FILE PHOTO.

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 May 12. 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. As far as we can tell, she has never lived there, never showed her face or said anything in the election campaign where 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, but it won't mean anything until the countdown clock hits zero.

So let the countdown begin!

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

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Penticton MLA kicked out of budget hearing at legislature has no regrets

The problem these less than qualified conservative thinkers keep having is confusing opposition with confrontation. I've seen grade 7 seven student governments with more political sense than the BC Conservatives. — Amy Giddens, via iNFOnews.ca

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RE: May 21 Newsletter editorial on corrected headlines

Don't worry Marshall, You've admitted that you made a mistake, much like the RCMP sometimes do, as well as the council. At least you step up! I wondered why they didn't. Just check the Hardistine vehicle for impairment? I believe they are able to do that with no reason? Keep up the good fight. — R. Simmons, via email

Regarding your headline changes, I sympathize with you and am glad you do your best in your job. I am not very sympathetic to the RCMP, despite or maybe partly because of my brother-in-law who retired from the RCMP with, as far as I know, a spotless record. My grudge with the RCMP is that they are largely unaccountable, whether to the media, to First Nations, to victims of crime like I have been or even as a member of the public. They misuse social media, failing to respond even to genuine concerns, though I know social media can be hard to navigate when there are large numbers of replies or comments but they don't even try, in my view, just as with most major corporations. I feel more sympathetic to the policeman's wife and children than to him though I acknowledge he's suffered prior to his disreputable actions and seems sincere. — Patrick Longworth, Penticton, via email

The following feedback was received prior to headline changes on the story EXCESSIVE FORCE: Penticton RCMP officers beat, tasered prolific offender, judge tosses evidence. The headline they refer to said: Penticton RCMP officers beat, tasered prolific offender so bad, judge tosses evidence. An editor's note explaining the story follows.

I am sending this email to express my deep concern for your reporter’s headline alluding to the fact that RCMP officers lied during their testimony in the Andrew Hartenstein case. It is headlines like this that make me lose faith in honest reporting. I often read your news, but this last fiasco is making me question whether I will continue to read your news or not. I have definitely lost faith in your compositions. Perhaps moving forward, you could discuss integrity, accountability, and honesty with your reporters.  — Amy Cooke, via email

Dear Mr. Jones, I am writing to express my concern regarding the May 14, 2025 headline concerning the recent court decision in R. V Hardenstine. The headline, "Penticton RCMP officers beat, tasered prolific offender so bad, judge tosses evidence” misrepresents the case. Headlines serve as the first point of contact for readers and influence public perception. A misleading or poorly chosen headline can distort understanding and undermine trust in the journalistic integrity of your publication. In this instance, a more precise and contextually appropriate headline would have better served your readership and upheld the standards of fair reporting. I urge your editorial team to consider the importance of accuracy and context when crafting headlines, especially on complex legal matters. Proper framing not only informs the public accurately but also demonstrates a commitment to responsible journalism. — Richard Strap, via email

EDITOR'S NOTE: Further to my disclosure in the May 21, 2025 newsletter, I have tried three times to balance several important points in the headline on this story. I argue none of them were out of context given the nature of the decision which was the basis of the story. It's true the judge found the arrest was unlawful and many folks want that to be the headline but that misses some key elements, which have a greater public interest. It's also true that the officers lied (our reference in the first headline) and it's also true the judge found the officers used such excessive force to negate the arrest (our second headline), had the arrest not already been found unlawful. I do acknowledge that earlier iterations found unacceptable to the RCMP and some readers could technically be considered incorrect. Find the full decision here.

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Defence seeks 7 years jail for convicted Kamloops rapist

So far this very sick man has "been charged for 10 rapes", which means there are likely 3 times or more that many victims, who remain unreported.
Crown is seeking 14 years, which would be impressive compared to what rapists usually receive (1 or 2 years), but will likely be out in half that time or less. Regardless, once he's out, he'll hurt more women. Rapists don't stop raping. Castration, a life-time sentence, or death are the only ways to end his reign of terror. — Karen Klein, Kamloops, via email

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Penticton man who abandoned family returns to sue for family home

Karma. — Bonnie Derry, via iNFOnews.ca

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Kamloops woman wins legal fight after Tribunal rules ICBC decision 'unreasonable'

