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Letters  

Spend in Canada first

It really is time for a reset in Canada.

I was at a local supermarket and there was a man who was obviously mentally disabled. He was swearing and spitting at people.

The (store’s) customer service representatives were called. Thirty five minutes later, prescription in hand, I left the store. The man was still there, speaking obscenities but he had run out of spit. There were police or an ambulance.

Our social policies may have caused this, but if this indicates our politicians (actions), we need new blood.

From now on (there should not be any) overseas aid. We need to spend within Canada.

Mickey Cooke, Kelowna



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Proportional representation

The biggest insult we have to endure every day as Canadians, is being told we are a democracy, when, in fact, we are not.

Looking at how our dysfunctional colonial political system is dividing and destroying our country has become a depressing reality.

(Conservative Leader Pierre) Poilievre is busy promoting his “freedom” (to do what?) agenda, while (Prime Minister Justin) Trudeau continues to undermine our civil liberties, and our colonial political system is rejecting the people we desperately need as our leaders to transform Canada into a wealthy and prosperous society we could and should be, given our abundance of natural resources.

They simply do not want to be painted as liars and corrupt people, let alone being associated with any of those “woke” and controversial political narratives being promoted today.

Instead, the doors are wide-open for people like Trudeau and (former Conservative prime minister Stephen) Harper, feeding their insatiable craving for power, destroying anything and everything that even remotely resembled democracy and our human rights.

Segregating Canadians by colour and culture, combined with Trudeau’s unprecedented wealth-transfer out of Alberta to buy votes in Ontario and Quebec has divided Canada like never before.

Today there are virtually no doors left open for public input, and government spending is out of control. During the last 10 years Canada’s population increased by about 10%, while federal government spending increased by almost 40%. Where did all that money go?

To break Trudeau’s current lock on power, all the Conservatives have to do, is give the voters what they want, a proportional representation voting ballot.

Instead, Poilievre is promoting freedom, not democracy, emulating Harper’s contempt for democracy.

The leader of the NDP (Jagmeet Singh) is confused and completely lost in Trudeau’s halo.

We desperately need an all-inclusive proportional representation political system, with a ballot that separates the party vote from the candidate vote, to give voters the freedom to chose and support a political party, without being stuck with a raft of unwanted candidates.

That will be the foundation for a multi-party-system that will include all cultures and political ideologies.

It will help dissolve racism, as everybody will have the same rights and opportunities, including Indigenous people.

Andy Thomsen



Why so warm?

Re. Another record broken (Castanet, March 17)

I will be the first to admit that I do not have a complete understanding of the climate crisis.

I recall the change from "global warming" to "climate change" to account for anything and everything. Since my knowledge is limited, I need a climate scientist to explain to me.

Almost daily someone sounds the alarm about the temperature of the earth rising.A recent article about the recent heatwave in the Okanagan Valley has me questioning that.

Apparently, we broke a heat record from 1940. I wasn’t born then so I don’t have any firsthand knowledge, but I am confident there were no fleets of cruise ships, freighters, massive airliners or diesel trucks polluting the atmosphere. So please enlighten us with what was causing the heat back then. Vernon’s past record was in 1915.

Gord Marshall, Kelowna





Don't hike B.C. carbon tax

I found it almost comical watching our premier, David Eby, last week on the news saying he was not interested in considering the invitation by Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre to ask (Prime Minister Justin) Trudeau to not increase the carbon tax, as scheduled for April 1, April Fools Day.

His reasoning is what I found most amusing. He said if he did so, British Columbians would get less money from the federal government. Is he so naive he doesn’t realize British Columbians overpay for fuel every time they go to the gas pump because of the federal carbon tax?

So, he is alright with British Columbians getting gouged at the pumps if the federal government gives us back a portion of what they take, in what world does Eby think this is better financially for B.C. residents?

