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This is where cold facts yield to the hottest of takes.

Here you'll find reader responses to stories and newsletter editorials, or letters to the editor for the week of June 30. They may have been edited slightly for readability. The opinions expressed are not those of iNFOnews.ca, unless we occasionally add our own style, like this:

Countdown Timer

That's our official Recall Tara Armstrong Countdown Clock!

Tara Armstrong is currently the MLA for Kelowna-Lake Country-Coldstream. She rode the coattails of the BC Conservative Party, got elected, then rejected and left the party to serve as an Independent because the Conservatives were too left wing. Now she gets to spout moronic, hateful rhetoric and claim that her riding supports her.

Elections BC says you can recall an MLA if 40% of eligible voters in the riding sign a recall petition — but not for the first 18 months after an election. Some people started an online petition calling for a byelection once she made a shift to Independent, then got herself a raise by forming her own party, but it won't mean anything until the countdown clock hits zero.

So let the countdown begin!

Kamloops mayor recruits councillor's brother in defamation suit

The man who sits in the Kamloops mayor's chair is not a mayor. His actions are self-centred and selfish.

He has done nothing for the betterment of Kamloops or its citizens. Not one thing. He does not display any talent to be a partner with any councillor or justify his ideas. He has cost the city over a million dollars in legal costs and counting. He needs to go and stop wasting our money.

— Robin Dunn, Kamloops, via email

The "mayor" needs to give this drama up..... and do the real job he was elected to do!

— Linda Love, via iNFOnews.ca

I cannot think of a more blatant example of crossing "personal and professional boundaries" than the Mayor using Neustaeter's estranged brother. It kind of speaks rather directly to her allegations of him interfering in, and targeting family members. He cannot lose this case hard enough, or be ordered to pay enough money to make up for the damage he has done to lives, taxpayers, and the reputation of this city.
This is lower than low and the actions of a true worm.

— Brett Mineer, Kamloops, via iNFOnews.ca

This garbage right here is what is damaging your reputation, Reid, this absolute nonsense.

— Amy Giddens

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Retriever puppy badly injured by embedded harness in BC

I sure hope they find the owner and throw them in jail, then throw away the key. Heartbreaking.

— Deb Robertson, via iNFOnews.ca

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iN RESPONSE to Wednesday, July 16 newsletter editorial on a local case about consent and sexual assault

Love your editorial. I smile when I see iNFOnews heading in my email before I even start reading it.

I think your topic today touches everybody. We all know someone that has been in a compromising position, men as well.

And my top opinion is a lot of that could be avoided if liquor were not involved.

— Helen Price, via email

* Thanks Helen, a lot of people seemed to miss that part of the story — Mj

I appreciate what you do, thank you for bringing this subject up.

As a guy who tries to respect women, whether or not they respect me, I am saddened and angered by how many rapes or sexual assaults occur. I believe rape and sexual assault should have equal or greater consequences to that of killing or murder for the offender and my reasoning is this: in the case of rape or sexual assault the victim often is left to live with the feelings, physical  and spiritual damage suffered every day of their life. I have not been raped, yet as a teen a stranger assaulted me, thankfully I escaped from them. I've lived with the effects of wondering why they targeted me, why they acted as they did and I am sure it is a reason I am still single and unmarried.

If only all people treated each other with dignity and respect, the world would be a far better place.

— Patrick Longworth, Penticton, via email

Watch "Anatomy Of A Scandal" on Netflix. Well done, and addresses many of the potential complications.

— Tony Simon, via email

Stop means stop! As a victim of date rape, I understand the importance of that statement.

— Name withheld by request

I believe a woman has the right to say no, at any time.

It is her body being invaded, and carrying the risk of pregnancy. Not the man.
All men need to face this responsibility. Yes, for the male, very uncomfortable, disappointing. So are many other aspects of life. Get over it.

We need to understand and accept that when the word stop is said, we stop.
We must acknowledge that continuing is called rape. Simple. And if we do the crime, we do the time.

— Robin Dunn, via email

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BC man convicted after girlfriend said 'stop' during consensual sex

It's not consensual if someone says stop, what a bizarre title

— Gabriel Logan

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BC govt defends underage liquor 'sting ops' while industry calls for leeway

"The Ministry takes issue with the term "sting operation," saying the inspections are not "covert or surprise tactics" and that licencees are well aware the programs exist."

Everyone is aware that police will use plainclothes officers, or "Mr. Big" type tactics...but it doesn't make it any less of a sting.

Furthermore, if liquor is indeed the devils juice and needs to be kept out of the hands of minors, what are they doing sending minors into these establishments? I'm not against enforcement - but the inflexibility and one size fits all penalties even on businesses who have for years maintained a clean record is a bit much.

