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WEB EXTRA: Opposing water meters fuels culture of entitlement

Dear editor, It is simple. I will vote for those councilors that support the homeless shelter and water meters.

Dear editor,

It is simple.  I will vote for those councilors that support the homeless shelter and water meters.

Coun. Theos for instance has voted to delay the construction of the shelter. Not surprisingly, he also does not support the water meters.

These philosophies fuel the culture of entitlement. The message is:  We should be entitled to use as much water as we can, and let’s have someone else look out for our homeless people. We should be entitled to live without having to look after the poor sector of our society. Look out for number one.

Shame on you, Coun. Theos.

Coun. Theos will tell you he doesn’t support the homeless shelter in Courtenay because it’s the CVRD’s responsibility, or he supports subsidized housing instead.

The reality is subsidized housing and shelters are two very different services and we need both for diverse social services, and thus his reasoning to kill the shelter makes no sense. Furthermore, homeless people often have no money for subsidized housing.

Coun. Theos will also tell you he doesn’t support water meters because he wants to implement a nine point water use efficiency plan first.

Yes, we need the efficiency plan, but better — we need both the plan and the meters. Thus, there is no valid reason to kill the meters!

Victoria, Saskatoon, Winnipeg, and many municipalities in Vancouver have water meters, and cities such as Toronto, Ottawa and Calgary are all in the process of installing meters. These are just a few of the many cities that have water meters. It’s what progressive towns do.

Presumably, Coun. Theos is trying to make decisions to reduce taxes and win votes, but sometimes it takes more courage to inform people why good and honourable services are our societal and community responsibility.

I cannot imagine a better use for my tax dollars. My thanks to those mayoral and councilor candidates that support the homeless shelter and the water meters. It’s the right thing to do and you have my vote.

Rider Petch,

Cumberland