Is he so out of touch he doesn’t see the majority of British Columbians are struggling to pay their mortgages and support their families, does he honestly not see increasing fuel prices because of increased taxation will make things financially worse for those British Columbians? Obviously, he doesn’t understand his constituents are struggling to make ends meet, or is it that he just doesn’t care?

The next news item reminded me of another major NDP gaff, the current issues with the George Massey Tunnel (in the Lower Mainland). Had the current NDP government not cancelled the bridge project that was to replace the existing tunnel, which was approved by the previous B.C. Liberal government, those living in the Lower Mainland would be driving on that bridge now instead of dealing with traffic tie ups and safety concerns with the old and outdated tunnel.

The NDP spent millions to undo the plan when it cancelled the new bridge project. How many hundreds of millions of dollars more will it cost to replace the tunnel now compared to what the original bridge would have cost nine years ago?

The problem with some governments is they find it too easy to spend other people’s money. They think taxpayers don’t notice and have poor memories.

I, for one, will remember when it’s time to go to the polls.

Guy Bissonnette, Lake Country

(Editor’s note: The federal carbon tax is not in effect in B.C. B.C. has had its own carbon tax since 2008, introduced by the former B.C. Liberal government under then-premier Gordon Campbell. Currently, increases to the B.C. carbon tax follow increases in the federal carbon tax.)



Review beating decision

Open letter to Premier David Eby and Attorney Genera Niki Sharma

This is regarding the incident on March 17, 2023, when Gagandeep Singh, an Indian student, exited a public transit bus at the McCurdy Road stop along Highway 97 in Kelowna.

Shortly after stepping off the bus, the young man was assaulted, had his turban ripped off, and was dragged by his hair before the suspects took off.

The B.C. Prosecution Service decision not to lay charges against the gang of violent delinquents’ flies against justice being served and law breakers disciplined. The B.C. Prosecution Services have whitewashed the crime committed. That is not acceptable, as it has future consequences and will possibly set a precedent that others in our society can commit similar hate and violent crimes and get away with them.

The B.C. Prosecution Service’s (lack of) action also ignored and questioned the credibility of the investigation by the RCMP, which found evidence to support a (recommendation of) criminal charges.

The student was beaten violently, punched, kicked, dragged and left battered and bruised by this group of hoodlums.

To ensure British Columbians have faith in our justice system and laws, many of us, myself included, request the British Columbia government investigate the decision by the B.C. Prosecution Service and provide defendable reasons why charges were not laid.

Why were the committers of violent crime let go? It is felt charges should have been laid and be left to a judge or jury to determine if the crime was committed and the relevant discipline.

Justice, truth and the law must prevail.

Amarjit Chadha



Change truckers pay method

Re. Kim Dobranski’s letter Truck driver concerns (Castanet, March 15)

I agree with Kim Dobranski, we are not attracting responsible (truck) drivers anymore and the talent pool is shrinking rapidly as drivers retire en masse.

Here in British Columbia, our mountainous terrain is challenging at the best of times, let alone during winter when ice and snow limit visibility and traction, and take a toll on a vehicle's mechanical systems.

Our drivers today are typically compensated based on mileage. The pay scale incentivizes drivers to rack up more kilometres per hour and it's not just their travel speed that is affected. That encourages skipping necessary safety precautions such as:

• Ensuring the load is strapped down properly and has not shifted during transport

• Function tests of vehicle braking and lighting systems (walk-arounds are technically mandatory)

• Installing tire chains when poor traction is likely (before the tractor has spun out blocking traffic)

• Ensuring drivers are well rested, alert, ready and competent to work

If drivers were compensated hourly, or on salary, it would remove the incentives to cut corners and encourage drivers to perform their work to the highest quality and safety standards.

Let's take a look at what specialized heavy hauling companies are doing here in B.C. The drivers haul the heaviest payloads around the steepest terrain in the province and yet we hardly ever hear of accidents involving a lowbed (truck) hauling an excavator.

Josh Bradshaw, Penticton



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