— Brett Mineer, Kamloops, via iNFOnews.ca

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Vernon contractor who refused WorkSafeBC access gets fined

They spent that time cleaning up.

— David Girard, via iNFOnews.ca

Wow. This sure conveys a dodgy impression of the builder and the project.

— William Mastop

Joke of a fine. These clowns can save more running their project with zero safety. Multiply the fine by 10 and maybe then it registers on their radar.

— Scott Pratico, via iNFOnews.ca

Of course they cooperated, they fixed everything.

— Valerie Thomas, via iNFOnews.ca

I would've gave him $25,000 fine and a stop work order. What is he really hiding?

— Jeff Crompton, via iNFOnews.ca

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iN NUMBERS: Penticton City Councillor James Miller

I am thinking of that song by The Who. "We won't get fooled again" is part of the lyrics. I know what it is like to be falsely accused, yet if it were necessary I would take the most ethical course possible. If I were a councillor I would resign, not remain on paid leave. If I'd had accusations against me, I'd address them immediately when running, allowing for people to choose whether or not they believe me. I might even choose to not run for office if my past worried me enough.

— Patrick Longworth, Penticton, via iNFOnews.ca

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Kamloops landlady evicted tenant for long showers, doing too much laundry

Hope this old landlady learns her lesson that she shouldn't accuse anyone of anything. Where's your evidence to back up your accusations. Shouldn't be a landlady/landlord.

— Amanda Lavallee, via iNFOnews.ca

It's not for too long showers, just using too much water which is very expensive. In Ontario utility rates go up 10% every year but rent cap is only 2% so landlords are getting tied.

— Marek Gronowski, via iNFOnews.ca

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iN NUMBERS: Unemployment numbers for Kamloops and Okanagan

If our unemployment numbers are increasing and more Canadians are wishing they can find work, why is the government increasing the number of Temporary Foreign Workers allowed into the country?

How many Canadians born and raised in Canada cannot get into the workforce because not only are entry level jobs being taken by the TFW program but good paying union jobs as well? Ex: concrete workers from Mexico working on union sites getting paid $12 an hour while trained Canadian workers can not find work.

How many TFW's are being paid less than union rates on union projects, these individuals are being abused by unscrupulous employers/employment brokers and the union members/Canadian workers are being cheated out of well paying jobs. This is not just happening in BC but across our country.

— R. Weldon, via email

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Union pleads for action four years after B.C. crane collapse that killed five people

A decision by the Supreme Court of Canada called Jordan establishes presumptive limits on how long the prosecution process can take from start until completion. In Provincial Court matters that is 18 months, and in Supreme Court matters that is 30 months. Once the charge is laid the clock starts ticking. The result of that decision is that the Crown Counsel office is very slow to lay a charge until they have all of their ducks in a row, including things like expert reports. In a matter as specialized as this they will want expert reports and those are not going to be something that comes together quickly. Worksafe finished their report a long time ago but have been instructed by the the police not to release it. An early release of the Worksafe report could jeopardize the criminal prosecution. Worksafe instituted policy changes very early on after these events, and put new regulations into place within about 14 months. The regulations that were added can be found at 14.73.1 through 14.73.3 of the Worksafe Regulations. Those policy changes and the changes in the regulations directly address the issues. This is not a case where people are dragging their heels. It should not be used as a political football. This is a complex matter that needs to be done right.

— William Mastop, via iNFOnews.ca

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BC govt defends underage liquor 'sting ops' while industry calls for leeway

Nope. When I was a teenager, adults would take me to bars and clubs where they knew the laws were being ignored and pressure me to drink. Bar owners don't care if teens get hurt as long as they can make more money. The only reason they're getting busted for selling to teens is because they're ignoring the law or not checking IDs. BC restaurant and bar industry association is showing that they want to sell poison to kids, and they should be publicly shamed for it.

— Vale Mosscreek, via iNFOnews.ca

READER'S CHOICE

Facebook pushing hard drugs through its news feed

Did you know you can now order cocaine, mdma and ketamine online and have it delivered via Canada post straight your house?
For the past week, I have been getting ads on my Facebook feeds promoting the open sale and delivery of these illegal and controlled substances.
I am horrified that people are getting away with this! I have written twice now to (report these) online crimes but have had no response at all.
In a society that is suffering from the highest levels of addiction in our history i can't figure out how this is happening.

Where is the accountability of Facebook taking money to advertise the sale of poisons? And apparently anyone with a bank card can order.

— Heather Segal, via email

Got something you want to add? Send an email to editor Marshall Jones at mjones@infonews.ca.

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