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LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
- March 14, 2006
To The Editor;
I find it unfortunate and find a certain lack of respect over the issue of the Town Square - extension of the Cenotaph Park. Is it too much to ask to increase the park to honour those war veterans that sacrificed their lives, time and hardships for our freedom?
I think we, as citizens of Princeton, as citizens of Canada and patriots of our country would forego a few parking stalls and inconvenience of a walk to the stores on Vermilion Avenue. Anyone shopping out of town who park in the downtown areas of larger centres or parking lots are sure to walk a lot farther than 50 feet.
I am also dismayed at the negative attitude some people have right away about the vandalism that will occur. So far, vandalism in Princeton, as far as I know, has been minimal, in large part due to several things, including our police, the citizens on patrol, and a respect by the youths in the community not to damage or vandalize things in our town.
Instead of complaining about how the park "will be" vandalized, why not do your part and join the local COPS and help out, pitch in and police our own community, our own town.
A final thought on this issue, take a look at the black and white enlarged photograph hanging in the Valley First Credit Union insurance office. The Cenotaph park was a much larger area, which somehow got reduced over the years to a much smaller patch of lawn and trees that it is today.
I think it's time to reclaim some of that land back into the park. Besides, the parking on 1st Street and behind the businesses on Vermilion Avenue are hardly utilized by people, I see no problem with getting out and walking a little bit for the exercise - our clean air - and free parking.
- William Patrick, Princeton
PS: Congratulations on keeping the price of your paper at 75 cents!
Dear Editor;
When NDP MLA Robin Austin spoke in opposition to Premier Campbell's plan to increase immigration to BC, it did not surprise me. Despite constant attempts by the NDP to portray their party as the one most supportive of immigrants, they will not support immigrants when it means confronting their core supporters in the labour movement.
Austin made his position clear in the Legislature on February 16th when he stated, Surely those people who have committed themselves to living in the north should have the chances to gain the skills to fill those jobs instead of relying on immigrants who, quite possibly, will only want to live in the lower mainland once they get here.
What does surprise me is the silence on the part of other NDP MLAs. Where is Human Rights, Multiculturalism and Immigration critic Raj Chouhan?
Where is Yale-Lillooet MLA Harry Lali who knows the long history of commitment by the Indo-Canadian community in his riding and throughout Interior and Northern communities?
And where is NDP Leader Carole James whose constant negativity and weak leadership has infected her caucus so deeply they are now allowed to make these insulting comments?
Their silence endorses the position of Austin who stated publicly that people who already live here should be favoured over increased immigration.
MLA Austin's suggestion that immigrants would only settle briefly in the north and then would move to urban centers is an insult to the thousands of immigrants who have built this province. People like orchard owner Kundan Sanghera from Kelowna, transport company owner Billa Kandola also from Kelowna and Surinderpal Rathor, an elected councilor in Williams Lake.
It's time for NDP MLAs to speak up and denounce such anti-immigrant sentiment despite the influence of big labour who want to maintain their monopoly and influence in the job market.
It's unfortunate that the NDP are more interested in votes from the labour movement than they are in promoting the interests of immigrants in British Columbia.
Yours truly,
Langley MLA Mary Polak
