Following are a collection of reader responses to stories or letters to the editor for the second 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.

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LETTER: Tara Armstrong’s disparaging rhetoric has no place in leadership

Well said! — Bonnie Derry, via iNFOnews.ca

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Thank you, David, for your letter. Really well put. I too was really disheartened to see this name calling start up. A look into the origins of the term “woke” is instructive and would perhaps be an eye opener for Ms. Armstrong. — William Mastop, via iNFOnews.ca

Charges against 'influencer' poachers in BC span four hunts

Put them in jail and suspend their hunting and fishing licenses for their lifetime. — Art Clements, via iNFOnews.ca 

Vernon-area thief nabbed by RCMP in West Kelowna

This guy will be released today or tomorrow with a court date set in 18 months. He knew that when he committed the crime. — Robert Bishop, via iNFOnews.ca

B.C. takes advantage of U.S. 'chaos,' trade war to attract more doctors and nurses

Great idea. — Bonnie Derry, via iNFOnews.ca 

American booze pulled from BC Liquor Stores available at independent outlets

So nationwide we have pulled American booze from the shelves. Those bottles we already bought and paid for by Canadian liquor distributors. So instead of selling out the stock to get back paid money, we shelve the stock in warehouses and take a loss on the profit margin for liquor store branches and any restaurant that can no longer get the product. Huh? Sure it’s a defiant show, but it’s just show. U.S. wine is still in stores too. A better idea would be to just tariff those brands, and recoup costs, allow restaurants to serve the product for customers to help business’ bottom lines. Why chop off our nose to spite our own face. This is knee jerk reaction is dumb. — Kevin Schmitz, via iNFOnews.ca

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iN RESPONSE to Kevin Schmitz

This is the kind of negativity we don't need more of. First of all, U.S. booze is sold from BC Government Liquor Stores on a consignment basis, which means the U.S. only gets its money once it has sold. All U.S. red states' alcohol was pulled from Canadian shelves as a protest against Trump's poor attempt at a trade war and, ultimately, to seize Canada. That booze was repackaged and sent back to the United States. It was a quick response by the Canadian government to Trump's ridiculous spur-of-the-moment decision to raise tariffs. (The deranged felon says and-or acts on whatever stupid thought pops into his tiny brain; these aren't even remotely-formed ideas but simply the musings of a mad man. As long as he's the U.S. prez, the rest of the world will have to "be prepared" for anything) I'm proud of our country and, although I don't agree with all our government's choices - no matter who's in power - I strongly believe we had to react quickly with the clear message "Don't (mess) around with Canada." Like most Canadians, I'm all in for quick, decisive action because at this point it's the message that counts. We are strong. We are united. We are ready. And we will not be played. — Karen Klein, via email

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Letter writer Kevin Schmitz is incorrect in his assumption that U.S. liquor pulled from Canadian store shelves has already been paid for - and that its removal is merely a show. The BC Liquor Distribution Branch does not pay for the booze up front. It’s an easy and common mistake people make in thinking that. The reality is more complicated. BCLDB uses the same type of agreement as Ontario - whereby the LCBO works on consignment - so manufacturers only get paid when items are sold to vendors or individuals. — Brett Mineer, via email

Osoyoos Canada Day shooter sentenced to seven years in prison

Being a great inmate is a very poor career choice. — Lola Giddens, via iNFOnews.ca 

'Skating on thin ice': Kelowna's housing sales well below normal

It’s almost like housing prices are too high, or that parasitic realtors are profiting heavily over overinflated housing prices. I mean if you’re getting 10 per cent or more of the housing sale, you’re going to make sure to increase the sales price as much as you can to pad your profits. Housing is not an investment, it’s a place to live, and people need to start acting that way. I’m so sad for the parasites that they aren’t selling as many houses. Maybe they will be more willing to sell at a loss if they can’t make any sales that are overinflated. Goodbye foreign and or investment minded people from the market. — Pearce Bahner-Stephens, via iNFOnews.ca

Second Malik hit man gets life sentence as family asks who hired him

And not eligible for parole for 20 years. Neither of them should count on getting parole in 20 years. The parole board is not kind to contract killers. — William Mastop, via iNFOnews.ca 

Near-unanimous approval on Kamloops council for controversial supportive housing site

This council is totally useless. They give no thought at all to the negative impacts for the North Shore in terms of crime rates and property values. — Laurie Nordstrom, via iNFOnews.ca

