Opinion

Editor: On March 21 I was invited to a "think tank" for local business owners hosted by Sechelt council. The meeting opened, introductions were made, and all the town council members were present as well as the mayor.

It occurred to me when I looked around the Holy Family Catholic Church auditorium last Saturday night that the Ruby Slipper Fund board members might just be geniuses at fundraising.

Editor: On Easter weekend I went with family and friends to hike the Skookumchuck trail up to the Narrows. It was a predicted -XL tide, and with the gorgeous weather and excellent hiking conditions, it did not disappoint.

We're all in favour of more parking and creating a vibrant downtown shopping and visiting experience, but the latest decision from Sechelt council to try to make this happen has left us scratching our heads.

Editor: I read with particular interest last week's letters regarding cats, and the suggestion that they should be forced to stay inside. I don't believe allowing a cat the freedom to roam outside is the problem.

Editor: Paul Keyes misinterpreted my remark about the competitive nature of striving for federal government investment in our riding (Coast Reporter, letters, March 22). He rightly said it is a competitive assignment.

Editor: Our present Sechelt council is continuing a long-standing local tradition of dithering over raising the District's development cost charges (DCCs). We frequently hear the refrain that growth will lead the District to prosperity.

Editor: Property owners in the District of Sechelt have been charged a merged sewer specified area bylaw tax since 1994. The current annual rate is $115. I have been paying for 19 years, and still do not have access to municipal sewer.

Editor: According to the District of Sechelt's web page, the population is 8,544 persons. A survey of 211 respondents is equal to 2.4 per cent of the population.

Editor: Those who do not study history are bound to repeat it. About 20 years ago, the one-way Cowrie Street experiment was tried. It was a fiasco, and several businesses failed because of it. Now, let's try it again.