Instead of tinkering with the ­unpopular and uncalled-for demolition of ­Centennial Square, Victoria city council might ­consider buying the derelict Century Plaza property at Government and ­Pandora and turning it into a public plaza as an extension of Centennial Square.

There’s plenty of room for stages, water features and kiosks in a park-like setting.

It would be much easier to install the necessary infrastructure on this empty plot.

Pandora could be closed between Broad Street and Government for major events and festivals that flow between the two sites and on into Old Town.

With the McPherson Theatre, it might even form the core of a smaller ­Victoria version of Montréal’s Quartier des ­Spectacles, a jewel in the heart of the city.

For funds, sell the Romeos/Urban Kitchen property on Blanshard ($11 million) and reallocate the funds for ­Centennial Square. That’s $20 million to get the ball rolling.

How about we stop flogging a dead horse and turn our energy and ­imagination to bringing life to a dead zone?

Frederick Shand

Victoria

Victoria city council needs to demonstrate exemplary fiscal management for their constituents in these most difficult economic times.

A large portion of the total budget is labour, 54% of the city’s operating costs.

It is unreasonable that staffing has increased by 68% to 1,460 in 2024 from 868 in 2019.

With higher wages, benefits and pensions included, the average cost per employee rose by roughly 25% in the same period.

Homeowner taxes have increased by 35% since 2019. The Consumer Price Index increase for the Victoria region for this time is calculated to be 19% to 21%.

It is the responsibility of our council representatives, as opposed to staff, to make the necessary deep, major budget cuts to reduce the proposed budget.

Elizabeth Kozak

Victoria

Once again, B.C. has been royally screwed by Ottawa with Prime Minister Mark Carney’s backroom deal with Alberta Premier Danielle Smith and her MAGA (Make Alberta Great Again) cronies to push forward an oil pipeline to the B.C. north coast.

No B.C. representation, just here is the deal: you have to take it. Period and full stop. Not exactly nation-building.

There are many reasons why this is a terrible idea, as has been outlined in previous letters and comments.

The oil tanker ban on the north coast must remain in perpetuity, as the danger of a spill in these dangerous waters is an unacceptable risk to take for any perceived economic benefits.

I am third-generation born in Nanaimo, and have spent my career and personal life trying to protect our fragile marine environment.

True British Columbians understand this. We don’t need a bunch of outsiders unfamiliar with our coast telling us how to run our province.

Thank you, Premier David Eby and Coastal First Nations, for understanding what is truly important to B.C.

I just pray that Carney is “playing” Smith and that the Northern Gateway pipeline will never be built or our coast threatened by a bitumen spill.

Karen Mullen

Ladysmith

Re: “Eby not representing majority of us,” letter, Nov. 29.

Let’s take those polls with a grain of salt. If they were commissioned by the Alberta government, you can be sure the preamble to the question was designed to elicit the pro-pipeline response.

Perhaps Premier David Eby should........

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