Our elected officials need to do a reality check.
First, the letter in the March 3, 2017 Citizen on the Valley's air quality being exaggerated hit the nail right on the head with one exception. Open burning for one month in each spring and fall should be stopped because it is entirely unnecessary and because of what is being burned. Unfortunately there are always those people who burn garbage, plastics and other junk because it is easier than taking it to the proper disposal sites.
The North Cowichan proposed bylaw to restrict wood stoves being used to heat homes must be watered down drastically because it amounts to a major disruption to quality of life for the majority of residents. Heating your home with seasoned wood trumps burning garbage by a long shot.
Second, the article also in the March 3, 2017 Citizen re: "Bings Creek panels ready for sunbathing" hopefully is only a bad joke. It states the $72,000 cost to taxpayers to install the solar panels will save $3,100 annually in the cost of electricity. If you do the math, it will take 23.22 years to recover the initial cost and that is assuming no maintenance costs are ever incurred for 23 years. Poorly thought out investment of $72,000.
It is time for the silent majority to rise up, exercise their right and write letters of disapproval to your regional directors.
The relentless tax increases and persistent new restrictions must stop.
Our elected officials cannot expect thousands of Valley residents to renovate their homes to install alternate heating systems. Restricting the public's ability to heat their homes is akin to restricting their right to drive their cars, which is probably not far down the road if the Greens have their way.
Once again, aren't you glad we are in such good hands of our elected officials. Really?
Wolf Hufnagl
Cobble Hill