LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
- February 26, 2008
Letter to Editor;
Accountability is all-important particularly when it relates to our unelected Senator. Clear proof was mailed to residents of the Southern Interior late last week.
Liberal Senator Ross Fitzpatrick, in the last days of his term, used the official emblem of the Senate on the outside of a large (unstamped) brown envelope containing his biased one-sided promotion of the National Park Reserve proposed for the South Okanagan and Similkameen Valleys.
Using the resources of an official office to promote an individual's personal aspirations violates the democratic and moral standards Canadians expect from government.
When Fitzpatrick refers privately to the proposal as "his park" it removes all doubt that his desire to establish a National Park is based more on his personal legacy than the results of what should be an objective feasibility study.
Further proof of his bias in promoting his views is found in the text where he limits the challenges to a park to "impacts to some trapping, hunting, and ranching opportunities." He completely ignores the loss of ALR lands associated with heritage ranches, the loss of Canadian Helicopters training school and subsequent impact on the Penticton Airport, the added risk of catastrophic wildfire on family homes on the interface, and the huge impacts to traditional recreational areas.
He further ignores the consensus- based Provincial Land and Resource Management Plan which has already protected a good portion of the proposed area.
Fitzpatrick's abuse of government privileges will only result in tearing our communities apart and in so doing undermine Canadian's trust in a process that we all pay for and all deserve to have respected.
- Mark Quaedvlieg, Southern Interior Stockmen, Keremeos
- Jan Rustad, Canadian Helicopters, Penticton
- Greg Norton, interface resident, Oliver
- Joan McKay, BC Wildlife Federation, Okanagan Region, OK Falls
Dear Editor;
In my question to Interior Health Authority regarding to what has happened to the equipment donated to Princeton General Hospital I received the following reply from Lorraine Ferguson, Health Services Administrator South Okanagan:
"In your letter to Murray Ramsden dated January 24, 2008, you questioned where the equipment that was donated to Princeton Hospital went. The equipment at Princeton Hospital remains at Princeton Hospital. Interior Health's policy in donated equipment stipulates that before that equipment can be taken to another location, the donating body must be asked their permission to use the equipment elsewhere."
So the equipment donated in good faith by Princeton Organizations and citizens' lies idle somewhere at Princeton General Hospital. The Provincial Government with the help of Interior Health is responsible for this.
Princeton had an excellent hospital before they dismantled it. Instead of downsizing Princeton General Hospital it should be expanded and upgraded so Princeton citizens wouldn't have to travel to other cities for medical needs, this causes stress and extra expenses and is particularly hard on seniors and people on fixed incomes.
It seems that all BC hospitals are understaffed and under funded yet the Gordon Campbell government can spend millions of dollars on the 2010 Olympics.
These Olympics will not benefit the ordinary citizen they will just make the rich richer. BC citizens will be paying for years to come for these Olympics. I understand that Montreal has just paid off the debt that city accrued from the 1960's Olympics.
Sincerely,
- Isabella Johnson, Princeton
Dear Sir;
On Wednesday, February 13, about 8:30 in the morning, my wife and I were heading to Vancouver to keep my appointment for a second laser ablation heart procedure scheduled for Valentine's Day.
My heart had been running well for the last eight months but a feeling of apprehension probably released adrenaline and caused my heart to go into arrhythmia. I knew something was very wrong but I figured I could hold on until I got closer to the Keremeos Clinic which I did. I pulled aside, stopped the truck, laid my seat back down at which moment I lost consciousness and my heart stopped.
My wife jumped out of the truck and tried to flag someone down for help. Several vehicles went past her then a lady and her young son stopped and seeing what was the matter immediately pulled her car near mine and jumped into my truck and started giving compression CPR. My wife stopped an RCMP officer who called the ambulance. Then my wife helped with the CPR until I returned to consciousness.
I would like to thank this lady for her knowledgeable, kindly and compassionate help. We never knew her name because she went on her way as soon as she saw that I was back to life again.
