UBCO situation is a real stunner
Dear Editor:
Re: 鈥淯BCO denies responsibility for cracked sa国际传媒 buildings鈥 by Ron Seymour (Page 1, Feb. 24)
Letsa国际传媒 rewind the timeline...
鈥 Jan. 11, 2010: Soil Removal and Deposit Regulation Bylaw 9612 was adopted.
鈥 Aug. 24, 2023: The City of sa国际传媒 issued a $262 million building permit for the downtown UBCO tower.
• Sept. 11, 2023: The Bulletin: Earthworks Noise and Vibration Regulations is created. Purpose: “To inform developers, building contractors, and homeowners about an amendment to the Soil Removal and Deposit Regulation Bylaw No. 9612 to include regulations for soil improvement (vibration generating) activities that may be disruptive to the public or damaging to nearby infrastructure or buildings.” ()
* Dec. 6, 2023: According to UBCO spokesman Nathan Skolski, cracks were detected in the building at 1405 St. Paul on the weekend of Nov. 25, 2023.
鈥 March 31, 2024: Work didn鈥檛 voluntarily stop on the tower project until after sa国际传媒 Fire Chief Dwight Seymour said in an unusual Easter Sunday press release about Hadgraft Wilson Place. 鈥淩ecent assessments have indicated the level of risk is significant enough to begin the evacuation process to ensure the life and safety of occupants.鈥
So it took four months from the time cracks first started appearing at 1405 St. Paul, then other nearby buildings including the Royal Canadian Legion and Hadgraft Wilson Place, for crews to voluntarily stop work. The work restarted just a few days later, around April 11, 2024.
Question for Mayor Tom Dyas: Why didn鈥檛 any city building official ever issue a stop work order on the UBCO tower project?
A stop work order is a legal notice to suspend work on a building project, given out by a town or city. What usually happens is: after a project is investigated and the problem resolved, the stop work order is lifted.
From the City of sa国际传媒’s Building Bylaw, 1993, No. 7245 (Stop Work Order 5.4.1): “The Building Inspector may direct the immediate suspension or correction of all or a portion of the construction on a building or structure by attaching a stop work order notice on the premises whenever it is found that the work is not being performed in accordance with the requirements of the building code or of this or any bylaw of the City.” ()
This question, which remains unanswered to this day, is the 鈥渆lephant in the room鈥.
I鈥檇 love to see the CBC TV program 鈥淭he Fifth Estate鈥 do their own investigation. The Fifth Estate is Canadasa国际传媒 premier investigative documentary program. Its news team is known for holding those responsible to account. From The Fifth Estate website: 鈥淭he stories deliver a dazzling parade of political leaders, controversial characters and ordinary people whose lives were touched by triumph or tragedy.鈥
For those who would also welcome an independent investigation of the UBCO tower project, write to: fifth@cbc.ca and fifthtips@cbc.ca
David Buckna
sa国际传媒
Canadians need smarter transition
Dear Editor:
Rebuttal: The Truth sa国际传媒 Mark Carneysa国际传媒 Climate Plan by Kris Sims (Feb. 13)
The critique of Mark Carneysa国际传媒 climate affordability plan misrepresents both the proposal itself and the economic realities of carbon pricing. Letsa国际传媒 break down the key arguments and provide a clearer picture of whatsa国际传媒 at stake.
1. The Carbon Tax 鈥淗idden鈥 Cost Argument is Misleading
The claim that Carneysa国际传媒 plan hides a carbon tax ignores basic market economics. Businesses already pass on costs鈥攚hether itsa国际传媒 wages, materials, or regulatory compliance. The current carbon pricing system does the same, but it also returns funds to consumers through rebates. Carneysa国际传媒 model shifts this approach slightly, offering direct consumer incentives rather than blanket cash rebates.
More importantly, this critique ignores the long-term cost of inaction. Extreme weather, supply chain disruptions, and global energy market volatility already impose hidden costs on Canadians. The real question is: should we invest in a transition that lowers energy costs over time, or keep paying indefinitely for environmental damage and rising fuel prices?
The choice isn鈥檛 between a tax or no tax鈥攊tsa国际传媒 between managing the transition intelligently or letting the market dictate costs without safeguards.
