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Following are a collection of reader responses to stories or letters to the editor for the first week of April 2025. 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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Anti-trans activist to pay $7,500 for posting photo of trans woman as man online

As an ally to those treated as “less than” by much of society, I am shocked by the inadequate fine and/or sentence given to a dangerous and horrible person for so severely harming another innocent person’s life and identity online, where it will never go away. People need to know that, in Canada, we support our vulnerable and abuse will not be tolerated. — Karen Klein, Kamloops, via email

Trump tariffs and statehood comments about Canada stir loyalty debate about NHL great Wayne Gretzky

Times change. In his heyday, Wayne Gretzky was hockey’s greatest - no arguing that. However, he’s old now, just like the rest of us. And his old self is part of the MAGA cult. He’s now a traitor to Canada. Period. It’s surprising and disappointing he was one of the gullibles but I’m sure he’ll see the light and maybe regret this down the road. Regardless, who he is now has nothing to do with the past. The past is gone. People who have felt pride over the years, associating Gretzky with Canada, have hung a little of their hat on that and are hurt and possibly ashamed, as though he were family. And, once, he kinda was. — Karen Klein, Kamloops, via email

iN RESPONSE to April 4 newsletter editorial seeking feedback on how much attention we should give to low profile candidates and parties

I would like to see information on who’s running, in our area, their bio and their platforms! Not much information out there. — Karen Gunn, via email

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Your column about this being a two horse race between the Liberals and Conservatives in the federal election is accurate. However, I do think we need to keep fresh and discuss the other options including the PPC, NDP and Greens in terms of discussion and discourse. — Sergei Tashlikowich, via email

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In Kamloops these days the NDP comes in second to the Conservatives. If one wants to defeat the Conservatives, one should not shift from NDP to the Liberals. Rather, the other way round. Think about it. — Marlene A Wildeman, via email

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Well, Marshall, that is a great question and one that I see being discussed around the dinner table, coffee shop etc: 'how much time do we give to candidates and parties that have no hope of forming government'? The democratic way is to give equal time to all, and in a lot of ways I support that view, however, it does take away time for the ones who will actually have a chance to sit in government. Perhaps we need to have a way of pre-qualifying parties and candidates. Let’s look at civic politics, when you want to run for council, you only have 25 nominators. To me, that is a ridiculously low number, and why we get 30-plus candidates running. What does this result in? Almost zero people showing up for candidate forms where each candidate gets two minutes to answer the moderators question. So, in my example, you spend an hour to get one question answered equally, by the time you get to candidate 10 your eyes glaze over and you start to nod off. Wouldn’t it make more sense to say you need 500 or 1,000 nominators? No one has ever won a seat on council with 500 or ,000 votes. Shouldn’t you have to live in the community you want to serve? I doubt we will ever change the way we view these political questions, but it would be great if we had more time to ask questions of people that are going to actually be in government. — Wayne Pierce, via email

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Considering the magnitude of this election, I believe the majority of Canadians are viewing the Liberal and Conservative candidates as the only viable option to combat American tariffs. — Jon McCormick, Kamloops, via email

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The degradation of politics in Canada is primarily the result of polarization between the two major parties. We ignore that at our own risk. If the media assumes that we’re in a de facto two party system, it will only get worse. The other parties have voices that are worth listening to, both the NDP and Green have policy statements that push the status quo and suggest actual change over the Conservative and Liberals re-arranging the deck chairs. The media is also responsible for challenging the candidates and asking the tough questions. If you ignore a substantial portion of Canada’s voters, you are missing the big picture. I would like to see each party asked about electoral reform. Moving away from first past the post will diversify our politics and get rid of a lot of the negativity we see today. — Alex McGilvery, via email

B.C. bumps up rental subsidy programs for seniors, low-income families

This is a much needed increase. — Bonnie Derry, via iNFOnews.ca

Hobbyists not happy with spring closure of Kamloops gold panning hot spot

No sign of spawning? What about the salmon vertebrae in every pan full of gravel? — Derrick Nichol, via iNFOnews.ca

