4.2°C Not observed 
3
Editor:
On the morning of Jan. 23, I took the ferry into Vancouver.
I was somewhat startled to see a large sign on the walkway informing that this is a “secure area,” and passengers must submit to security checks on demand. The traffic exiting the car deck included a gasoline tank truck and its tank trailer — 200 gallons of explosive liquid seemingly unguarded during passage?
As I disembarked at Horseshoe Bay, I saw a passenger with a high-power compound hunting bow carried across his pack. I thought it peculiar that someone can openly bring the equivalent of a silenced pistol into a “secure” area.
During the past couple years, two homeless guys were electrocuted in Vancouver while attempting to steal copper cable from Hydro sub-stations. Clearly these vital facilities are lacking effective alarm systems, and an enemy could have damaged the transformers, disrupting power to a large area.
Meanwhile Vancouver is considering a huge fine for anyone displaying an anti-Olympic sign on their own lawn. The government obviously does not fear the bogey-man T-word but does fear democratic free speech.
George N. Murray
Gibsons
> Pierre Trudeau prorogued 11 times in 16 years; Jean Chretien four times in 10> years, including a four-month delay after Paul Martin became PM, to give> Martin time to get his government ready. Newly elected governments take over> within a few weeks, yet we’re asked to believe a sitting cabinet minister> needed four months to set up shop! > > Of course, Mr. Chretien’s true agenda was distancing himself from the auditor> general’s report on the sponsorship scandal and dropping the mess into Paul> Martin’s lap. I don’t recall manufactured outrage at the time by either the> press or the opposition — certainly nothing resembling the contrived> performance Canadians have been subjected to of late. Senator Moore was in> that Liberal caucus and ignores their conduct, yet now expresses concern> about an "affront to our democratic process." > > Prorogation did not "shut down Parliament" — it was already in recess.> Prorogation merely extended the recess by 22 days. Prorogation doesn’t mean a> prolonged shutdown of Parliament because that is not its purpose. Prorogation> is a reset button — a government can prorogue and open a new Parliament on> the same day if it wishes.
Posted on January 31, 2010 @ 4:23 pm PST | Report post to Editor | 3178616