Letters to the Sun: Leaving taxpayers to foot costs of sporting events unethical

Bernie Barrett suggests the cost of hosting FIFA in 2026 will be worth the price of admission. Something is missing. The true and real cost of providing and running the facility plus security remains a mystery, and government officials will simply table the cost of borrowed money for future generations.

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distro scale

Consider the legacy of the 2018 Olympic Stadium in PyeongChang. Costing over $100 million, it was only used for the opening and closing ceremonies of the Winter Games and Paralympic Games before it was demolished. It’s gone.

The Richmond Olympic Oval has never generated enough membership, admissions, and program revenue to pay staff wages and benefits. The city-owned Richmond Olympic Oval Corporation, a for-profit corporation, has never paid taxpayers market rents or property tax receipts.

Taxpayers foot the bill for the Oval’s property taxes, while the city remits all revenue from parking, rent, capital gains, and sponsorship money to the Oval Corporation for $1. The games are long over. The city’s taxpayers are on the hook for this financial treat to benefit a select few. Shame.

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Why is this morally and ethically justifiable? Realizing the reality, Calgary residents vetoed the 2026 Winter Games.

Ken McLenna, Richmond

Immediate measures required when looking for an apartment

An emergency meeting is required to address the Vancouver housing issue.

A full-time employee earning BC minimum wage cannot afford to rent a one-bedroom apartment based on gross income with no withholdings and other expenses such as groceries. The Metro Vancouver minimum living wage is estimated at $24.08, which is the figure for two full-time employees to support the cost of living for a four-person household. The keyword is “Basic living expenses”.

The city of Vancouver can do little alone. The problem is too big, complex and multifaceted. Only the higher levels of government in Victoria and Ottawa have the financial resources to tackle homelessness on a sustainable basis.

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Homelessness in the Lower Mainland is a crisis. Emergency response as an immediate response as part of a well-funded, long-term plan is a must.

John Shepherd, Richmond

Condominiums converting to age 55 plus

There are many problems that can arise when a shift trait is suddenly switched to a minimum age of 55 and over.

An owner who was under 55 may have to move out. There are many instances where an owner may not be permitted to move a family into their condo such as:

• A 56-year-old owner marries a 52-year-old.

• An owner has a child by birth or adoption.

• A dying parent may not be permitted to have a son or daughter under the age of 55 with them.

• An owner wishes to travel or work abroad and rent to a younger sibling under the age of 55.

• An owner wants to rent to good, working people in their forties.

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• An owner wants a roommate who is under the age of 55 as a mortgage helper.

All of this could result in the owner having to sell the property at a cost of tens of thousands of dollars and move to another shift, fearing the same thing could happen again.

The solution is to exempt any owner who currently owns a condo if a 3/4 vote mandates an age limit of at least 55 years. As long as that owner owns the unit, the unit should be exempt from the age limit of 55 years. A prospective prospective owner might choose not to buy if the 55 plus limit is an issue for them.

Condominium owners would have stability, while strata remain free to move up to 55-plus if they deem it prudent.

William McGinn, North Vancouver

LNG not a viable economic boost

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Another LNG plant? While this appears to be a step forward economically for tribal peoples, this “historical milestone” may well mean two steps backwards for the environment and long-term prosperity of tribal communities.

BC is pushing the narrative that LNG is a “clean” fossil fuel. You are risking Canada’s current climate plan by approving this facility. Net zero by 2030 may be an unrealistic goal for the cedar plant and its product will contribute to climate change.

This investment commits to long-term carbon emissions or abandonment of the project, leaving indigenous workers unemployed.

Canada needs sustainable economic solutions. The federal government’s current Sustainable Jobs Plan is a good start, but more effort is needed to create long-term green jobs for Indigenous Peoples. Dependence on fossil fuel extraction will perpetuate global warming and we need to change direction.

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Jessica Melong, Hamilton

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