Editorials

The Peace Tower is pictured on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Monday, Jan. 25, 2021, as lawmakers return to the House of Commons following the winter break. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick

OUR VIEW: Maintaining a strong democracy crucial

Canada has placed fifth worldwide for the level of its democracy

The Peace Tower is pictured on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Monday, Jan. 25, 2021, as lawmakers return to the House of Commons following the winter break. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick
House values are up in the Cowichan Valley, according to the latest report by BC Assessment. (File photo)

Editorial: Cowichan house prices increasingly unaffordable

Younger people have had no choice but to purchase ordinary homes at extraordinary prices

  • Feb 8, 2021
House values are up in the Cowichan Valley, according to the latest report by BC Assessment. (File photo)
Gov. Gen. Julie Payette reads the speech from the throne in Ottawa on Dec. 5, 2019. She has recently resigned her role. (The Canadian Press)

EDITORIAL: Government officials held to high standards

Recent incidents at federal level show Canadians expect much from those in government

  • Feb 4, 2021
Gov. Gen. Julie Payette reads the speech from the throne in Ottawa on Dec. 5, 2019. She has recently resigned her role. (The Canadian Press)
Organ donation form from BC Transplant. (BC Transplant)

Editorial: Opt-out organ donation the way to go

In most places in Canada, including British Columbia, you have to sign up to be an organ donor.

  • Jan 29, 2021
Organ donation form from BC Transplant. (BC Transplant)
Handwashing is one of the important COVID-19 precautions. (File photo)

Editorial: Time to knuckle down on COVID precautions

It would be a mistake for Vancouver Island not to bring this safely home now

  • Jan 22, 2021
Handwashing is one of the important COVID-19 precautions. (File photo)
North Cowichan Mayor Al SIebring helps Chris Istace to put up a tent at the site of one of the homeless camps installed in 2020. (Photo by Don Bodger)

Editorial: We’re on the right path to address homelessness

Housing first model can only help improve the situation

  • Jan 15, 2021
North Cowichan Mayor Al SIebring helps Chris Istace to put up a tent at the site of one of the homeless camps installed in 2020. (Photo by Don Bodger)
(Metro photo)

Editorial: Is that you speeding through other people’s neighbhourhoods?

We’ll call this driver amnesia, and it’s time to forget about it

  • Jan 9, 2021
(Metro photo)
(Pixabay.com)

Editorial: Best to keep dogs on their leashes

Providing new spaces to let Rover roam free not a good idea

(Pixabay.com)
The BC Injury Research and Prevention Unit estimates that 175 crashes happen every day in B.C. (File - Black Press Media)

EDITORIAL: Treat vehicle collisions like a pandemic

COVID-19 has shown behaviour can influence public health outcomes, so be kind, be calm and slow down

  • Jan 6, 2021
The BC Injury Research and Prevention Unit estimates that 175 crashes happen every day in B.C. (File - Black Press Media)
Christmas lights are something that people can do to celebrate the season that are not impacted by COVID-19. (File - Black Press Media)

EDITORIAL: Christmas’s generous spirit unites us all

Holiday season will be different this year and we’ll have to adjust our plans

  • Dec 25, 2020
Christmas lights are something that people can do to celebrate the season that are not impacted by COVID-19. (File - Black Press Media)
The Cowichan Valley Regional District is looking at how to tighten up fireworks rules after numerous complaints came in around Halloween, 2020. (Citizen file)

Editorial: You can’t just set off fireworks whenever you want

People should think carefully about where and when to host fireworks displays

  • Dec 23, 2020
The Cowichan Valley Regional District is looking at how to tighten up fireworks rules after numerous complaints came in around Halloween, 2020. (Citizen file)
Chief Public Health Officer Theresa Tam responds to a question during a news conference Tuesday, December 8, 2020 in Ottawa. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld

EDITORIAL: Listen to the medical experts

Misinformation about COVID-19 could prove deadly

  • Dec 22, 2020
Chief Public Health Officer Theresa Tam responds to a question during a news conference Tuesday, December 8, 2020 in Ottawa. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld
A phial of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine at the Royal Victoria Hospital, in Belfast, Tuesday Dec. 8, 2020. The United Kingdom, one of the countries hardest hit by the coronavirus, is beginning its vaccination campaign, a key step toward eventually ending the pandemic. (Liam McBurney/Pool via AP)

EDITORIAL: Long winter, but hope for the spring

The coronavirus vaccine is the start of a long road back to a version of normal

  • Dec 20, 2020
A phial of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine at the Royal Victoria Hospital, in Belfast, Tuesday Dec. 8, 2020. The United Kingdom, one of the countries hardest hit by the coronavirus, is beginning its vaccination campaign, a key step toward eventually ending the pandemic. (Liam McBurney/Pool via AP)
Non-food vendors have been banned from the Duncan Farmers Market for now as a COVID-19 measure. (Nicholas Miller photos)

Editorial: Allow non-food vendors at farmers markets

Restrictions are necessary, but there is a clear double standard at play here

  • Dec 19, 2020
Non-food vendors have been banned from the Duncan Farmers Market for now as a COVID-19 measure. (Nicholas Miller photos)
Strings of purple lights mark the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence. (Abbotsford News file photo)

Editorial: Stand in solidarity against gender-based violence

Ordinarily a number of events mark the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence

  • Dec 12, 2020
Strings of purple lights mark the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence. (Abbotsford News file photo)
Christmas lights are something that people can do to celebrate the season that are not impacted by COVID-19. (file photo)

Editorial: Give your loved ones some kindness and some space this year

Holiday season will be different this year and we’ll have to adjust our Christmas plans this year.

  • Nov 29, 2020
Christmas lights are something that people can do to celebrate the season that are not impacted by COVID-19. (file photo)
The back seat of a car with four bags of Christmas gifts and decor. (123rf.com)

EDITORIAL: Support local business this holiday season

That small business you love may not be around come spring if it’s not supported now

  • Nov 25, 2020
The back seat of a car with four bags of Christmas gifts and decor. (123rf.com)
Pumping over the weir in Cowichan Lake has been required when summer droughts threatened to run the Cowichan River dry. (Lexi Bainas/Gazette)

Editorial: Funding for watershed projects, including weir, welcome

Any and all grants from senior levels of government to help with this vital project are good news

  • Nov 22, 2020
Pumping over the weir in Cowichan Lake has been required when summer droughts threatened to run the Cowichan River dry. (Lexi Bainas/Gazette)
Trump supporter Jake Contos chants during a protest against the election results outside the central counting board at the tcf Center in Detroit, Thursday, Nov. 5, 2020. (AP Photo/David Goldman)

EDITORIAL: U.S. election chaos puts democracy in doubt

President Donald Trump looks to overturn the will of the American people

  • Nov 18, 2020
Trump supporter Jake Contos chants during a protest against the election results outside the central counting board at the tcf Center in Detroit, Thursday, Nov. 5, 2020. (AP Photo/David Goldman)
Alex Trebek, left, and Howie Meeker. (File photos)

Opinion: Meeker, Trebek were true Canadian icons

Pair of legends remembered fondly by many across the country

Alex Trebek, left, and Howie Meeker. (File photos)