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

—

iN RESPONSE to March 3 newsletter editorial on boycotting American goods

Yes please. I have always tried to do this, our farmers need us more than ever and we have taken them for granted for way too long. I was really hoping COVID would jump start more items being manufactured in Canada. We ship so much raw and pay so much more for its manufactured child, it's quite sad. So yes please, let's get some shout-outs to local businesses. — Maureen Nelson, via email

—

Nu Leaf in Kamloops supports local growers. We are doing our best to ensure we are buying Canadian products as much as possible. — Ken Middleton, via email

—

I know many of our neighbours would also be interested in a list of local producers. We could even take it to places like Save-On-Foods who do attempt to stock local products requested by their customers (such as Twisted Goat coffee). Thank you in advance for this very helpful information. — Dianne Jackson, via email

Insurance broker's ICBC commission scam gets her a 10-year ban

Why do people like this just get banned. Why are they not put in jail? — Stephen McBride. via iNFOnews.ca 

Kelowna advocacy group challenges property tax exemption for religious groups

Absolutely. All religious properties should be paying taxes everywhere in Canada. — Bonnie Derry, via iNFOnews.ca

Remembering the Kamloops canneries, farms and orchards in 'simpler' times

I loved the story. We lived in Penticton in the 1950s and I remember as a boy snooping around the canneries and the rail yard and the orchard. — John Pinter, via iNFOnews.ca

Strata wins legal challenge in Kelowna parking stall saga

This should be so simple. Take down the chainlink fence and re-paint the stall lines back to the original positions. She paid for the spot, likely wasn’t cheap and she’s been inconvenienced for a very long time. Quit dragging your feet, strata council. — Barb Krulitsky, via iNFOnews.ca 

—

LETTER: Prepare for a terrifying ride to the stars with a man steeped in techno-optimism

What a great letter. Let’s hope Canadian voters will read this and take heed. I wish we could share this in Canada, but of course Facebook just wants free run for the Russian bots. — Bonnie Derry, via iNFOnews.ca 

BC nurse who snooped on medical records gets suspended

There should be a pin number assigned for access by doctors and patients only. Nurses should only need to read a doctor’s orders and input data. — Judy Pickett, via iNFOnews.ca

Undercover liquor inspectors bust BC bar for letting patrons sing karaoke

Breaking the serving laws is one thing, but how ridiculous are our laws when you need a special license for karaoke? — Bonnie Derry, via iNFOnews.ca 

Kamloops nightclub manager attacked from behind over unfinished beer

I hope the little punks get a few months jail time to think about how much their selfish, thoughtless actions affected other people, and their lives and livelihoods. — Dianne Jackson, via iNFOnews.ca 

—

These people need to be banned from bars and the purchase of any alcohol or drugs, that is after serving a few years in prison. — Leo Bonthoux, via iNFOnews.ca

More than $287,000 spent so far on Kamloops council conduct investigations

Each and every dollar spent on childish costly complaints should be charged back to the accusers. These children have got to grow up and learn how to work with others. That’s how it’s done in the real world where you have to pay your own legal bills. I am sick of paying for yours. — Dianne Jackson, via iNFOnews.ca 

Kelowna man who sued over police dog attack guilty of attacking dog

Throw the book at him. — Bonnie Derry, via iNFOnews.ca

Kelowna's rapid growth surpassing FortisBC's ability to supply power

What is going to happen in 2035 when all new cars are going to be electric? — Raymond Odland, via iNFOnews.ca

City of Kelowna tried to buy a golf course, but owner holding firm

There is no way Kelowna Springs can be developed. Environmental reviews say so. It is adjacent to a wetland and the back nine holes, 10, 11, 17 and 18, are approximately 2.5 meters below the wetland which is held back by a dyke. There are western painted turtles living in the water hazards and the golf course is home to eagles hawks and an assortment of birds. — Robert Osullivan, via iNFOnews.ca 

iN PHOTOS: Incredible night sky photos showcase Kamloops, Okanagan

These are absolutely wonderful pictures. — Bonnie Derry, via iNFOnews.ca

iN RESPONSE to Feb. 28 newsletter editorial on local governments pushing back against BC Housing

Hello Marshall,

Thank you for a well written, timely and thought provoking editorial.

I do not see that the BC NDP have provided a solution to our ongoing homeless in this province. They are only continuing and dealing with the results of an agenda that started over 30 years ago.
They are simply applying a bandaid solution to a much larger problem. We need to heal our people. We need real solutions.

BC Housing must be encouraged to work with the Ministry of Health to implement long term help for people. This problem of housing needs to be set firmly back on the lap of Premier David Eby and Health Minister Josie Osborne. They need to start treating the mentally ill and addicted humanely in long term programs, rather than throwing money at BC Housing and telling them to find places to warehouse them and to leave them in shelters, where they are given more drugs to feed their addictions. This is not compassion or humane treatment.

We must deal with the issues of mental illness and addiction in our communities. It is not compassion to watch our fellow humanity live on the streets in squalor, living in filthy conditions, including their own feces.

“Housing" them is not the answer. Nor is using Penticton as the government hideaway for housing, turning our beautiful city into a community of increased crime and despair.

In his recent State of the City address, our current mayor Julius Bloomfield boasts about the increased building start-ups bringing money to our coffers. He neglects to mention that many of these startups are BC Housing startups for our poor marginalized population, many who have migrated here because of the favourable conditions that have been created for them by the NDP's failing “housing” plan.

In March of 2021, our previous mayor had the courage to stand up to Eby, then the BC Housing Minister, regarding us wanting to close a "Temporary Winter Shelter”, that the City had very graciously provided to our addicted/mentally ill homeless. Unfortunately, only two city councillors stood with him to speak for and support our citizens.

This is a social engineering experiment that has failed horribly. For the last 30 plus years, our province has been trying to download this problem. It’s time for change. People need to be supported in their recovery to good health for more than six to eight weeks. They need support for a year, perhaps two years or more. Let’s help them, not warehouse them.

Re: NIMBY - Of course, referring to people this way is the technique that those marching to the far-left agenda use as a way of silencing those with common sense. A way of minimizing and dismissing our concerns regarding the far-left government's narrative.

This is a time for common sense, thus, the critical mass in pushback against BC Housing.

— Harlie Jones, Penticton via email

—

As someone who is homeless, has been homeless more than once, who presently is unemployed and barely receiving assistance, but receiving three free meals a day and staying in a free shelter after over 30 years of being exploited by unjust employers while never able to comfortably afford rent, obviously I am biased.

BC Housing has a bad reputation. I won't argue that and I will say that a lack of oversight and bureaucracy as well as ministerial incompetence are to blame. A housing waiting list of up to or over 10 years suggests a deep systemic problem, going back to corporate loving BC Liberal and Social Credit governments. BC Housing is arrogant and my elder brother has much experience with them and their bad landlords etc.

NIMBYs are a huge problem for many things and only accountability will change that or not.

— Patrick Longworth, 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.

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, 2025