, like in Colorado, everything will become less complex. Coloradoans who wish to use the God-given plant for medical reasons simply purchase cannabis over the counter treating it like the relatively safe, therapeutic plant that it is and the sky isn’t falling in. Re-legalizing cannabis also means sick citizens don’t have to pay government extortion money for protection from police to use the plant.
Stan White,
Colorado
Airport issue not settled
To the Editor,
Some local officials say they’ve had enough of the naysayers, those people in Alberni Valley that have spoken out against the proposed runway expansion at the airport.
Yet, it was those very same elected leaders that forced the naysayers to openly express their opinion.
Last summer, when the Alberni-Clayoquot Regional District (ACRD) used an Alternate Approval Process (AAP) to gain the ability to borrow up to $6 million to pay for upgrades to the local airport only those that opposed the plan were offered an opportunity to state their position.
In an AAP, if 10 percent of electors oppose a plan, it must be taken to a formal referendum vote before it can be adopted. In other words, it’s all about the naysayers.
An AAP is not like a normal referendum where voters turn out to vote yes or no. It’s either ‘no’ or nothing.
Last summer, when the AAP occurred, most people didn?t know anything about the plan to extend the airport runway, let alone the disapproval process. Now the issue is back in the lime light because of 3 unsuccessful applications made by the regional district to gain federal/provincial infrastructure grant funding to help pay for the upgrades.
At this point, if local government moves forward with the plan, the entire financial burden will be placed on local taxpayer’s shoulders.
And that $6 million loan is not interest free. The total bill will be closer to $10 million.
The next time I hear a local official say they have had enough of the naysayers, I am going to say I have had enough of local government pulling the wool over our eyes by using a process of disapproval and opposition.
Put the issue to a proper referendum ballot and let those that are for and against it have their say.
Susan Roth,
Port Alberni
Parking needs enforcement
To the Editor,
Why is there no commissionaire patrolling the Walmart parking lot for handicap parking violators?
The person whose name is on the handicap tag must leave the vehicle when you park in a handicap space.
Terry Haugen,
Port Alberni
