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.

—

Developer refutes First Nation claims at Tranquille site in Kamloops

I’m with keeping Padova City around as a historical location in Kamloops, rather to build resort homes on it. — Chantal Atkinson

When I was a teenager in the 90s a few friends and I broke into that place. That building in the picture was how we got to the second story through the window. Once inside we discovered that it had stairs going down. At the bottom was a tunnel system connecting the hospital and the outbuildings. There were cages big enough for someone to stand in only, with prod sticks hanging on the wall far enough away so the person inside couldn’t get it. It was very creepy in there. I swear that place was haunted, as I heard voices until we left the building that we entered. Something happened in that place. I don’t think it was good. — Adrian Leadley

New Kelowna-Mission BC Conservative candidate profile omits business failure

OMG, and unfortunately the Interior is Conservative. Should someone who owes millions be allowed to run? How I sometimes hate democracy. — Devon Johnstone

Don’t pay till 2025: Okanagan developers entice renters with freebies

Maybe building some less fancy units would have been a good thing for everyone. — Dick Dawson

‘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

Be ready for longer waits at the ferries, return to paying to cross the Port Mann bridge again for those that travel back to the city, return to paying your MSP again. Sad that most do not realize what they will be getting into if they vote conservative. Then again, I doubt if I will vote here in the Interior as I do not wish for a conservative party. Just don’t bitch if they get in. — Devon Johnstone

'Huge loss': Replacement of historic Kamloops Red Bridge destroyed by fire uncertain

"Fire chief Ken Uzeloc said so far it looks like the fire started in the middle of the bridge. No fires were located on either shoreline." All those who publicly and falsely blamed the fire on the homeless should feel very ashamed of their biased, rude and judgemental behaviour. —Karen Klein, via email.

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

B.C. Premier touts involuntary care plans at convention, days before campaign begins

Saw your comments on homeless and mentally challenged and I agree with going back to taking mentally challenged off the streets even though it sounds horrible. — John Pinter, via email, iN RESPONSE to the newsletter.

—

The small percentage of homeless who perpetually cause problems should be placed in a facility. If their mental illness prevents them from functioning civilly in society, then they should be removed from it. The fact that police turn a blind eye to crimes committed by these groups, because they know a judge won’t hold them accountable because of their mental illness, is unfair to the tax paying citizens who are affected by the crimes of theft and destruction. I am a nurse and know all too well the healthcare resources expended on these people. My husband is a city worker who, along with workers from varying city departments, spend a lot of their time, equipment and supplies fixing buildings and structures that are vandalized and robbed etc.  People are scared to use our beautiful parks because of the sketchy people who take over the parks and public washrooms as their homes! It’s the taxpayers getting ripped off by others who feel entitled to use and take as they please and then complain that they don’t get enough ‘help’. Taxpayers work hard for what they have and the exorbitant taxes they pay.  It is insulting to be told the homeless are just being resourceful when stealing and that they struggle with mental health and we just need better tolerance! — Tracy Sutton via email, in RESPONSE to the newsletter.

—

This is a terrible idea! It's proven Forced Treatment doesn't work. Let's not go backwards!

These ill and struggling members of our community don't need more abuse. What they need is a government funded community of peers along with a professional medical team of addiction docs, nurses, social workers and counsellors away from the city, as an alternative to jail time. They'd need to sign a contract agreeing to stay for a specified period, depending on their personal circumstances. This could be a working farming community, offering free housing and food, and residents would be required to perform various community supporting work and participate in various healing programs. This is just one idea which I believe was recently suggested.

All people need a sense of belonging, of relating to others, and of feeling they have value through helping one another through the work required to maintain a property, while hopefully healing and finding themselves in the process. This can only come through willingness, structure, patience and repetitious wins, while regaining self-esteem and a sense of belonging. And this must happen inside a SAFE environment with pros who genuinely care. Integration back into the city would be a staged process.

So much money has been wasted on bandaid solutions. It's time for those governing to fund an effective strategy with a realistic and meaningful financial contribution.

The more fortunate residents of our communities require thoughtfully introduced education about mental illness, the cycle of addiction, the reasons it's so incredibly difficult to get out and constructive tangible ways they can help as an alternative to feeling powerless to do anything but complain into a void. There are many ways we can contribute to those less fortunate and perhaps most of us need guidance.

We all deserve to feel safe in our city, but forcing people into some kind of lock-up situation without their consent will only result in more harm. I've worked with the homeless and know for a fact that almost everyone in that dehumanizing situation has lucid moments where they express they really do want to get better. They just don't know where to start and don't have the strength or knowledge to navigate the current system on their own. Further, even those who can gather the energy to start without ongoing positive support to treat their illnesses and nourish their self-esteem almost always end out back to the one place they feel they belong: the street.— Karen Klein, via email in RESPONSE to the newsletter.

—

It appears that the provincial Conservatives came up with idea of forced treatment a couple of weeks ago. The people of BC seem to be in favour of this because so far nothing else that has been tried has been working. Now the NDP has made it their platform too.  The problem with forced treatment might be simple, once the addict is clean and sober who is to say the person is not going to go right back to his old way of life once released from the program. —Eric Nelson, via email in RESPONSE to the newsletter.

—

I think you should ask the psychiatrists and the staff of Riverview hospital, the psychiatric nurses that interact with these serious and persistent mentally ill. They could tell you honestly how Riverview was a home, a community that accepted all. They had jobs, socialized, were safe, monitored and yes, medicated. None of them wanted to “integrate into the public community “, it was political and financial. Many of us witnessed this. Yes the facility was old, outdated and many areas were institutionalized, but it provided dignity, cleanliness and staff that really understood and cared and if necessary, committed under the law by qualified psychiatrists that did not take it lightly, only when necessary for their own safety or harm to others, and then reviewed regularly. Psychiatrists are reluctant to certify due to the paperwork and checks in place to safeguard rights. Not a prison! Unless you’re talking forensic .
There are books on life at Riverview and as well it would help to outline the act so the general public understands exactly what it is, why, and the appeal process. I hope the media doesn’t make this more of a political  battleground than it already is. The government should be doing more to explain. No one in Canada loses their “rights” without reason and legal checks. Wonder how they’re going to go about this with such a shortage of psychiatrists?
Thanks for listening to my rant! ?? — Anonymous, via email in RESPONSE to the newsletter.

—

I used to live in Kamloops but still visit often and am very surprised with the homeless and drug situation when I visit. It is getting worse and worse. Something needs to be done and soon. — Sandy Lapointe, via email in RESPONSE to the newsletter.

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