Government mandated monopolies are just as fallible as free market monopolies. I hate the idea that an insurance company cannot be held accountable in the free market and you risk a provincial boot on your neck if you defy the state monopoly. — Sheldon A. Tio, via iNFOnews.ca

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In reference to the comment in ICBC, they were accused of putting more effort into making money than serving their clients back in 2022/23, so it isn’t a new problem. I do expect that the people complaining about ICBC might have had the same issue with for-profit insurers. It might be worth someone’s time to dig a bit deeper and see if the situation has improved in the past couple years. They get a lot of claims each year, but stories of problems make it look like there are nothing but problems, more balanced information is needed, like how many claims go to the tribunal each year and how many are decided for the insured party and how many for ICBC.Over all I’m enjoying the work you and your team are doing. — Alex McGilvery, via email

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Kamloops mayor pitches committee to 'DOGE' city hall

I totally agree with an audit of the city books, but I’m also not sure about what is the best way to do this. Taxes in Kamloops are crazy with very little transparency, justification and clarity about how and what is being spent. However, spending more seems to be the current budget plan with little option for the taxpayer to do something about it. — Deborah Podurgiel, via iNFOnews.ca

I think we need an election to get a better mayor who can represent Kamloops and work with council not argue and accuse every one of defamation etc. This does not look good for Kamloops and its residents. They voted everyone in and to act like children is not a good look. — Derrick LeBlanc, via iNFOnews.ca

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Kamloops senior promised not to seek wife's money; loses in court seeking wife's money

I’m glad the court ruled in her favour, what a slime ball. — Lauren DeCarlis, via iNFOnews.ca

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BC Conservatives attack MLA Tara Armstrong and fellow Independents

The real takeaway here is that the BC Conservative Party is leaning too far right by adopting American style antisocial values and aggressive tactics. They consistently act against our public interest, our democracy and unity. They're aligned with US/MAGA, which attacks our politics, economics and culture so they can break us and own us.
That is not hyperbole, it's fact. It's evident regionally in Alberta's UCP, in the Smith and Poilievre pact, in their verbatim MAGA script, in their efforts to weaken our economy, to sabotage industry and progress. It's evident in their opposition to Bills C-14 and C-15, when American threats require us to make fast, decisive economic plans, when Provincial and Federal policy must collaborate, when the future of conventional energy is uncertain and investment is shifting. It's evident in their many aggressive First Nations remarks, against people who are the very backbone and fabric of our country.
They're out of line against the BC independent members' privilege to vote as they see fit. If Canadian patriotism has any real grip on your conscience, you will reject this Conservative brand, provincially and federally, should they waste more time and money by forcing BC to the polls. — Margaret Ann Killin, via iNFOnews.ca

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iN PHOTOS: Bold captures of people in action in Kamloops, Okanagan

Such fun! — Deborah Podurgiel, via iNFOnews.ca

It’s time people gave up enjoying the abuse of animals. We should be more compassionate to animals. — Diane Courneyeur, via iNFOnews.ca

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Kelowna man fined $13,000 for hunting bighorn ram

Shameful. — Lynne Kjeldsen-Trotter, via iNFOnews.ca

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Controversial Okanagan MLA doubles down on anti-Indigenous stance

Seriously they're as bad as the orange man down south. Whatever happened back in 1871 is in the past, get over it, white supremacy is over. — Dianne Jackson, via iNFOnews.ca

Armstrong and Brodie should resign and should be charged and arrested by the RCMP for promoting hate, except that the RCMP themselves are a vessel for hate propagation and violence against First Nations, white poor people, white women, etc. — Patrick Longworth, via iNFOnews.ca

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Conservative MP pushing for a stay of execution for flock of ostriches in Kootenays

1.2 million bucks won't make you 'feel better'? — Janis Joanne Thompson, via iNFOnews.ca

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Kelowna considers future without RCMP as it weighs municipal police transition

After seeing the messed up response by the RCMP in the Nova Scotia mass murder back on April 2020 it shows a lack of ability and basic lazy work ethics. Also this police force’s solve rate for violent or deadly crimes is beyond bad. So many cold case files that have years of dust on them. Kelowna could do much better. — Gary Scramstad, via iNFOnews.ca

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Kelowna man wins legal fight after ICBC 'ignored' the details

They are there not to work with you but exist to work against you. — Marc Bohme, via iNFOnews.ca

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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