(Bonus Editorial! Was Meant to Air August 27, 2010 - but did not.)
I think I'm starting to turn into a crotchety old man. I promised myself just a few short years ago it seems never to lose sympathy, but it's starting to happen anyway.
Driving through Sahali, you're quite likely to come across the two young people I saw at the corner of Summit and Columbia today. The man and woman were on either side of the intersection, each with a dog at their side, each holding a sign bearing the words "traveling, broke, and hungry."
"Broke and hungry" I have plenty of sympathy for. Sometimes the world conspires against a person, you find yourself caught up in addiction or bad financial investments, maybe you have a mental health issue, all of the sudden you're out on the street. Sometimes it truly is "down on your luck."
But "traveling" is the part that chaps my hide. That's where I lose my empathetic side. I'd love to be traveling. The best times of my life happened while I was traveling. I work for the vast majority of my life so that I can see a bit of the world during the little time off I get. When you tell me that you are traveling, you tell me exactly why you are broke and hungry.
I suppose it's very straight-laced of me to tell these people to settle down and get a job. The 20-year-old version of myself would be steamed at this. But really. Get a job.
Monday, August 30, 2010
No Choice But to Euthanize Bears
(Aired on August 26, 2010)
I'm as big an animal lover as there is. I love animals. Am sad to the point of tears sometimes when I see a dead deer at the side of the highway, love having wildlife in my yard even when they take a good round out of the shrubs.
But I honestly believe an online petition trying to save about 15 bears in the Kootenays is just a little over the top. The bears were being fed by some people charged in a grow op. We don't know if they were being fed to keep them around to scare people away from the property, or whether they were kind of pets. But the fact is, most of them have become domesticated. As such, they cannot be saved from being put down. Maybe they could be transported to some zoos, maybe some of them could be returned to the wild, but any information I've received indicates that once these animals become used to human contact, and used to raiding the garbage in cities, it's hard to get them back into the wild. Sad as it is, these animals may have to be put down before they become a menace.
Some suggest they could be weaned back into the wild, and we should have the province put up some kind of transitional feeding station that would get them back into the wild. But it's not going to work. The people who fed these bears have made it such that the bears' lives have become too easy, no work involved when you get your daily fix from the neighbours. You don't even have to lift a garbage can lid for goodness sakes.
While protecting wildlife is a good thing, sometimes circumstances are such that protection is unrealistic. These seem to be some of those circumstances. As tragic as it would be to have to put some of these bears down, the reality is that they can't be left as they are, and if there aren't zoos or refuges to take them, and they can't be reacclimatized to the wild, there is little choice left but to put them down so they don't endanger anyone.
I'm as big an animal lover as there is. I love animals. Am sad to the point of tears sometimes when I see a dead deer at the side of the highway, love having wildlife in my yard even when they take a good round out of the shrubs.
But I honestly believe an online petition trying to save about 15 bears in the Kootenays is just a little over the top. The bears were being fed by some people charged in a grow op. We don't know if they were being fed to keep them around to scare people away from the property, or whether they were kind of pets. But the fact is, most of them have become domesticated. As such, they cannot be saved from being put down. Maybe they could be transported to some zoos, maybe some of them could be returned to the wild, but any information I've received indicates that once these animals become used to human contact, and used to raiding the garbage in cities, it's hard to get them back into the wild. Sad as it is, these animals may have to be put down before they become a menace.
Some suggest they could be weaned back into the wild, and we should have the province put up some kind of transitional feeding station that would get them back into the wild. But it's not going to work. The people who fed these bears have made it such that the bears' lives have become too easy, no work involved when you get your daily fix from the neighbours. You don't even have to lift a garbage can lid for goodness sakes.
While protecting wildlife is a good thing, sometimes circumstances are such that protection is unrealistic. These seem to be some of those circumstances. As tragic as it would be to have to put some of these bears down, the reality is that they can't be left as they are, and if there aren't zoos or refuges to take them, and they can't be reacclimatized to the wild, there is little choice left but to put them down so they don't endanger anyone.
BC Regs on School Properties Vexing
(Aired on August 25, 2010)
A report released today says BC's public school districts could have more money at their disposal, but accounting practices and government rules are preventing it. According to the Auditor General, school districts collectively have about $1-billion they can't reasonably access - much of it tied up in low-interest bank accounts. If they did use the money, they would have to show it on the books as an expense. That wouldn't be a problem, but the provincial government has mandated that all school districts must run a balanced budget. Thus, if you have a new expense, you have to show the revenue to offset it. With government funding cuts and a flawed funding formula, that revenue is not forthcoming.
