Thanks for keeping newspaper going
Dear Editor:
I would like to thank all employees of the Penticton Herald. You are doing us, the subscribers, a great service and bending backwards to keep your newspaper running.
Too often we all take this for granted but I feel we are so lucky to even have newspaper delivery in Oliver. I appreciate this and give much praise to our paper delivery gal who is so reliable and dedicated.
Keep up the good work all!
Joyce Kuzyk
Oliver
Readers will look forward to answers
Dear Editor:
Re: 鈥淚nquiring minds want to know,鈥 (letters to the editor, Oct. 30)
Yet another letter from Greg Snider, this time asking if sa国际传媒 Premier David Eby is involved in the foreign interference scandal. What are the facts that prompted Snider to ask the question in the first place?
My inquiring mind wants to know why Snider has still not answered the questions posed in my letter of Sept. 28 (鈥淲e all respect Tommy Douglas鈥)
In Snidersa国际传媒 Sept. 6 letter (鈥淏ribing us with our own money鈥) he declared: 鈥淲e can see right through you trying to buy our votes this fall, Comrade Eby.鈥
1. Do you agree with Donald Trump that Kamala Harris is a communist?
2. If you were an American citizen, would you vote for Trump in the November election? If yes, why? If no, why not?
3. Do you think Canadasa国际传媒 universal health care system should be scrapped in favour of a private health care system?
4. Isn鈥檛 Canadasa国际传媒 Old Age Security (OAS) also a form of socialism?
Jon Peter Christoff is another writer who has still not answered the questions posed of him in my March 20 letter (鈥淧ontification or communique?鈥):
1. True or False? A major impediment of peace has been Russiasa国际传媒 disinformation war.
2. In 2012, Patriarch Kirill, the current Russian Orthodox Church leader, addressed Putin personally as the saviour of modern Russia and compared his reign to a 鈥渕iracle of God.鈥 Do you share Patriarch Kirillsa国际传媒 opinion?
3. After Russia invaded Ukraine on Feb. 24, 2022, Patriarch Kirill threw his support behind Russia. Do you support Ukraine or Russia? (Read: 鈥淲hy the Russian Orthodox Church Supports the War in Ukraine鈥 by Ksenia Luchenko, Carnegie Politika)
4. Do you approve of North Macedonia being a member of NATO?
5. Do you support Ukrainesa国际传媒 request for NATO membership?
Messrs. Snider and Christoff: Don鈥檛 be shy.
I鈥檓 certain there are other Courier/ Herald readers who look forward to reading your answers.
David Buckna
sa国际传媒
Independents create resilient economy
Dear Editor:
A great decision was made in 2008 when Prince Rupert city council prevented big box stores, malls and supermarkets from opening outside the downtown core. Today it has made the downtown core of Prince Rupert a vibrant, retail shopping area.
In contrast, Prince Rupert made the wise decision in 2008 to prevent a mall from opening outside the downtown area, instead allowing stores such as Walmart and Shoppers Drug Mart to set up in the city centre.
Prince Rupert has the highest number of buildings, extensive roadways, and the most establishments, including independent businesses and government organizations of the three urban centres (Terrace and Kitimat, the others).
It also exhibits a significant level of diversity intensity, which was determined by assessing the variety of establishments in different sectors such as food, health and wellness, government, industry, travel, and goods and services.
Having more independent businesses contributes to less risk and a more resilient economy.
Bruce Manery
Penticton
Are homeless being bussed to Penticton?
Dear Editor:
I have heard on Facebook that homeless people are being bussed into Penticton. Does anyone have proof or pictures of this happening?
I contacted city council and the bylaw department to confirm this, but heard nothing. If this is happening we need to have proof. We really don鈥檛 need people being bussed here because we have services and other communities do not. We have enough problems here without making it worse.
Alf Norrish
Penticton
EDITOR鈥橲 NOTE: In an age where everyone has access to a camera on their cell phone, there are no videos or still photos to support this claim.
Loss of diversity and sa国际传媒 habitat
Dear Editor:
The loss of diversity and habitat affects the earthsa国际传媒 abilities to buffer our effect on climate. We need the natural systems in place to deal with carbon and other imbalances we add. As world leaders gather in Columbia at the UN Biodiversity Summit, COP16, to address the global biodiversity crisis, I want to see the action leaders promised here at home in sa国际传媒. With a newly elected government, we have an opportunity to get off on the right foot and take meaningful steps to protect the nature and wildlife that make this province special
In sa国际传媒, we鈥檙e facing escalating climate change and habitat loss -- more than 1,900 species and ecosystems are now at risk of extinction. Protecting the lands, waters and wildlife that make our home so special has never been more urgent. Healthy ecosystems are essential for the well-being of wildlife, our communities, our economy, and our future.
By prioritizing biodiversity, the government can demonstrate its commitment to a future where both people and nature thrive. This approach will help create a healthier sa国际传媒 for everyone.
This government was elected on a platform that included moving sa国际传媒 closer to protecting 30 per cent of BC by 2030 and a made-in-sa国际传媒 strategy to defend sa国际传媒 biodiversity. I urge readers to join me in calling on the sa国际传媒 government to follow through on their commitment and work with First Nations to protect biodiversity across sa国际传媒. We need to see action on conservation and climate change as a key part of their work to bolster community resilience.