'Freedom Convoy' organizers Lich, Barber to hear verdict in mischief trial

Gee, where are all these freedom lovers protesting the tariffs and supporting Canada in this time of trouble? Hopefully they’ll get some prison time. — Bonnie Derry, via iNFOnews.ca

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The freedom convoy’s actions in Ottawa were enormously abusive. Inflicting all that noise and harassment on members of the public simply because you’re dissatisfied with a government policy is selfish and childish. Flying “Freedom” flags is really about flying selfish flags. — William Mastop, via iNFOnews.ca

Trump's tariffs will fundamentally change global trading system: Carney

Let us stay strong! Continue to buy Canadian, support local businesses and move to increase other markets for Canada. — Bonnie Derry, via iNFOnews.ca

iN RESPONSE to April 2 newsletter editorial on the implications of abandoning the carbon tax

Hi Marshall, I also have a not good feeling about the carbon tax going away. It was implemented to help the environment. All of a sudden we seem to be going for the money and the climate crisis has been forgotten. Time will tell but I’m sure we’ll pay for our inaction. — Deb Oakland, via email 

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Throwing money at the government in the name of saving the environment is a farce at best. Part of it was used to bribe us with our own money, which morally is disrespectful even though they keep doing it and people fall for it. I never saw any evidence of the tax being used for its purportedly intended purpose. People have got the idea. Yes, we need to be mindful of the environment, but more and more we see those that produce nothing and live in major centres dictating impractical solutions to perceived problems that may or may not be real. Just imagine what would be if governments offered practical solutions that didn’t require massive bureaucracy or taxation! — Brian Porter, Kelowna, via email

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Marshall, don’t mourn the cancellation of this tax. It hurt the most vulnerable among us and was being represented to the public in a very dishonest way. These two things were obvious to the citizens and they lost faith in the proponents of the tax. Had the tax been fairly presented and its results logically evaluated by our leaders, it would never have been excoriated successfully by its detractors.
‘You can fool some of the people all of the time and…’ you know the drill. — Charles Benham, via email

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I agreed with carbon pricing, but regarding the consumer part, I noticed it did hit different folks differently and the dollars folks got back did not reflect usage, so retired me who drives extremely little gets back same as those who have no choice but to commute, and in the rural places, long distances. It worries me what, if anything, will fill that budget hole in all jurisdictions. The earth’s greenhouse dome... is it getting thicker? Let’s talk about that also. Thanks a bunch for what you do. — Jane Duber, via email

How a Kamloops Blazer netminder made it to the big leagues

Great story! — Bonnie Derry, via iNFOnews.ca

150kg meth seizures at Vancouver airport, bound for Hong Kong, Australia, New Zealand

Must be nerves of steel or absolute desperation to walk that through an airport. — William Mastop, via iNFOnews.ca

Trump tariffs and statehood comments about Canada stir loyalty debate about NHL great Wayne Gretzky

Tell Wayne to shove it! He turned his back on Canada. He hangs out with the idiots at Mar-a-Lago who could care less about honest and hardworking Canadians and/or Americans. What he did on the ice was great but what he’s doing now is a shame and I hope everyone lets me know that. — Stan Kovaleski, via iNFOnews.ca

Distracted rail crew missed warning before fiery Revelstoke train crash: TSB report

When the issue has gone on this long, I am surprised that hardware of some kind has not been developed to reduce reliance on the human component. Cranes that are close together have anti-collision hardware. Maybe something similar? — William Mastop, via iNFOnews.ca

How a Salmon Arm father became the subject of an Amber Alert

I met this young couple a few years ago when they bought a sink from me. It is very sad, as they love their children, but Jehovahs Witness children have been wards of the government when they refused to give their children a blood transfusion. I do not believe praying and God can cure all but obviously they do. I do not feel Davis should be charged and have to go to court. Maybe the law should be lenient with him. — Evelyn Franklin, via iNFOnews.ca

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Hello Marshall,
This fellow clearly failed to ensure he was not signing away his rights and that is the fault of the people who "coerced" him to sign. I am not in agreement with the fellow's beliefs about how to care for his child but he is the father, guilty of panicking and "breaking a law". I will no longer financially support or support at all BC Children's Hospital.
Sincerely,
Patrick Longworth

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