Even more vexing to me are government rules restricting what school districts can do with surplus property. For example, District 73 has four new surplus school properties within Kamloops this year; those being John Tod, Ralph Bell, George Hilliard, and the former Beattie Pineridge campus. The district is obligated to maintain those properties and keep them from falling into disrepair.
It would make far more sense to sell those schools and schoolyards, with the government investing the revenue right back into education. But the province has extremely tight rules that make it almost impossible for a district to do that. If you ask the education minister about those rules, she says that it's prudent policy. A selloff of property now - when student numbers are in decline - would hamstring districts in the future, when student numbers are bound to rise again.
It seems to make sense, but the question is, what is happening to students in the meantime? With the way school districts are being eviscerated of funds now, what will the public school system look like in 10 or 20 years' time? It would be better policy to fix what is badly broken now, and let tomorrow think about tomorrow.
A report released today says BC's public school districts could have more money at their disposal, but accounting practices and government rules are preventing it. According to the Auditor General, school districts collectively have about $1-billion they can't reasonably access - much of it tied up in low-interest bank accounts. If they did use the money, they would have to show it on the books as an expense. That wouldn't be a problem, but the provincial government has mandated that all school districts must run a balanced budget. Thus, if you have a new expense, you have to show the revenue to offset it. With government funding cuts and a flawed funding formula, that revenue is not forthcoming.
Even more vexing to me are government rules restricting what school districts can do with surplus property. For example, District 73 has four new surplus school properties within Kamloops this year; those being John Tod, Ralph Bell, George Hilliard, and the former Beattie Pineridge campus. The district is obligated to maintain those properties and keep them from falling into disrepair.
It would make far more sense to sell those schools and schoolyards, with the government investing the revenue right back into education. But the province has extremely tight rules that make it almost impossible for a district to do that. If you ask the education minister about those rules, she says that it's prudent policy. A selloff of property now - when student numbers are in decline - would hamstring districts in the future, when student numbers are bound to rise again.
It seems to make sense, but the question is, what is happening to students in the meantime? With the way school districts are being eviscerated of funds now, what will the public school system look like in 10 or 20 years' time? It would be better policy to fix what is badly broken now, and let tomorrow think about tomorrow.
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
Public Starting to Worry About Health Care
(Aired on August 24, 2010)
It is the perfect storm. It's been coming for some time. I wasn't the first to talk about it years ago, but I have said many times over the years the health care system is in jeopardy and needs to be overhauled. And a new Ipsos-Reid survey out this week shows most Canadians are starting to get the picture. It's taken them a long time to understand just how bad it is, but the new survey shows they're getting the message.
The new poll shows that most people perceived no improvement in health care. Younger adults anticipate going into debt to pay for their health care. Boomers, otherwise known as the Silver Tsunami, are becoming more and more reliant, pointing out just how tough it's going to be. The poll showed 80% fear the system will buckle and maybe even fail under the growing pressure. It says 80% nationally give the health system a grade of A, but few think that will continue.
Doctors have said for some time they are not crying wolf-that the health system is in disarray. Maybe more of the people nationwide who feel the same will start to put the pressure on the government to do something. Some suggest user fees rather than higher taxes. I've advocated user fees for 20 years. Interestingly enough, the survey showed British Columbians last or second last in their confidence level in health care. The only other province was Quebec, where 2.5 million people in that province are without a regular family doctor, out of a population of 7.5 million. Over a quarter of the population.
B.C. rates virtually last in rating the health care experience, only 25% of us gave a good grade for services available, and only 17% gave health care providers a good grade. That should be something for Gordon Campbell and the Liberals to take under serious advisement. If the economic downturn didn't hit B.C. as bad as other provinces, why can't we do better?
It's been obvious for a long time that something needs to be done. The general population finally seems to be getting the message. Now let's see if we can convince the politicians.
It is the perfect storm. It's been coming for some time. I wasn't the first to talk about it years ago, but I have said many times over the years the health care system is in jeopardy and needs to be overhauled. And a new Ipsos-Reid survey out this week shows most Canadians are starting to get the picture. It's taken them a long time to understand just how bad it is, but the new survey shows they're getting the message.
The new poll shows that most people perceived no improvement in health care. Younger adults anticipate going into debt to pay for their health care. Boomers, otherwise known as the Silver Tsunami, are becoming more and more reliant, pointing out just how tough it's going to be. The poll showed 80% fear the system will buckle and maybe even fail under the growing pressure. It says 80% nationally give the health system a grade of A, but few think that will continue.