Todd Ford
Lake Country
Would Jesus vote Republican?
Dear Editor:
As a big fan of Christsa国际传媒 unmistakable message and miracles, I鈥檓 encouraged by the roughly 32 million Christians anticipated to sit out this presidential election due to their moral inability to support either of the two candidates.
This mostly serves to emphasize displeasure with the Republican candidate, Donald Trump, since the Christian electorate largely tends to support that partysa国际传媒 general fiscally and socially conservative ideals.
Many of those Christians may have come to seriously ask themselves: What would Jesus have said about his followers admiring and/or politically supporting gratuitously rich men who do nothing remotely resembling Christ-like conduct?
I鈥檓 talking about the Biblical Jesus, through his teachings and practices -- not pragmatism, politics or conservative/liberal goals; the Jesus who hardly would roll his eyes and sigh: 鈥淥h well, I鈥檓 against everything the politician stands for, but what can you do when you dislike even more some of what his political competition stands for?鈥
Perhaps like many followers of other established monotheistic faiths, those of institutional Christianity -- i.e. the 鈥榖elievers鈥 most resistant to Christsa国际传媒 fundamental teachings of non-violence, genuine compassion and non-wealth -- generally seem to insist upon creating their Creatorsa国际传媒 nature in their own fallible and often angry, vengeful image.
Frank Sterle Jr.
White Rock
Tory policies hurting renters
Dear Editor:
Across Canada, 2-million people per month rely on food banks. Homelessness has exploded. It is increasingly difficult to meet financial obligations, particularly rent.
Astoundingly, the so-called 鈥渆conomist鈥 leading the Conservative Opposition, federally, speaks of housing daily, without once speaking truth. He scapegoats the federal government, saying 鈥渢his government has doubled housing costs across Canada鈥. He knows his words are patently untrue but hesa国际传媒 convinced the public will believe him, if he just says it often enough.
It has nothing to do with the carbon tax, little to do with immigration, and everything to do with 鈥渃orporate landlords鈥. Corporations buy older buildings, evict tenants, marginally renovate, quadruple the rent, and allegedly collude on the increased rental rates. They are allowed to charge unaffordable rents for the benefit of shareholders. Canadian law exempts them from corporate taxes because the profits are distributed to investors . Real Estate in Canada is controlled by a handful of mega corporations. These 鈥渇inancialized鈥 landlords owe their inception and enabling to Conservative federal and provincial governments, who have deregulated, eliminated rent controls, and encouraged privatization in every field, including housing.
What hope has the public, held hostage by this free-for-all? Yet this Conservative economist鈥 disparages the only remotely affordable housing left: co-op housing, referring to it as 鈥渟ocialist鈥. Where is their concern for Canadians?
Itsa国际传媒 akin to throwing open the hen house door, for the foxes to feast. When the hens are decimated, what next will the enablers throw to the foxes? Who will be left gainful employment and the ability to pay meaningful taxes? Or will we be reduced to labouring for the rich, in return for the privilege of sleeping in a hut in their ditch? Rather like providing a feast for someone in the hope of being allowed to lick the empty plate. Do your homework folks and reflect on what 鈥渢rickles down鈥.
Elaine Lawrence
sa国际传媒
Media ignoring major story
Dear Editor:
Does anybody else see the irony in Interior Health paying a $274,000 fine to Worksafe BC? Sort of like transferring money from one account to another. I wonder how much was paid out externally to lawyers and the like and why is that not being reported by the media because that is the true cost to the taxpayer.
Doug Maxwell
Penticton
Overpopulation is the problem
Dear Editor:
As the world panics about climate change and finger points to pollution sources, nothing is seldom mentioned about the predominant causation which should be obvious.
World population currently exceeds 8 billion folks and climbing to levels that cannot be upheld. Dr. Brian L. Horejsi rightly noted (letters, Oct. 26) the 鈥渆cological disaster鈥 facing us if we do not 鈥渟tabilize鈥 human growth and immigration.
On another note. All kinds of people make this world, don鈥檛 they. The horror of Donald Trump and his hysterical following who cannot seem to grasp the unescapable evidence of his radical departure from good governance and policy norms. We can only hope and pray that a brighter outcome will be realized after Nov. 5.
Paul Crossley
Penticton
Homeless camp near Ellis Creek
Dear Editor:
I am writing to express my deep concern about the growing tent city at the corner of Industrial Avenue and the Channel Parkway. This encampment is not only an eyesore, but it also poses a serious environmental risk due to its proximity to Ellis Creek and the River Channel. I fear that pollution and sewage from the site are contaminating the creek, Channel and Skaha Lake which are essential for spawning salmon and recreational activities for our community.
The number of tents and the accumulation of belongings seem to increase every week, highlighting an urgent and expanding issue. I recognize that the homelessness in Penticton is complicated. I also have come to understand that this particular parcel of land belongs to the Penticton Indian Band and there may be uncertainty about who exactly is responsible for it. I sincerely hope that the PIB is working to figure out this situation and will take action to address this critical problem.
Jenny Ayers
Penticton