Kamloops drug addict credits tough love for his recovery, advocates for forced treatment

You are the man. Good luck and have a happy future. — Randy Welch, via iNFOnews.ca

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What’s his argument? “I couldn’t stop until I decided to get help so now I want to take away other people’s ability to decide.” Guess what bud, I was an addict too, except I don’t go blaming that on the government having the bare minimum of empathy, and respecting human rights for addicts. Forced treatment works slightly better short term, but does far more harm long term. — Rick Yogo, via iNFOnews.ca

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Way to go Mike, keep up the good work. One baby step forward, a day at a time. — Ron Oliver, via iNFOnews.ca

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The article regarding forced treatment needs to come out more and more. Trust me, there are more people who agree with this, especially the loved ones watching this nightmare. — Danielle Bishop, via iNFOnews.ca

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Listen to the former addict - the bureaucrats have no experience. It's been long established that drug addicts have a much better chance of recovery through working with other addicts with a long history of active addiction, who have already found that freedom. And it doesn't require having to believe in a magic sky daddy; freedom of choice is at the heart of freedom from addiction. — Karen Klein, via email

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Thanks for the article. Harm reduction does not work. — Mark Marischuk, via email

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Thanks for the follow-up article about Mike. It's a good read. — Ken Mickalishen, via email

iN RESPONSE to the March 10 newsletter editorial - Does Mark Carney as Liberal leader change your voting intention in the next election?

I would never vote for the Liberals again, even more hesitant with Carney as leader.  The only way forward is to elect a majority Conservative government. — William Balyx, via email

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I will not vote for Carney. — Hannelore Lubben, via email

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He does not change my voting preference in any way. The Liberals must go. Everything that comes out of his mouth is a lie, the same as Trudeau. — Ladele Minifie, via email

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The election of Mr. Carney to the leadership of the Liberal party is good news, in my opinion. If he manages to win enough votes for the Liberal party to enable him to be Prime Minister after the federal election, that will also be good news. He is the best qualified to deal with our erratic neighbour. Having said that, my vote won’t change. The Kamloops riding wherein I reside will vote Conservative once again. I’m sure that they could run a deaf, blind, three-legged dog and still win. I actually like our MP as a person despite disagreeing with him about the policies of his leader. I have and will continue to vote for the Green Party candidate. Wasted vote? No, it’s a vote for trying to prevent the coming catastrophe of climate change. I’m old. I’ll be dead before things become dire. But I have grandchildren and great grandchildren who will be left to try to survive. My vote is my statement. It makes very little difference to the outcome of the election because the Conservative is a shoe in. — Ken Middleton, via email

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I’ve always been a Conservative supporter and will never support the Liberal party, whoever is leading. As far as Mark Carney is concerned, in my opinion he is far worse than Trudeau. Carney is a globalist and an elitist. — Tamara Clarke, Kamloops, via email

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Change: Yes. Voting NDP as I would usually do is a waste now. All hands on deck to keep Poilievre out. Carney is best to deal with Trump, easily. I'd even urge him to appoint Freeland as trade negotiator again, though that might be a bear-poking too far. — Roger Shiner, via email

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NO. — Ralph Higgs, via email

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PM Carney absolutely changes my vote, or allows me to keep voting Liberal. I was very uneasy about voting for Pierre Poilievre, so this is a welcome change. — Helen Price, via email

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Yes, Mark Carney as Liberal leader encourages me to vote Liberal this coming election. He's the only party leader who has dealt with Trump, and knows how to react to his insanity. — Dianne Jackson, via email

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If you listen to the words Carney uses, he is going to take consumer carbon tax off consumers and put it on the producers. My interpretation of this is that we won't see carbon tax listed on our heating bills, but the cost of the gas will go up to make up the difference. That is a net difference to me, or the government is the same. — Ray Odland, via email

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Until the other parties get their act together, instead of belittling other parties and leaders, and can provide me with a future plan for Canada, I will stick with the Liberals. I am so tired of the party bashing, it gets us nowhere. —  Marti Giroux, via email

Kelowna advocacy group challenges property tax exemption for religious groups

Just as regular citizens have to produce receipts, so should religious organizations. If they can't prove that they are contributing in a positive way to the local community using their funds then they should pay tax like the rest of us. — Gary Kirkpatrick, via iNFOnews.ca

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