Doctors have said for some time they are not crying wolf-that the health system is in disarray. Maybe more of the people nationwide who feel the same will start to put the pressure on the government to do something. Some suggest user fees rather than higher taxes. I've advocated user fees for 20 years. Interestingly enough, the survey showed British Columbians last or second last in their confidence level in health care. The only other province was Quebec, where 2.5 million people in that province are without a regular family doctor, out of a population of 7.5 million. Over a quarter of the population.
B.C. rates virtually last in rating the health care experience, only 25% of us gave a good grade for services available, and only 17% gave health care providers a good grade. That should be something for Gordon Campbell and the Liberals to take under serious advisement. If the economic downturn didn't hit B.C. as bad as other provinces, why can't we do better?
It's been obvious for a long time that something needs to be done. The general population finally seems to be getting the message. Now let's see if we can convince the politicians.
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
Justice Miscarried
(Aired on August 23, 2010)
So you want to know why we have no faith in our justice system? Here’s a perfect example. Last week, the legal system failed 15-year-old Ashley Aebig of Nanaimo. She was a passenger in a vehicle driven by 25-year-old Cory Barker in July of 2007. Barker was driving with more than twice the legal limit of alcohol in his blood. The court gave him a conditional sentence.
A conditional sentence. You know what that means? Not even a real slap on the wrist. Both crown and defence lawyers said there were “mitigating” circumstances in the case. These mitigating circumstances apparently related to Barker’s history of psychiatric problems, and his self-medication, which included the use of marijuana to make it easier to cope with his schizophrenia and depression.
Somehow that should make it OK to have twice the legal amount of alcohol and cause someone to be killed? That’s our justice system? Who could possibly think that’s right? So the judge imposed a five-year driving ban on Barker. That’s supposed to be a penalty? And he stays at his residence at all times. That’s a penalty? A young girl loses her life because someone drank too much and then the man who caused it walks away without serving a day of jail time?
The perception of the law must be seen to be followed as well as the reality of the law. In this case, neither was followed. If Barker were given time in a psychiatric facility to deal with his problems and learn to cope, I guess I might think that there is some justice. But when a person who has severe problems doesn’t get anything? That’s just plain wrong.
I’m not as hard-nosed as many I know about justice. I tend to be pretty compassionate. But in this case, there was an absolute miscarriage of justice in my opinion. I can’t see how justice was served in any way in this case, and I have the deepest sympathy for the parents of a girl who was killed without any serious punishment for the perpetrator.
So you want to know why we have no faith in our justice system? Here’s a perfect example. Last week, the legal system failed 15-year-old Ashley Aebig of Nanaimo. She was a passenger in a vehicle driven by 25-year-old Cory Barker in July of 2007. Barker was driving with more than twice the legal limit of alcohol in his blood. The court gave him a conditional sentence.
A conditional sentence. You know what that means? Not even a real slap on the wrist. Both crown and defence lawyers said there were “mitigating” circumstances in the case. These mitigating circumstances apparently related to Barker’s history of psychiatric problems, and his self-medication, which included the use of marijuana to make it easier to cope with his schizophrenia and depression.
Somehow that should make it OK to have twice the legal amount of alcohol and cause someone to be killed? That’s our justice system? Who could possibly think that’s right? So the judge imposed a five-year driving ban on Barker. That’s supposed to be a penalty? And he stays at his residence at all times. That’s a penalty? A young girl loses her life because someone drank too much and then the man who caused it walks away without serving a day of jail time?
The perception of the law must be seen to be followed as well as the reality of the law. In this case, neither was followed. If Barker were given time in a psychiatric facility to deal with his problems and learn to cope, I guess I might think that there is some justice. But when a person who has severe problems doesn’t get anything? That’s just plain wrong.
I’m not as hard-nosed as many I know about justice. I tend to be pretty compassionate. But in this case, there was an absolute miscarriage of justice in my opinion. I can’t see how justice was served in any way in this case, and I have the deepest sympathy for the parents of a girl who was killed without any serious punishment for the perpetrator.
Pickton Revelation Must Lead to Reforms
(Aired on August 20, 2010)
Some columnists in Kamloops like to tee off on the police, whether it's individual officers or entire forces. They pile on to any error or abuse of power - whether real or perceived - with hysterical, mouth-frothing fervor. And while that response is hardly as rational and measured as it should be, a report on the Robert Pickton investigation released today makes it hard to remain calm.
The report stated between the time Vancouver Police forwarded a report on Pickton to Coquitlam RCMP and the time he was arrested, 13 women went missing from the Downtown Eastside. 11 of those were later linked to Pickton's farm.
