Letters to the Editor: Tuesday, January 19, 2021 | Opinion – pentictonherald.ca

Safe travel, but with commerce impacts

Dear Editor:

The MHABC represents the interests of the manufactured and modular housing industry in B.C. Our members sell, construct and transport these homes throughout the province.

We reference the article RDOS grills transportation official (Herald,Dec. 18) and the comments in that article pertaining to the installation of no-post rails. While the MHABC will always take the position that safety must be the paramount priority on all highways in B.C., our members are becoming concerned about the increasing preponderance of installation of these barriers on many B.C. highways.

These concerns arise because the installation of no-post rails also narrows the width of the highway lanes. This narrowing severely impacts the transport of wide loads. While our association focusses on the transport of homes, there are also many industry sectors that also transport wider loads.

The MHABC has asked the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure to take into consideration the impacts of the broad-based installation of these barriers on commercial transport towards finding a balance between ensuring safe travel on B.C. highways and the impacts upon commerce.

Gord Rattray, Executive Director

Signed on behalf of the MHABC

Pitt Meadows

Disgraced Mountie now plays the victim

Dear Editor:

Former Mountie jailed after Dziekanski taser death settlement,(Herald,Jan. 16).

Imagine, this murder took place in 2007, now 14 years later and more tears from a guilty cop who is alive after killing an innocent man.

If the Mounties were consistent in their training, I ask why in H did they fabricate such an untrue story as to what happened ? Training failed to mention a possible candid camera may have the guilty in their sights.

The only thing consistent in the justice system is the amount of BS they tread in, when it comes to the untouchables.

Poor Kwesi Millington has suffered post- traumatic stress disorder, depression, anxiety, nervous shock, career advancement and other injuries

Welcome to the club Kwesi. I suffered a complete loss of childhood, growing up alone dealing with most of what you believe you have.

The difference in my case I was a child that nobody to this day gives a damn about, so I made a life on my own.

I also had peace officer status for many years with no bang-bang attached to my hip as I dealt with some of the worst individuals that Canada had to offer.

Its one helluva way for saying the Mountie always get their man, should add one way or another.

Tom Isherwood

Olalla

What the right-wing bubble truly believes

Dear Editor:

On Jan. 15, the Heralds Letter of the Day was John Thompsons latest bile-dump.

In it, he accuses the CBC of being in league with the Liberal minority government. He decries the CBCs slavish adherence to the norms of political correctness; of subliminal messaging of Liberal values (my favourite).

And he gleefully reminds us that the hated Liberals only got 33.1% of the vote.

He probably cant help himself. Im sure his inbox is full of hateful messages from Michele Rempel and Erin OToole every day. But still

Full disclosure: I worked for CBC News and Current Affairs for 21 years, through the governments of Trudeau Sr., Mulroney, Chretien, Martin and Harper. See the pattern? Liberal followed by Conservative followed by Liberal, etc..?

Never during my employment were we ever asked, ordered or urged to be sympathetic to any governments policies or actions. In fact, the opposite was true; we were hyper-conscious of fairness and balance and expressly forbidden to express political opinions or allow personal bias into our writing or reporting..

I gather Mr. Thompson feels deprived because the CBC does not air daily updates on the Trumpist doings of Erin OToole (I love that hes now the friend of working people.) But remember the 10 years Harper was in power (though he never topped 40% vote share)? When he was present on every newscast?

Does Mr. Thompson really believe the CBC would embrace the government in power knowing that in a few short years the opposition would inevitably come in seeking revenge?

The answer is yes. Thats what the right-wing bubble truly believes, along with the mistaken idea that Justin Trudeau is the root of all evil.

BobNicholson

Penticton

Question everything and learn something

Dear Editor:

With so much information at our fingertips we have become expert skimmers. What is that doing to us? It is steadily and methodically transforming the character of our culture?

Our current society has evolved into a culture of instant information and gratification. We are bombarded with a vast number of messages daily via social media, the news, television, and even flashing billboard signs aimed at gratifying our senses.

We listen with unshakeable faith to the fatuous patter of carefully-trained and indoctrinated guides who have bogus statistics and mindless slogans endlessly intoned in them. Malcolm Muggeridge, English journalist

It involves effort, a lot of effort to question and to challenge what we read or are being told when we are so easily distracted by entertainments or diverted by consumerism.

Consider this, why do we vest all our beliefs in a single person or governing body? When we do, arent we creating a climate which amplifies and exaggerates that individuals or groups understanding of their authority?

How often in history have we seen this new-found authority lead to a greater concentration of power? It never seems to work out well for the general populace. Without any kind of objective or just reporting these governing bodies, in their greed and ambition, flood the world with untrue or incorrect assertions, blaming a crisis on a few isolated fools to provide an explanation of why such extreme measures have been necessary.

Doesnt that make them misleaders?

We have been lulled into complacency rather than being challenged. We tend to get swept up in the moment because we want easy answers. And, as we are creatures of habit, we allow these habits to take hold. Where has our independence, individuality, and integrity gone? Patience and persistence seem to have become a lost art.

Shouldnt we be thinking more, reading more, learning more, teaching our children not only to read, but to question what they are reading and for that matter to question everything? Why do we continue to accept everything at face value?

We seem to forget how to form our own opinions. Euripides, an ancient Greek philosopher said:Question everything, learn something. Shouldnt we?