I would also like to thank the paramedics, Tracy and Andrea, the RCMP officer, who told my wife that this was the first day on the job after his own heart attack and who was therefore very sympathetic, as well as the staff of the Keremeos clinic.
Tracy and Andrea transferred us by ambulance to Penticton from where we were air lifted to Vancouver the next morning. At St. Paul's I had my four-hour successful laser surgery. I walked out of the hospital the same evening. Early the next morning we took the Greyhound bus home. It is truly amazing what modern medicine can accomplish!
Our Canadian and BC universal public health care system offers to all citizens, regardless of wealth, rank or status, a service equal to any in the world, and it is well worth fighting for and keeping.
Again, I would like to especially thank the kind stranger for her knowledge, courage and presence of mind.
Yours very sincerely,
- James and Gudrun Moore, Oliver
Dear Editor;
Re: Town Council Accountability
For recent past weeks there seems to have been an underlying theme from a number of your correspondents about the manner and way that this Council seems to be conducting the Town's affairs. From my 27 years of experience of serving the Town,
'stealth' now seems to be the by-word of the current Council.
The latest survey of Princeton that the Town carried out asked for residents' views on many subjects concerning the running of the Municipality, but one thing in particular caught my eye or should I say the omission of. I noted that under the possible
'Capital Expenditure' heading there was no mention of money being spent on the development of Princeton Airport and views were not sought on how important taxpayers rated this project.
Recently it was reported in the newspapers that a total exceeding $240,000 would be needed to complete the work necessary to bring the Airport up-to-scratch. Councillor Jarvis was quoted as saying that the matter was being referred to the Town's budget process for the current year.
Presumably Councillor Jarvis, none of this money will be coming from taxpayers whilst there remains so much work to be done on the Town's infrastructure, a lot of which, as you are only too aware of, is in need of urgent attention? Can we also presume that the funding will be 100% free of tax money collected from the vast majority, who will not benefit from a hair-brained scheme which has been designed to benefit a few?
Sincerely,
- Danny Sulentich, Princeton
To The Editor;
Once again on the hospital issue much has been said, and everyone has their ideas. But let's cut to the quick - the disembowelment of our Princeton Hospital was done needlessly on account of some bean counters in the Gordon Campbell government.
Their thinking was that regionalizing hospitals and health authorities would save money. This is nothing short of a cold-blooded, callous move, that gambles on lives of people being able to survive a 200-kilometre ride in an ambulance to a distant hospital.
Several months ago Dawn Johnson spoke of how the French solve their problems with government stupidity - the public have a strike. "C'est le greve."
Could we normally apathetic Canadians 'hit the bricks' en masse to demand a full reinstatement of our hospital? If the hospital was returned to its full capacity, it is my belief that the doctor shortage would begin to improve.
- Jim Hodge, Princeton
Dear Editor;
Town painting week is getting closer!
I got a little side-tracked here the past few weeks so maybe I can get back on track with the town painting - remodeling ideas from last year. Spring is coming fast and there is still a lot of work to do before tourist season starts.
What we have accomplished in April is that same or even better feeling we all have at the parade on the July long weekend. Everyone is coming and everyone is having a great time! To get started we could get a list together of all the building and/or business owners who are - without asking - part of the
'repaint the town week/weekend.'
I suggest to let the Editor of this paper know if you as a building owner or business owner are confirmed to participate in the painting weekend. Or just call me at (250) 295-0324.
I personally would love to see the Mayor's name listed first because I am sure lots of people would follow some good leadership!
So, maybe in next week's paper we can list a few names of business owners/operators who are going to participate and add more names to the list week after week - that way we'll get everyone pulling on one string.
Lots of buildings only need paint or cosmetic woodwork, like trim. Or they just need a cleaning of the siding or wood before painting some great and different colours. We have to get away from the whole town looking a boring grey with light blue.
I will make a few suggestions on what I would do in next week's paper - so don't take my taste personally - we all will love this town 500% more the day we are done and we all will have a better income once this is done because out of town visitors will love this town just as much as we do!
- Stefan Dietz, Princeton
