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Following are a collection of reader responses to stories or letters to the editor for the fourth week of November 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.

Human Rights Tribunal rules Kamloops doctor's medical notes were 'discrimination'

So MDs will no longer be allowed to write medical reports based on their medical findings. They can only report what is politically correct, regardless of the safety of the public. So sad. — Robert Bishop, via iNFOnews.ca

JONESIE: There's indeed a snake at Kamloops City Hall

So many questions are raised by this editorial and media coverage of the events. Why did Bill Sarai share the recording with Kamloops City Hall? Didn’t he ever learn that “secrets” never stay secret once more than one person knows about it. Who exactly did he share it with? Senior management? His fellow council members? Did everyone at City Hall know about the recording except Reid Hamer-Jackson? Maybe the biggest question is: when did Bill share the recording? Because if anyone, management or council, knew about it and kept it secret while they were persecuting the Mayor for his supposed bad behaviour, then every one of them should be fired. — Jim Irwin, via iNFOnews.ca

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Wow, thank you for your in depth commentary on this! — Lucas Squire, via iNFOnews.ca

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Your piece on Bill Sarai is very impressive; the writing, the research, the phrasing. It is excellent journalism; very happy to have you write our news. — Ann Hammond, via iNFOnews.ca

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“He’s a bully, He’s a hot head. He’s deceitful, vengeful, spiteful. He’s proven to be a repeat liar no one should trust." These words sound more like hate mongering. Good journalism is about presenting researched facts and letting the reader form their own opinion. Is name calling and personal biased opinion now acceptable in Canadian journalism? — Judy Westbrook, via email 

'You're the snake': Kamloops councillor's secret recording revealed

Kick council out, all they have done is fight like children. — Terry Plunkett, via iNFOnews.ca

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I am so sick of hearing about the endless disputes and arguments that have been going on since the last election, since Hamer-Jackson became mayor. It’s like listening to a group of kindergarten kids pointing and screaming at each other over small grievances. To me, from what I gather from the news stories, Hamer-Jackson is a hot-headed bully who is easily offended. It is difficult for him to get along with anyone. How many times has he stormed out of meetings because his feelings were hurt, or he wasn’t being treated with the respect he thinks he deserves? Instead of focusing on business, the mayor and councillors are obsessed with proving that they are right and everyone else is wrong, like kids in a play ground screaming “he started it, he hit me first” to the school staff. It is shameful, embarrassing and ridiculous. Couldn’t we have another election? — Linda J. Davidson, via iNFOnews.ca

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Wow! Finally great journalism! Hats off to Levi Landry for getting his hands on that audio tape. Thank you again for bringing light to what is going down in city hall. You are a breath of fresh air. Keep up the good work. — Deborah Kuipers, via email

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We need an election! — Gina Ella, via iNFOnews.ca

Blackwell Dairy in Kamloops slapped with $15,000 environmental fine

These laws are there for a reason: to protect the environment from companies and people who do just what Blackwell has and is still doing. Dumping waste into the landfill, they know from past experience, is illegal. I always tried to buy their products to support a local company. Not anymore. Seeing as they care so little about the environment, as this is their third fine for the same crime, they don’t deserve our support. — Mary Mckenzie Blackwell, via iNFOnews.ca

iN RESPONSE to Monday, Dec. 2 newsletter editorial on impacts of the postal strike

I am disappointed with the strike. One of the main reasons I am disappointed is that I can't send cards. The most important card is to my brother, who can no longer talk or write. I have no way of wishing him a Merry Christmas but through a card. — Pat Harley, via email 

iN RESPONSE to Wednesday, Nov. 27 newsletter editorial on the GST holiday

I don't pay much attention to claims by Ottawa or Prime Minster Justin Trudeau, as they have proven self-serving. It won't make much difference to homeless people, such as I am now, or the unemployed, which I presently am. The winter cold will be of more concern to people, such as I, than the frauds and promises of a silver spoon racist, like Justin. — Patrick Longworth, via email 

Letter to the Editor 

Dear Editor,

With all due respect to the family, friends and loved ones of the late Premier John Horgan, I say "Halt" to any notion of naming anything, never mind a bridge to the island, after such a leader, no matter how respected and loved he was by some.

I have the minimum of respect for him as a human being, but he disgraced the office with his failures to attend to the drug crisis, homelessness, and the matter of a hundred year old law that treats me as less of a person than a married man with children. Moving to a no fault insurance framework is also on him as well, as failed premier David Eby, who I would argue is our Donald Trump.

The BC NDP is a failed and fraudulent provincial party that has no legitimacy in the eyes of the law when it is firmly and fairly applied.

Have you seen how the poor and homeless are treated by the cruel Ministry of Poverty Reduction on Main Street or in Port Coquitlam? The failings of WorkSafeBC, have you observed them?

A bright shiny fire station sits across from the dingy stairwell that is inflicted upon the visitors to the BC Ministry of Poverty Reduction, a cruel taskmaster even to those who have the resources and creativity to follow their blasphemous rules.

The corrupt police and courthouses are further up on Main.

So, no more naming buildings or landmarks after white people. Ask the First Nations what they recommend for a name and then accept their answer, and for that matter, start keeping all promises made under the fraudulent UNDRIP rather than watering it down with BCDRIP.

Sincerely without prejudice,

Patrick Longworth

PS: I call out all voters in BC for their utter failure to unseat the NDP and to stop the inferno of the corrupt BC Conservative Party. I was unavoidably unable to vote this last time.

Outgoing Penticton councillor criticizes byelection candidate

Setting the record straight about clean streets and my campaign, I want to address some comments made recently by MLA Amelia Boultbee, about my involvement with Clean Streets and my plans to run in the upcoming Penticton byelection.