Mary-Anne MacDonald

Summerland

Is there racism in our medical system?

Dear Editor:

This letter is addressed to everyone, but especially those in the medical community.

I would like to share with you an incident in my life, then ask you all a question.

Back in the 1970s, I was in my hometown of Edmonton on days off from my job as a chef on a survey boat. I started feeling really sick. I was too sick to drive so I asked a friend to take me to my doctors office. I do not remember every moment, but I do remember laying on his table and him palpating my abdomen and saying, Can you get to the hospital? I am going to call ahead.

My friend drove me to the hospital. What sticks in my memory is that upon arrival, they took me right to an operating room and removed my appendix, which was about to burst. Without that operation, I probably would not be writing this.

My question is this. If I were not white, even back then, would I have received the same lifesaving treatment? Today, if a Black or First Nation person presented themselves to an office or emergency ward would they receive the same treatment as me?

I have heard too many stories to the contrary and I am imploring all those in the health-care field to search their hearts and minds to see where they fit. There is no room for racism in our society.

Do not judge a patient by their colour or appearance. Do your job, treat the person with all your ability.

Gary Kuse

Penticton

Misinformation remark was misinformation

Dear Editor:

I must disagree with some recent comments by Blake Laven, Pentictons director of development services.

Laven believes there is a lot of misinformation being circulated amongst locals. A 76-page citizen-authored report on this development proposal was issued to the City of Penticton (including Laven) on Nov. 1.

Other than a curt, we are looking at it from the City, there has been no communication that the report contains misinformation. Perhaps Laven could be called upon to elaborate on that.

Laven offers that this property is one of the few remaining sites where hillside development would be allowed, and that it is not fair to say that (this development) would lead to unfettered development throughout the rest of the hillsides.

I would remind Laven that I, and most others, do not oppose development of the site under its existing zoning as country residential which would permit only approximately 40 to 50 houses being constructed compared to the 324 in the current proposal.

I was at meeting with Canadian Horizons representative Nathan Hildebrand, where I requested that he provide assurances that CH would not attempt to develop any properties further to the north. He refused to give meeting attendees this assurance.

Ironically, two such properties are currently for sale, with advertising that alludes to future subdivision development.

Laven refers to the area as being important to satisfy our housing needs. Interestingly, the development was originally proposed to satisfy the Citys needs for affordable housing. This reference is nonsensical, and even Canadian Horizons has now recognized this and refers to attainable housing a weak attempt to obfuscate that the proposed homes wont be affordable to approximately 80% of Pentictons residents.

Laven projects hefty returns for Penticton; however, it is likely those perceived benefits could be negated by additional infrastructure and maintenance costs associated with this development. Also, have financial risks similar to the lawsuits that followed recent development projects near Naramata been considered? Will Penticton residents pay the piper while Canadian Horizons enjoys hefty returns?

Looming traffic concerns exist, as Laven concedes. Health and environmental concerns also accompany this proposal. The enthusiasm with which he welcomes this project should be balanced with an assessment of all relevant factors in his next media interview.

Ian Hornby-Smith

Penticton

Have racoons scared our skunks away?

Dear Editor:

Skunks. Where have they gone? We had regular visits through our backyard 15 years ago. The smell was so strong and distinct.

Yesterday, I awoke to a scritch, scritch, scritch sound in the backyard. A large racoon in the early light was prowling on the frozen surface of the pool, probably looking for a drink. Maybe the racoons have chased the skunks from the neighbourhood.

Come to think of it, I still can smell the skunks, occasionally, usually on Friday or Saturday evening.

And it depends on the wind direction.

Glenn Noble-Hearle

Penticton

Biden, Democrats will destroy economy

Dear Editor:

So the alternative to Trump isnt even in office yet and hes already showing his disdain towards Canada by announcing that one of his first official acts will be to kill the Keystone XL pipeline.

Typical leftist Democrat maneuvering, destroying jobs on both sides of the border on a $7 billion project thats more than 50% completed. Many contributors to this section including the actual Editor continue to suffer the severe effects of TDS (Trump Derangement Syndrome) by showing how uneducated they really are.

Trump is what he is, but he was alway pro- business, pro-jobs. Now the cognitively impaired geriatric will show everyone how to destroy whats left of a struggling economy in the middle of a pandemic by shutting it down. Disgusting!

Our illustrious leader Justin Trudeau already called Joe Biden and congratulated him on winning the election and apparently old Joe forgot that he told Justin not to worry, Keystone is safe with me.

Yeah right. Its okay though, with all the money printing going on in the U.S., pretty good chance Biden is being set up as the fall guy for a real good ole fashioned financial, economic, health and political hurricane crisis.

Good luck America! Youll need it with the Democrats in power.

Dan Bitor

Penticton

Off AirForce One into Crowbar Towers

Dear Editor:

Unknowingly, Donald Trump is to initiate his own transfer of presidential power by stepping off Air Force One and into the peoples paddywagon and guested in Trump Crowbar Towers.

Joe Schwarz

Penticton

Did PM screw up on vaccine rollout?

Dear Editor:

U.S. President-Elect Joe Biden is increasing vaccination rate to 100 million over next 100 days. Canada will receive less vaccine. Why? Did our prime minister screw up?

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Letters to the Editor: Tuesday, January 19, 2021 | Opinion - pentictonherald.ca