You may think this is yet another reason to tar the RCMP. That's partially true, but the review says both police forces are to blame. It says both forces committed errors that prevented an arrest of Pickton until 2002. There have long been loud questions as to why police didn't take the Pickton situation seriously much sooner. Now we have a few more answers to those questions.
RCMP have been taking it on the chin for quite some time now. And nothing seems to be able to stem the litany of embarrassments for the national force. Today's announcement shouldn't phase the Mounties; it should be like water off a duck's back. Vancouver Police looking bad, however, is another story.
If this should teach us anything, it's that there are problems with law enforcement in general - not just the RCMP. A public inquiry is necessary, followed by sweeping reforms. It's one thing for four cowboys to zap an exhausted Polish man at an airport with a taser. It's quite another for almost a dozen women to die thanks to an inter-office foul-up. Something has to change.
Some columnists in Kamloops like to tee off on the police, whether it's individual officers or entire forces. They pile on to any error or abuse of power - whether real or perceived - with hysterical, mouth-frothing fervor. And while that response is hardly as rational and measured as it should be, a report on the Robert Pickton investigation released today makes it hard to remain calm.
The report stated between the time Vancouver Police forwarded a report on Pickton to Coquitlam RCMP and the time he was arrested, 13 women went missing from the Downtown Eastside. 11 of those were later linked to Pickton's farm.
You may think this is yet another reason to tar the RCMP. That's partially true, but the review says both police forces are to blame. It says both forces committed errors that prevented an arrest of Pickton until 2002. There have long been loud questions as to why police didn't take the Pickton situation seriously much sooner. Now we have a few more answers to those questions.
RCMP have been taking it on the chin for quite some time now. And nothing seems to be able to stem the litany of embarrassments for the national force. Today's announcement shouldn't phase the Mounties; it should be like water off a duck's back. Vancouver Police looking bad, however, is another story.
If this should teach us anything, it's that there are problems with law enforcement in general - not just the RCMP. A public inquiry is necessary, followed by sweeping reforms. It's one thing for four cowboys to zap an exhausted Polish man at an airport with a taser. It's quite another for almost a dozen women to die thanks to an inter-office foul-up. Something has to change.
Friday, August 20, 2010
Must be a Better Way to Report Highway Conditions
(Aired on August 19, 2010)
It's time in this world of electronic communication that we did a better job reporting highway conditions in our area. We have a web site in the province that should be the perfect vehicle for giving motorists updated information. But it's reliability in emergencies is very poor, and motorists often wind up getting into bad driving conditions or into long lineups after accidents even though the information is available to avoid the problem.
A perfect case this morning. A bad accident on the Coke north of the Logan Lake turnoff around 5:30 this morning. Logs spilled all over the highway. No southbound traffic getting through. It was almost two hours before Drive B.C. could get updated information onto its website. Information that was available well over an hour earlier.
What is wrong with emergency crews, whether they be ambulance drivers, police officers, road maintenance crews, radioing in a report right away to whoever controls the website and the electronic road signs, saying traffic is halted, alerting motorists and the media immediately so that the message can get out. Instead, we get backed up traffic like we did this morning, a backup that could have easily been avoided.
It's the same in winter. I don't know how many times we report information from the Drive B.C. site, when a motorist will phone in and ask us where we get our information because we've just said the Coke is good, and they're driving through a blizzard. It's unacceptable in this time of modern technology.
We need to do a better job of notifying motorists. Traffic backups may not seem too terribly bad, but try telling that to a family with two or three kids under three years old, waiting for hours to get through. In the winter, try telling a family who has gone off the road that you should have been able to update the conditions an hour earlier, but didn't. It's a situation that's easily resolved, and for the life of me, I can't understand why we have to put up with this crap year after year. Time to make some changes.
It's time in this world of electronic communication that we did a better job reporting highway conditions in our area. We have a web site in the province that should be the perfect vehicle for giving motorists updated information. But it's reliability in emergencies is very poor, and motorists often wind up getting into bad driving conditions or into long lineups after accidents even though the information is available to avoid the problem.
A perfect case this morning. A bad accident on the Coke north of the Logan Lake turnoff around 5:30 this morning. Logs spilled all over the highway. No southbound traffic getting through. It was almost two hours before Drive B.C. could get updated information onto its website. Information that was available well over an hour earlier.
What is wrong with emergency crews, whether they be ambulance drivers, police officers, road maintenance crews, radioing in a report right away to whoever controls the website and the electronic road signs, saying traffic is halted, alerting motorists and the media immediately so that the message can get out. Instead, we get backed up traffic like we did this morning, a backup that could have easily been avoided.