First off, I’ve never, and would never, support violence, or any kind of vigilante behaviour. That’s not who I am, and it’s not what Clean Streets stands for. The group started as a way for neighbours to watch out for each other and work with the police to make our community safer. Over time, it’s turned into an online space where people share information to help protect their homes, businesses, and families. The claims that Clean Streets has harassed people or caused problems are flat-out wrong. I take those accusations seriously, and they don’t reflect the truth about what we’ve done or what I stand for.

I’ve spent my whole life in Penticton, running businesses, raising a family, and working hard for this community. I know our city faces tough problems, and I believe in tackling them head-on with solutions that actually work—ones that bring people together, not tear them apart. If I decide to run and I’m elected to council, I’ll step away from Clean Streets so I can focus 100 per cent on serving the people of Penticton in a way that removes any doubt of possible bias or potential conflict of interest.  My goal is to represent everyone—business owners, workers, families, and those who need a hand up.

I’m proud to call Penticton home, and I’ll keep standing up for what’s right, no matter what.

Thanks for taking the time to hear me out.

— Jason Reynen, via iNFOnews.ca

Vernon woman dedicated to helping senior pets over the rainbow bridge

This is a great act of kindness and compassion. Thank You! — Deborah Podurgiel, via iNFOnews.ca

iN VIDEO: How a Kamloops bakery makes its popular sourdough bread

I love their breads, and the dark chocolate brownie, berry crumble and pear galette are pretty marvellous as well! — Deborah Podurgiel, via iNFOnews.ca

Dispute over Taylor Swift tickets lands in front of B.C. civil tribunal

Losing a friendship over greed. How sad. — Joe Williams, via iNFOnews.ca

Toughest penalty yet for BC nurse who snooped on medical records

How come it doesn't say exactly what the nature of the inquiry was? — Ben Greenfield, via iNFOnews.ca

Letter to the editor: City of Kelowna tried to buy a golf course, but owner holding firm

The city of Kelowna made a major effort to buy Kelowna Springs Golf Course. Really?

Do I think the city made their best efforts to reach an agreement with the property owner to acquire Kelowna Springs as a municipal golf course? No.

In his statement on Dec. 3, 2024, Mayor Dyas includes several interesting comments.

1.“Council directed city staff to explore all options for the city to acquire the property from Denciti Development.” 

Now, why would the mayor send out a staff person to negotiate with a powerful developer for a $30 million asset, which is as important and controversial as Kelowna Springs? Would a developer think the city was serious if he wasn’t even approached by the decision makers or negotiators, being the the Mayor and the Chief Financial Officer? No. What message was the mayor sending to the developer?

Keep in mind that when the 2040 OCP was being written, the previous owner asked staff to change the future land use of Kelowna Springs to industrial, and so they did. Things went along until the public found out about it. Kelowna Springs has been an important, affordable, walkable public golf course in Kelowna for years. So the mayor sends out staff to acquire it when staff were the ones who changed and supported the future land use to industrial in the first place. There is something wrong with this picture.

2.“Despite our best efforts, the city was unable to reach an agreement with the property owner."

Again, is sending a staff person to negotiate for a $30 million city asset considered “best” efforts?

What should have happened was that the mayor should have invited Mr. Fawley to the negotiating table. The price Denciti would probably agree to is $30 million, plus interest etc., maybe up to $35 million. In Sept. 2024, the city approved a budget for new parks, of $358 million, so the funds could come out of that. If Mr. Fawley thought there was no hope for industrial, he would cut his losses and take the money to invest somewhere else. Keep in mind, Mr. Fawley purchased Kelowna Springs just before the 2022 election when Kelowna Springs was a major election issue.

It is now recognized that Kelowna Springs is also important for many other things, including flood protection of city infrastructure. If Mr. Fawley doesn’t want to negotiate, the city has the option of expropriating Kelowna Springs at fair market value of, say, $6 million without the owner’s consent. What do you think Mr. Fawley would do? Did the city put forth their best efforts? No.

3.“Should the property owner choose to submit a development application in the future, council will evaluate it with the upmost care…”

What message is the mayor sending to the developer and to the public? That the developer should not believe that the city won’t approve industrial use. Just try it. What is the public to believe? That the city isn’t committed to saving Kelowna Springs from development. These efforts are ‘going through the motions”.

Mayor Dyas said that during the election he would fight to save Kelowna Springs if he became mayor. The public, including myself, believed him and voted for him. Were we duped? Maybe. It is time for the mayor to make a real effort to acquire Kelowna Springs and confirm to the owner the city is serious about this. As a municipal golf course, this sensitive green space will be an asset to the city including the residents of Kelowna.

Susan Ames, via email

Sarai apologizes for secret recording of Kamloops mayor, won't step down

I do not think anyone is really surprised by the antics. It was so well rehearsed and while he spoke of being remorseful, the group managed to keep the drama ball in the air. Hang onto your socks folks, there is so much more to come. I hope Mayor Reid Hamer-Jackson took in just how easy it is done. Apologize and it is all over, and claim the same mental stress times eight and then it should be clear sailing. In my opinion, they continue to be a joke. Oh, and to the taxpayers, you also can use the stress factor for the inability of council to do much for this city since the beginning of the pandemic. So, do not pay your taxes for a year and maybe they will figure out exactly who has the power and they will start to leave their egos at home and get down to business. — Sharon Rickson, via iNFOnews.ca

The Fintry Queen has new owners, hope to return by summer

In 1975 we had our silver wedding anniversary on the Fintry Queen and how exciting would it be to have our 50th anniversary next summer. — Maurice and Anne Gervais, via email 

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.

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