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Following are emailed reader responses to stories or letters to the editor for the first week of June 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.

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TNRD gives way to residential RVs for North Thompson mobile home park 

The direction the economy and cost of living is moving it appears it won’t be long before we’re all living in RVs, if we’re lucky. It never made sense to me why an owner isn’t permitted to live in an RV on their own property. It’s not only disallowed here in Kamloops but also in Surrey. As a matter of fact, you’re not even allowed to use an RV as living quarters in your own driveway. It must be a provincial thing. — Tamara Clarke

I personally think you are going to end up with “slum” landlords and there will be nowhere the RV owners can go to complain, and I am sure that will start. I think if or when this is allowed there will have to be a lot of rules and regulations. Will the land be taken out of agricultural land reserved to line someone’s pocket? How many RVs to a space? What about water and sewer? So many questions need to be answered before this is allowed. For an example, look at what is happening to people who own houses or units by leasing the land from a landlord who in turn leases the land from the government which is native land. For example Parker Cover on west side. Thank you for reading this. — Marti Giroux

It's important to note, that many people all over North America live in RVs. In "organized" RV parks, the issues around "septic and safety" are addressed through individual rules, regulations, and other policies that are put in place by park operators. In places where RVs are parked on private property, again, local governments can (and do) put their own bylaws and other legislation in place to address these issues. It seems that the REAL reason that these same local governments don't want RVs around is — as the article suggests — that they "cannot be taxed like structures." So who cares about how something is taxed? Why it's the government of course. Governments love to find ways to increase taxes — and they seem to have an insatiable appetite in this regard. Can you say "tax grab?" Yes, this the real reason that local governments don't want RVs around — regardless of how they try to convince us otherwise. — Glen Richmond

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Kamloops councillor wants to make provincial 'downloading' an election issue

I see, you got rid of the mayor as a spokesperson and now your face is everywhere? Something fishy is going on here. The issue in your article above is way above your pay grade. — Linda Wilson

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UBCO tower debacle could set back Kelowna’s downtown development

Scuba divers have investigated as far as Rutland, under downtown bench of muddy murky water right below Kelowna's downtown. Why on earth would any person in there right mind start going so deep in a hole and jeopardize an ecosystem? Just for tax dollars? Lord above, stay near the surface and fill the hole. Enough damage done. — Nellie Walraven

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Gay rights champion Elenore Sturko shocks BC United by defecting to Conservatives

BEWARE of party defectors. Their concerns are typically preserving their pay check. By the looks of it there will be a weak coalition of BC Liberals who sold off BC in their 16-year reign and Conservatives made up of people with political aspirations but no real experience. — Sheila Loranger

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BC's minimum wage set to increase June 1

Hi Marshall,

My first job was at the local bowling alley concession counter back in 1986. I got paid $3.10/hour (if I remember correctly) and tips were definitely not what they are today, lol!

Someone really needs to talk about how minimum wage jobs are disappearing at an alarming rate. I am not sure how or where young people are finding work but in my daughters age group (20) there are very few opportunities where there were previously plenty. 

The pandemic accelerated changes and a shift to more digital/online purchasing has directly impacted the need for in-person service jobs, leading to reduced hiring in restaurants, hospitality and grocery retail. Restaurants and other hospitality driven business pleading for staff last year are hiring less than half of what they previously employed; possibly due to efficiencies in food delivery options such as UberEATS, door dash and the likes as well as in-store kiosk ordering. Grocery stores have replaced cashiers with self-checkouts.

Advancements in technology have led to increased efficiency, but they’ve also displaced certain jobs. In addition, or possibly prompting these changes was the significant shift in consumer spending behaviour.

Our government needs to address these concerns as I can see a rise in unemployment and a much younger demographic of Canadians on some type of social assistance (Also I'm not sure that unemployment is being evaluated realistically).

Labour market stats from gov.bc show that young women have the highest rate of unemployment at nearly 10%, yet our province reports the average of 5%. I get it but it shows that for women of this age range, it is the most difficult to find employment and there is nothing in place to support them. What are the new jobs being created to off-set the decline in customer service jobs that have been automated?

I recently listened to a podcast where the interviewee Mo Gawdat said, "If you are thinking about having children in the next few years, DON'T." He is an intelligent man working in the field of AI for many years and could see the writing on the wall. I love technology and worked in IT for 10 years. Yet, I can also see where this is now heading and fear for our society and civilization. Is anyone talking about this?

Thanks for listening.

— Serena Schlueter- Regional Hospitality & Operations Manager, WEST

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A gay man's journey toward acceptance in a small southern Interior town

Read your article. What's puzzling to me is the fact that gay people, and everything in between, want to be equal to the rest of us and be accepted. Why is it then that they have to talk about constantly? Do straight people talk about constantly? I don't think so. As far as I concerned everyone can be whatever they want to be, without having flags flying all over and constantly complain how difficult their lives are. Give us a break from those whiners. — Kristina Turcott

In support of an 11th grader coming out in Port Alberni, I allowed him to use the classroom phone for a CBC interview. The school board threatened to fire me for that support. They reneged when The Province (newspaper) sent support from their columnist. — Jonathan McCormick BA, MEd.

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Invasive beetle destroying lawns in Kamloops, Okanagan continues to move east

Speaking from experience I've replaced my lawn with clover. It leaves clover alone. Or you can try Chafer Beetle Resistant Lawn Blend. It's nice to show (readers) more options. — Milan Perazich

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