It's the same in winter. I don't know how many times we report information from the Drive B.C. site, when a motorist will phone in and ask us where we get our information because we've just said the Coke is good, and they're driving through a blizzard. It's unacceptable in this time of modern technology.
We need to do a better job of notifying motorists. Traffic backups may not seem too terribly bad, but try telling that to a family with two or three kids under three years old, waiting for hours to get through. In the winter, try telling a family who has gone off the road that you should have been able to update the conditions an hour earlier, but didn't. It's a situation that's easily resolved, and for the life of me, I can't understand why we have to put up with this crap year after year. Time to make some changes.
Thursday, August 19, 2010
Credit Cards No Place for Tuition Fees
(Aired on August 18, 2010)
I got a nice e-mail this week from a fellow who wondered why more wasn't made of TRU's policy on students using credit cards to pay for tuition. The viewer had a point, and his e-mail got me thinking.
The story followed a decision by Kwantlen to join a long list of institutions to stop offering credit card services. In doing so, Kwantlen was going to save about $250,000 in fees. TRU says it could save $750,000 in fees, but it won't reconsider because of how convenient it makes things for TRU students.
Credit cards certainly are convenient. They allow you to buy things without actually paying for them. It's something that a new university student would love to take advantage of, I'm sure. But it's not a good habit to get into, especially for major, major expenses like university tuition. Interest rates on most credit cards are through the roof, and most students don't have much sense of fiscal responsibility.
A better idea is to take advantage of Canada Student Loans. Canada Student Loans are relatively easy to qualify for, and they are low interest. I'm all in favour of encouraging more kids to sign up for post-secondary education and have the university experience. But student loans represent far more responsible debt management than Visa or Mastercard.
For international students, some more latitude on credit cards is probably helpful. For most Canadians though, credit cards are simply financial procrastination. And Lord knows university students procrastinate enough.
I got a nice e-mail this week from a fellow who wondered why more wasn't made of TRU's policy on students using credit cards to pay for tuition. The viewer had a point, and his e-mail got me thinking.
The story followed a decision by Kwantlen to join a long list of institutions to stop offering credit card services. In doing so, Kwantlen was going to save about $250,000 in fees. TRU says it could save $750,000 in fees, but it won't reconsider because of how convenient it makes things for TRU students.
Credit cards certainly are convenient. They allow you to buy things without actually paying for them. It's something that a new university student would love to take advantage of, I'm sure. But it's not a good habit to get into, especially for major, major expenses like university tuition. Interest rates on most credit cards are through the roof, and most students don't have much sense of fiscal responsibility.
A better idea is to take advantage of Canada Student Loans. Canada Student Loans are relatively easy to qualify for, and they are low interest. I'm all in favour of encouraging more kids to sign up for post-secondary education and have the university experience. But student loans represent far more responsible debt management than Visa or Mastercard.
For international students, some more latitude on credit cards is probably helpful. For most Canadians though, credit cards are simply financial procrastination. And Lord knows university students procrastinate enough.
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
No Planning on Port Mann Reconstruction
(Aired on August 17, 2010)
If you're looking for a nice place to visit, make sure it's not Vancouver.
Traffic congestion in Vancouver right now is about as bad as it's ever been, and rush hour traffic doesn't end. I went down a couple of times in the early summer, and found the usual hassles where they're building the new approaches to the Port Mann bridge. But when I went down last week, where before traffic started flowing again as you headed down the hill to go over the bridge, this time the construction and wall to wall traffic extended right down to 1st Avenue. Originally I thought that there might have been an accident, but no, it's the way it's apparently going to be for a while.
And if you were a tourist heading to see the sights of what is arguably one of the most beautiful cities in the world, you probably wouldn't have had a very good impression. We don't do a very good job of providing alternate traffic routes when we do construction. It seems to be one of the low priorities when construction projects are assigned. We just sort of say OK we're doing this and the devil be damned. I understand the new Port Mann bridge will alleviate many traffic concerns when it's completed, but that's not until 2013, and to go through that hassle for the next 3 years at least is absolutely deplorable.
I don't understand why we don't get a handle on these problems and do them in such a way that projects are phased in, and one project is done before another is started. We knew there were traffic problems getting into Vancouver 20 years ago, but we've only just now started to deal with them. For those who don't know Vancouver well, I won't bore you with the details, but it's like the government just decided to do everything at once and damn the torpedoes. Planning seems to be a non-existent word in the government's vocabulary, and herein lies a perfect example. I'm just
thankful I don't have to make that trip very often.
