Shoot up them gang members. No wait.. Avalanches!
There’s been a fair bit of news lately on gang members shooting out Calgary. Coincidentally there’s a fair bit of news on avalanches and the cost of rescue.
A father and son have been asked to pay $2,500 for triggering a dangerous search and rescue after they snowboarded out of bounds at Vancouver’s Grouse Mountain ski area last weekend (January 2008). – CBC
Like many others, I am completely fed up with all the gang violence happening in this city. It’s completely out of control, and it’s not uncommon to hear about a shooting on a weekly basis (if not daily). When did Calgary become such a haven for crime? I had recently heard on the CBC (radio) that Calgary has more violence (currently) than any other state in America. Think about that.. Los Angeles, Detroit, New York.. Wack.
One person was killed and two were wounded when gunfire erupted between two moving vehicles along a street in southeast Calgary on Tuesday afternoon. -CBC
Avalanches. Dangerous. Like gang members? No, especially since it’s recreational, and risky to be out in the mountains to begin with. Then again, it’s a pastime for many Canadians to enjoy what this great country has to offer. Granted, there are some people out there that push the levels of what is considered safe; such as choosing to go outside when the avalanche rating is extreme.
There are approximately 150 avalanche fatalities reported every year by the 17 countries that are members of the International Commission for Alpine Rescue (ICAR). In the past 30 years, from 1978 to 2007, an average of 11 avalanche fatalities have occurred per year in Canada. This has increased to an average of 14 avalanche fatalities per year in the ten year period, from 1998 to 2007. – Avalanche.ca
People that explore the backcountry should be educated and know the risk they are taking before heading out; and granted I think most people that head out are to some capacity.
Controlled blasting of a mountain near Banff
Then again, these kids that decide to break through closed areas in resorts are in a way breaking the law (if not the laws of the ski hill). Should they fork the bill for having broke a law? Absolutely. Should people enjoying the great outdoors that have misfortunes that occur in nature foot the billl? I don’t think so.
Where is the line of who we should or should not fork the bill for? How about people who smoke, or people that are fat, or drink beyond excess? We might not be sending out a helicopter to their house to pick them up, but we sure spend a considerable amount of money keeping these people alive. One day in a hospital in Canada would run you around $5000. 24 hour nursing care, surgeons, physicians, physio and occupational therapists, along with a tonne of other people who are involved in caring for someone is probably a larger expense than anyone in this country realizes.
Here’s an idea. Charge anyone who commits a criminal act for their hospital time, rather than charging Canadian taxpayers who go out and enjoy life.
