Following are emailed reader responses to stories or letters to the editor for the third week of September 2024. They have been edited slightly for readability. 

Got something you want to add? Send an email to editor Marshall Jones at mjones@infonews.ca.

—

‘I just want to move on’: Evacuated resident can’t escape UBCO tower debacle

I think the present project at 550 Doyle Avenue should be cancelled. I think the dirt should be put back and fill the present hole. I think the developer should go back to the original plan. Thank you very much. — Donna Thomson

'No' campaign expects narrow victory in Build Kamloops petition process

I hope that there are officials outside of Kamloops that are doing the tallying as with this council. I don't trust them to do an accurate count, just to force this down our throats. In all my years living in Kamloops, 46, I have never seen a council like this one. One with their own agenda and not working for the residents of Kamloops but for their own little group. — Rod Totten

I agree with Rod Totten. Worst council since I’ve been here in 1979. I mailed my votes in but who is to say they didn’t get shredded. If our referendum said ‘NO’, that should have been the end of it. Now we have to pay for the AAP and referendum when neither was necessary if they respected the citizen's vote before. Wish we could kick them all out. — Nel DeWit Mitchell-Kloubek Sarrasin

Kamloops man arrested for mother's murder

I knew Joanne. I live in the same park. She was such a kind and sweet lady. This man, her son, has been living in the trailer since before she was murdered. Many of us suspected Brandon. Just the other day when walking by, as I do twice daily with my dog, I looked at the trailer when walking by and thought to myself, "well I guess he got away with it." — Lynn Eaton

HOUSING CRISIS: Penticton mother of two facing homelessness after eviction

She doesn't have to move until there are new owners. They are the ones who will decide whether or not to evict her. They'll decide whether or not they'll be renting it or moving in. Please contact Residential Tenancy Branch. — Nancy Powell Knight

BC Conservatives ahead in Southern Interior: poll

If you understand how First Past the Post works, you would know that it’s seats, not popular support, that will win this election. Guess where the majority of seats are? In the most densely populated parts of the province. So the SoCreds aka BCL aka BCU aka BCC will get their just dessert for their over the top opposition to fixing this dysfunctional system we call democracy. — AJ Plourde

DFO concerns about impacts on fish habitat delay Kamloops riverbank cleanups

Maybe DFO should take a walk along the river and see the damage these camps have caused. Then they would green light the work the city wants to do. — Robert Chisholm

—

Hello,

I read your story and it's so sad. I don't like reading stories like this. It pisses me off. We all know it's corruption and corporate greed. What I don't get is that the politicians are aware of this, Yet, they won't do anything. Money? Greed? Do we really need politicians? No. Trudeau won't do anything as he's getting too rich.

I live in Ontario. I was paying $1700 in 2021 on a new 2017 rental. In 2022 rent went to $1,900, and in 2023, rent went to $2,000. Late 2023 around September my rent went to $2,500. This is not including bills, food, gas. I had two jobs, I lost my second job due to an injury. I was working over 80 hours a week. I still couldn't pay the rent.

I'm 54, separated for 12 years from my alcoholic boyfriend. No family to help out. I had to ask a friend if I could move in. She was looking for a roommate. I get things happen in life. I've worked hard all my life, and now I'm being forced to live on the streets of Ontario.

I was pissed. Mr. Doug Ford, Mr. Clark and that scumbag Mr. Trudeau were all invited to my moving out party and why I had to move out. It was all recorded. I sent a copy to those Greedy Politicians as to what they've done to my country. They didn't show up. I even invited Mr. Poilievre. Now the one bedroom apartment of 580 square feet is now renting for $3,100. I live in Newmarket, Ontario. Townhouses 3 years ago were renting for $3,100. How did rent go from $900 a month to $2,000 a month in a span of 2 years. Greed and extortion.