If you're looking for a nice place to visit, make sure it's not Vancouver.
Traffic congestion in Vancouver right now is about as bad as it's ever been, and rush hour traffic doesn't end. I went down a couple of times in the early summer, and found the usual hassles where they're building the new approaches to the Port Mann bridge. But when I went down last week, where before traffic started flowing again as you headed down the hill to go over the bridge, this time the construction and wall to wall traffic extended right down to 1st Avenue. Originally I thought that there might have been an accident, but no, it's the way it's apparently going to be for a while.
And if you were a tourist heading to see the sights of what is arguably one of the most beautiful cities in the world, you probably wouldn't have had a very good impression. We don't do a very good job of providing alternate traffic routes when we do construction. It seems to be one of the low priorities when construction projects are assigned. We just sort of say OK we're doing this and the devil be damned. I understand the new Port Mann bridge will alleviate many traffic concerns when it's completed, but that's not until 2013, and to go through that hassle for the next 3 years at least is absolutely deplorable.
I don't understand why we don't get a handle on these problems and do them in such a way that projects are phased in, and one project is done before another is started. We knew there were traffic problems getting into Vancouver 20 years ago, but we've only just now started to deal with them. For those who don't know Vancouver well, I won't bore you with the details, but it's like the government just decided to do everything at once and damn the torpedoes. Planning seems to be a non-existent word in the government's vocabulary, and herein lies a perfect example. I'm just
thankful I don't have to make that trip very often.
RCMP Not the Root of Policing Problems
(Aired on August 16, 2010)
I think we need to have a long look before we make any hasty decisions about doing away with the RCMP in our province. The B.C. Civil Liberties Association has been touring the province getting input on what to do about the police situation in B.C. The RCMP contract is coming up for renewal and there are many who seem to feel that a 20-year renewal of the contract is not in our best interests. But I say let's have a good look before we move into something that may seem better, but has a lot of potential for failure.
Some who are against renewal say there is no hope of getting confidence back in the RCMP, that the force's brass needs a major overhaul, and that it's time for a provincial force. They would point to a number of complaints against the police handling of cases, excessive force by members and so on. But those complaints would probably not diminish with a provincial force. There are lots of complaints against officers in the Vancouver police force, just as many issues surrounding the handling of crimes and criminals. Is the real problem not the force, but the overall way we handle policing in general in this country?
For every person upset with excessive force, there is at least one more who is upset that the police aren't tough enough on criminals. For every complaint against an RCMP officer, there is a story about what a great job they do.
My impression is that it's a case of the selection committee choosing appropriate officers as opposed to the force itself. And that's the problem with any police force. I don't agree with Stewart Philip of the Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs very often, but I think he hit the nail on the head when he talked about the fact that some of these older veterans, who have an interest in establishing relationships, are retiring and some of the newer members don't have the same inclination. Relationships are big, and that's what needs to be fostered. If we don't do that, it doesn't matter what kind of police force we have. It won't work.
I think we need to have a long look before we make any hasty decisions about doing away with the RCMP in our province. The B.C. Civil Liberties Association has been touring the province getting input on what to do about the police situation in B.C. The RCMP contract is coming up for renewal and there are many who seem to feel that a 20-year renewal of the contract is not in our best interests. But I say let's have a good look before we move into something that may seem better, but has a lot of potential for failure.
Some who are against renewal say there is no hope of getting confidence back in the RCMP, that the force's brass needs a major overhaul, and that it's time for a provincial force. They would point to a number of complaints against the police handling of cases, excessive force by members and so on. But those complaints would probably not diminish with a provincial force. There are lots of complaints against officers in the Vancouver police force, just as many issues surrounding the handling of crimes and criminals. Is the real problem not the force, but the overall way we handle policing in general in this country?
For every person upset with excessive force, there is at least one more who is upset that the police aren't tough enough on criminals. For every complaint against an RCMP officer, there is a story about what a great job they do.
My impression is that it's a case of the selection committee choosing appropriate officers as opposed to the force itself. And that's the problem with any police force. I don't agree with Stewart Philip of the Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs very often, but I think he hit the nail on the head when he talked about the fact that some of these older veterans, who have an interest in establishing relationships, are retiring and some of the newer members don't have the same inclination. Relationships are big, and that's what needs to be fostered. If we don't do that, it doesn't matter what kind of police force we have. It won't work.
