Letters to the editor

Prime Minister Harper denies any prior knowledge of the ninety thousand dollar bale out of Senator Duffy. I for one cannot believe that Harper's chief of staff would cut a personal check to dampen a scandal in the Senate and not mention it, even in passing, to his boss.

Anyone in a leadership role knows that Harper may not be responsible for the actions of his subordinates but he is accountable. He is accountable to the taxpayers of Canada and we are owed more than an 'It wasn't me attitude'.
The taxpayers are being defrauded. 

If Mr. Harper had no prior knowledge then he has nothing to loose by opening the books to investigators and getting rid of the bad apples. Are there too many skeletons hiding in closets that could ruin Harper's squeaky clean image? 
How long do we allow this mismanagement to go on unchecked?

Gordon Parrott

After Mr. Harper's embarrassing 'speech' to his caucus, regarding the Senate & PMO scandals, and then swiftly leaving the country without answering questions (surprise!), I'd like to share a quote:

"At worst, he personally ordered it done and chose the people who executed the plan. At the very least, he fostered an attitude within the party [...], chose the managers of the people who committed these crimes and completely and utterly failed to exercise any oversight, supervision or leadership. In the end, it doesn't really matter where [his] actions or lack of them fall on that scale. He is the leader and a leader is responsible for the actions of the people he leads. If he had a right or honourable bone in his body, he’d admit that and resign immediately." - Stephen Harper on Paul Martin, during the Gomery Investigation

I wonder if Harper still feels the same way? I'm guessing not. Coward.

John West, Kelowna.
 

Before spending millions of dollars promoting tourism, it might be prudent to have a hard look at why those precious tourist dollars are heading for other destinations:

Local businesses have been allowed to deface the natural beauty of the Okanagan with the biggest and ugliest collection of corporate graffiti seen anywhere.

Overstated concerns associated with the use of pesticides, has allowed dandelions to proliferate to the extent they now represent another major eye sore on our valley.

With no local bans on the use of those pesticides, this issue could be addressed without delay.

The non-stop, dawn-to–dusk high noise levels produced by boats, bikes, and motor vehicles with flow-through or no mufflers is nothing short of being obnoxious, and is turning a lot of people off.

Powerful long life batteries and high performance electronic gadgets should be able to satisfy anybody’s needs for noise and vibrations, without annoying other people.

The aggressive-bordering-dangerous driving habits that have been allowed to develop, keeps even more people out of the valley.

Family and friends tell us the Okanagan has lost a lot of its appeal as a tourist destination, and that there is little motivation to come back.

We tell them to bring their passports.

Gasoline south of the border is only about two-thirds of the rip-off prices we pay here.

With the dollar at par and an increase in purchases we can bring back across the border duty-free, a few days south of the border becomes a paid vacation.

Andy Thomsen

The only thing that ever thrived in BC under the NDP was the pine beetle. Maybe in a generation or two, people will forget that. I think Adrian Dix ran an honourable campaign but there was too much history to overcome. If anything, the pollsters terrified people who remember past NDP governments into voting for the Liberals.

The Conservatives should just fold their tent. Let's face it, the BC Liberals are Conservative so where does that leave the Conservatives?

As for pollsters, they are making all sorts of excuses. Why not just admit that they are obviously using some methods of collecting data that are nit effective.

Don Jensen

Photo: Contributed

May long weekend. It’s the mark of the beginning of another season of adventure, indulgence and slathering on the sunscreen to bask in the gift of the glow. Sunshine.

Photo: Bob Weaver

People are willing to drive over high mountains and through compromising situations to get here. They often put themselves through stresses they might not usually endure just for the sake of getting away from it all for a weekend with that one magical day of extension that seemingly makes it all worth the while.

One thing I think those of us that have traveled from the lower mainland to the interior can all attest to is seeking a certain  “relief” from the long trip up and over the Coquihalla Highway.

This May long weekend was not unlike any other, in that we saw an influx of travelers heading once again for the annual pilgrimage to the warm, dry and sunny interior where the beaches were hot, the breeze was warm and throngs of people found themselves crossing their legs in an uncomfortable twist not recommended for vehicular travel. Knees banging together in physical signs of stress and angst, along with the furled brows and squeamish smiles of those in panic mode just waiting to see a sign of somewhere they can...”go”.

The interior’s Crown Jewel of the Incredible Sunny Okanagan Valley stood out proud this fine weekend. We showed what K-Town is REALLY made of and we let those stressed and uncomfortable travelers see hope on the horizon. As they approached the bridge from the west side of the pond headed east, they were greeted with what must have been akin to a brightly shining “pot” of gold at the end of a very, very long rainbow...the Coquihalla Highway.

Kelowna. Proud to stand above and beyond the call of duty in times of great need.

Kelowna. With a place for everyone to “go”.

Kelowna. A beacon on distant horizons to guide the weary traveler to safety, comfort and a dispenser for scented hand sanitizer to keep your digits germ-free..

Kelowna. Home of the Big Blue Loo.

I'm appalled that the city of Kelowna would allow this representation (although perhaps more accurate than other options) to be displayed in the first place. To allow this representation on one of the busiest weekends of the season, and the mark of a new year of tourism in the Okanagan sets me on my laurels.

What I cannot help but find even MORE appalling is the fact that it has been allowed to stay.

I can somewhat understand this as an oversight, but clearly once the big blue loo was displayed, surely someone in a suit would have taken note and done something about this embarrassing show of our standing as a city.

Shameful.

I'm not proud to be from a city marked by the world's largest portable toilet.

I do however know where to go in Kelowna.

I can't miss it.

Bob Weaver