2. Affordability Measures That Work, Not Just Cash Handouts
The argument against 鈥渄iscount codes鈥 for heat pumps and insulation misses the fundamental point: reducing energy consumption is the best long-term affordability strategy.
鈥 A heat pump reduces home heating costs by up to 60%, meaning less spent on utilities every year.
鈥 Insulation improvements cut household energy waste, lowering bills permanently.
鈥 Electric vehicles and e-bikes reduce fuel dependence, shielding consumers from gas price spikes.
Critics argue that cash rebates allow Canadians to spend on 鈥渨hat they need most,鈥 but this fails to address structural affordability problems. The reality is that carbon pricing revenues should be reinvested to reduce long-term energy dependence, not just act as a short-term buffer against price hikes.
Would critics prefer a system where we just keep sending out cheques while people remain locked into outdated, expensive energy sources? Thatsa国际传媒 like giving someone cash every year for gas instead of helping them switch to a more efficient car.
3. The False Comparison to Erin O鈥橳oole
This argument suggests Carneysa国际传媒 plan resembles former Conservative leader Erin O鈥橳oolesa国际传媒 unpopular climate proposal. The key difference? O鈥橳oolesa国际传媒 plan was an ideological compromise that lacked clarity, while Carneysa国际传媒 proposal is based on real-world models that have worked elsewhere.
鈥 British Columbiasa国际传媒 carbon pricing system, one of the most established, hasn鈥檛 collapsed the economy鈥攊n fact, the provincesa国际传媒 GDP has grown.
鈥 European nations using similar credit markets have seen businesses and households transition to lower-cost, lower-carbon alternatives without economic collapse.
鈥 Carneysa国际传媒 expertise in finance, energy markets, and climate economics means this isn鈥檛 just a political stunt鈥攊tsa国际传媒 a practical, economically sound model.
O鈥橳oole failed because his plan didn鈥檛 appeal to conservatives or progressives. Carneysa国际传媒 plan, by contrast, offers a structured, incentive-driven transition rather than a vague compromise.
4. The Cost of Doing Nothing is Higher
The critique leans heavily on current carbon tax figures to make the case against Carneysa国际传媒 approach but conveniently ignores the future cost of inaction.
鈥 Fossil fuel prices are volatile鈥擟anadians already pay more for gas and heating due to supply chain disruptions and global instability.
鈥 Energy-efficient homes save thousands per year鈥攂ut without upfront investments, low-income households stay trapped in high-cost systems.
鈥 Climate change already costs billions in disaster relief鈥攚ildfires, floods, and extreme weather events increase insurance costs and strain public finances.
Carneysa国际传媒 plan isn鈥檛 about punishing people for driving or heating their homes鈥攊tsa国际传媒 about helping them switch to cheaper, more sustainable options so they don鈥檛 have to rely on expensive energy forever.
5. The 鈥淓litist鈥 Attack is a Red Herring
Bringing up Carneysa国际传媒 salary at the Bank of England is classic ad hominem鈥攊t does nothing to engage with the actual policy. Would we prefer a climate plan drafted by people with no economic experience? Carney has spent his career dealing with global energy markets and financial systems鈥攅xactly the expertise needed to guide Canadasa国际传媒 economic transition.
Itsa国际传媒 also worth noting that no carbon pricing system will ever be universally popular鈥攂ut the alternative is higher energy bills with no strategy for reducing costs over time.
Bottom Line: Canadians Need a Smarter Transition, Not Just Cash Rebates
Carneysa国际传媒 plan is about lowering costs at the source鈥攂y making homes more efficient, transport more affordable, and businesses more competitive in a global low-carbon economy. Critics who argue for keeping things the way they are offer no real solutions鈥攋ust continued dependence on a volatile, expensive energy system.
Canadians deserve better than short-term political talking points. We need a climate policy that actually makes life more affordable in the long run.
David Bidwell
sa国际传媒
Thanks Liberals, theresa国际传媒 still hope
Dear Editor
Watching the Liberal debate on Tuesday, I took great solace in listening to four very intelligent and experienced Canadians talking seriously about how they would lead Canada.
Every one of them stands head and shoulders above the current American or Canadian political leadership. Bring it on.
Doug Hayman
Victoria