Monday, August 16, 2010
Sri Lankan Refugees Should be Processed, Welcomed
(Aired on August 13, 2010)
"Turn them around." That's what some people are saying about the 490-or-so Tamils who arrived on our shores this week. "You can't just show up in a ship and expect to be welcomed in Canada."
Well, it's a little more complicated than that. In fact, you can just show up and expect to be welcomed - that's what being a refugee is all about. A lot of Tamils are interested in getting out of Sri Lanka, especially since the end of the country's civil war last year. The Tamil people are the minority, many of them are displaced within the country, and more claim they are oppressed by the majority ethnic group.
Whether or not they have legitimate refugee claims will have to be decided on a case-by-case basis. As in most refugee cases, this won't be easy, and it is complicated by the fact that the Tamil Tigers are recognized as a terrorist organization by our government. Each of the refugee claimants will have to be individually checked.
It's a sign of the times that the government is being so careful with the Tamil ship docked at CFB Esquimalt. Not that it shouldn't be careful - it absolutely should. But there was a time when security wasn't the number one concern. There was a time when we would simply be proud that we have created a country that is the first one to come to mind for people throughout the world when they are in trouble. It's like being the most reliable one in your group of friends. It may be a lot of work, but it's pretty gratifying.
Reputable sources say Canada is home to the most Tamils in the world, outside of Sri Lanka itself. Our multi-culturalism should still be a point of pride, and something we encourage and strongly protect - almost as strongly as we protect our borders.
"Turn them around." That's what some people are saying about the 490-or-so Tamils who arrived on our shores this week. "You can't just show up in a ship and expect to be welcomed in Canada."
Well, it's a little more complicated than that. In fact, you can just show up and expect to be welcomed - that's what being a refugee is all about. A lot of Tamils are interested in getting out of Sri Lanka, especially since the end of the country's civil war last year. The Tamil people are the minority, many of them are displaced within the country, and more claim they are oppressed by the majority ethnic group.
Whether or not they have legitimate refugee claims will have to be decided on a case-by-case basis. As in most refugee cases, this won't be easy, and it is complicated by the fact that the Tamil Tigers are recognized as a terrorist organization by our government. Each of the refugee claimants will have to be individually checked.
It's a sign of the times that the government is being so careful with the Tamil ship docked at CFB Esquimalt. Not that it shouldn't be careful - it absolutely should. But there was a time when security wasn't the number one concern. There was a time when we would simply be proud that we have created a country that is the first one to come to mind for people throughout the world when they are in trouble. It's like being the most reliable one in your group of friends. It may be a lot of work, but it's pretty gratifying.
Reputable sources say Canada is home to the most Tamils in the world, outside of Sri Lanka itself. Our multi-culturalism should still be a point of pride, and something we encourage and strongly protect - almost as strongly as we protect our borders.
Friday, August 13, 2010
Unlikely Liberals Influenced Elections BC
(Aired on August 12, 2010)
It was only a year and a half ago that Terry Lake was being touted as a poster boy for the Liberal Party. A bright man, with experience as Mayor of Kamloops, well-spoken, looked good, the kind of guy you might want to have eventually as a Premier of the Province. Now Terry might become a poster boy of another kind.
Now that the Anti-HST petition has been declared valid, and yet delayed at the hands of the Chief Elections Officer, Lake could well become the first recall target in the province. Anti-HST forces are upset that Elections B.C. is refusing to send the petition on to the government until legal action over the petition clears the court. That could be some time down the road. I'm not expert enough on constitutional law to know whether that's outside Elections B.C.'s mandate or not.
But while pro-HST forces are pleased with the decision, what it means is that there is now a bigger perception than ever that the government is influencing the decision. Whether they are or not is immaterial. Do you think anyone out there believes the government that they didn't have anything to do with the delay? What Elections B.C.'s move has done is to inflame the situation even more, and provide Anti-HST forces with even more ammo going forward.
And even if they aren't successful in forcing the recall of a single MLA, what they have accomplished is to stretch out the Anti-HST and anti-government sentiment in the province for a longer period of time. While the Liberals would dearly love to deal with the HST petition and get it out of the way, in order to have things quiet down before the next election, they've been stymied by yesterday's decision. And that's why, if you think about it, the Liberals likely had nothing to do with any decision by Elections B.C. yesterday. They would have much preferred, I believe, to get it to government, deal with it, and get it over with. Now, they're forced to wait even longer, taking us that much closer to May of 2013. Not an enviable position to be in.
It was only a year and a half ago that Terry Lake was being touted as a poster boy for the Liberal Party. A bright man, with experience as Mayor of Kamloops, well-spoken, looked good, the kind of guy you might want to have eventually as a Premier of the Province. Now Terry might become a poster boy of another kind.