I make 1989 wages, as I work for the Provincial government. Mr. Ford hasn't changed our wages since taking office in 2018, getting re-elected back in 2022. We had to go to court fighting for our raise. Mr. Ford has a high school diploma, with only 1 month college. Mr. Ford is premiere of Ontario bringing in over 200,000 a year. Meanwhile, I need to have a Bachelor degree for a data entry job paying 18 bucks an hour? It's corruption, lies, deception and all the above.

The rent starts at $2,000 and above in and around my area. I'm not sharing anymore, not at 54 years of age. Already did that over 25 years. I can't live with my friend forever. My government has forced me to live on the streets. We need to change this. It's horrible. Our government is murdering us.

I sure hope that lady gets help. She has two daughters, it might be easier for her. A single middle aged women, not so much. I've reached out to everyone in my community including the mayor. These people get paid a lot of money with programs, but nothing gets done. But, they get money to support these useless programs.

Thanks for your story,
Kim Sedgwick

iN RESPONSE

To be honest, I wish you had asked us what we want to happen as I am a creative writer and could come up with an entertaining fictional possibility. Since you asked for what I think is likely to happen, it is this; the NDP will either manage to win or they will lose to the Conservatives. That is how little faith I have in BC voters.

Sincerely,
Patrick Longworth

PS: What I would like to happen? I'd like for the Libertarian Party to shock everyone with a landslide, sharing power with the BC Greens and collaborating with them. The NDP would lose all their seats as would the Conservatives and finally; The RCMP would find reasons to arrest John Horgan, Dave Eby, Kevin Falcon, John Rustad and Christy Clark, ensuring all of them would receive lengthy prison sentences.

—

So far the run up to the BC election has been boring. There has been an ad on TV from the NDP saying the conservatives will bankrupt the province with no real retort from the Conservatives. Because the Conservative party finally found itself now that the United party has collapsed which will stop right wing vote splitting another dynamic has been added to the mix. This will most certainly help them at the polls. The BC Conservative party is enjoying some of the popularity the national Conservative party. This will not be enough to give them even a minority government. I predict a smaller majority NDP government. — Eric Nelson

— 

Marshall,

So what do I think will happen as opposed to what do I want to happen? I think the election is too close to call a winner at this point, but let’s look at some of the candidates.

Kevin Acton in Vernon-Lumby is going to run as an Independent candidate, I think he will win based on his history serving the community and the fact that the BC Conservative candidate has been parachuted in.

Stephen Johnson in West Kelowna, is a well-regarded city councillor and had the endorsement of Ben Stewart when Johnson was a candidate for the BC United running as an unaffiliated contender at this point. I think he should win, but unfortunately depending on the overall result, see him joining the BC Conservatives. 

Tom Shypitka in Kootenay East is the MLA and running as an Independent think he should win his seat again.

Mike Bernier in Peace River is also a sitting MLA running as an Independent, he should get reelected.

Dan Davis in Peace River North is again another sitting MLA running as an Independent. He also should get reelected.

So if that happens, it might encourage Johnson to stick with the Independents that get elected and perhaps those Independents can hold the balance of power if we elect a minority government. There are thousands of disenfranchised voters given that Kevin Falcon pulled the pin on the BC United Party. I think a lot of those voters are not comfortable with either John Rustad or David Eby.

Definitely the election just got a lot more interesting and I, like many others, will be following closely to see what the next few years will bring us. A minority government with the balance of power being held by experienced middle of the road Independent candidates could be very beneficial to the Province. Which I guess goes back to my “What I want to happen” thinking.

Cheers,
Wayne Pierce

To contact a reporter for this story, email Marshall Jones or call 250-718-2724 or email the editor. You can also submit photos, videos or news tips to the newsroom and be entered to win a monthly prize draw.

We welcome your comments and opinions on our stories but play nice. We won't censor or delete comments unless they contain off-topic statements or links, unnecessary vulgarity, false facts, spam or obviously fake profiles. If you have any concerns about what you see in comments, email the editor in the link above. SUBSCRIBE to our awesome newsletter here.

News from © iNFOnews, 2024