Now that the Anti-HST petition has been declared valid, and yet delayed at the hands of the Chief Elections Officer, Lake could well become the first recall target in the province. Anti-HST forces are upset that Elections B.C. is refusing to send the petition on to the government until legal action over the petition clears the court. That could be some time down the road. I'm not expert enough on constitutional law to know whether that's outside Elections B.C.'s mandate or not.
But while pro-HST forces are pleased with the decision, what it means is that there is now a bigger perception than ever that the government is influencing the decision. Whether they are or not is immaterial. Do you think anyone out there believes the government that they didn't have anything to do with the delay? What Elections B.C.'s move has done is to inflame the situation even more, and provide Anti-HST forces with even more ammo going forward.
And even if they aren't successful in forcing the recall of a single MLA, what they have accomplished is to stretch out the Anti-HST and anti-government sentiment in the province for a longer period of time. While the Liberals would dearly love to deal with the HST petition and get it out of the way, in order to have things quiet down before the next election, they've been stymied by yesterday's decision. And that's why, if you think about it, the Liberals likely had nothing to do with any decision by Elections B.C. yesterday. They would have much preferred, I believe, to get it to government, deal with it, and get it over with. Now, they're forced to wait even longer, taking us that much closer to May of 2013. Not an enviable position to be in.
Thursday, August 12, 2010
MLA Lake in the Crosshairs
(Aired on August 11, 2010)
This is a pre-taped segment, so as much as I'd love to comment on the decision of elections BC with regards to the anti-HST petition, it's impossible. The petition organizers seemed to make every effort to ensure that the petition would be valid. And say what you want about the leaders of the campaign, but they aren't quacks or political neophytes. They should know the process and what is required.
Having said that, it is entirely bizarre to me how this entire process has put one man in the crosshairs. If the petition moves to the next stage, that will involve the parliamentary committee chaired by Kamloops-North Thompson MLA Terry Lake. The government will need to take the initiative seriously, and that committee will be tasked with determining how that's done.
But then there is the prospect of province-wide recall campaigns for MLAs. If that is what the anti-HST organizers are up to next, the first MLA they target will no doubt be - drumroll please - Terry Lake. Why? Because not only did Lake win a close election in a riding that has plenty of NDP support, but he is a rookie at the provincial level. Whatever happens, the man is going to be under pressure.
Lake has a sharp mind, and occasionally an even sharper tongue that can get him into trouble. But he will be prepared for whatever happens, as he is someone with good political instincts and a lot of fight in him. The only thing he shouldn't do is underestimate the fight in the anti-HST crowd.
This is a pre-taped segment, so as much as I'd love to comment on the decision of elections BC with regards to the anti-HST petition, it's impossible. The petition organizers seemed to make every effort to ensure that the petition would be valid. And say what you want about the leaders of the campaign, but they aren't quacks or political neophytes. They should know the process and what is required.
Having said that, it is entirely bizarre to me how this entire process has put one man in the crosshairs. If the petition moves to the next stage, that will involve the parliamentary committee chaired by Kamloops-North Thompson MLA Terry Lake. The government will need to take the initiative seriously, and that committee will be tasked with determining how that's done.
But then there is the prospect of province-wide recall campaigns for MLAs. If that is what the anti-HST organizers are up to next, the first MLA they target will no doubt be - drumroll please - Terry Lake. Why? Because not only did Lake win a close election in a riding that has plenty of NDP support, but he is a rookie at the provincial level. Whatever happens, the man is going to be under pressure.
Lake has a sharp mind, and occasionally an even sharper tongue that can get him into trouble. But he will be prepared for whatever happens, as he is someone with good political instincts and a lot of fight in him. The only thing he shouldn't do is underestimate the fight in the anti-HST crowd.
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
Wait and See on Campbell's Future
(Aired on August 10, 2010)
I never get tired of reading and hearing political pundits, and seeing newspaper headlines about things you absolutely know will change. The latest series of headlines and stories concerns the political future of Gordon Campbell. "Campbell Down But Not Out," screams one headline, "Even a New Leader Won't Help Liberals Win Next Election" says another.
Now when you've seen as much news as I have over 40 years of headline watching, you know that this group of headlines is going to change. When it's going to change, I'm not sure, but it will change. Those speculating about the future of Gordon Campbell will soon find out that Gordon Campbell is going to come back. Will he come back strong enough to win the next election? Who knows. Will he give way to a new leader? Again, uncertain. But we know for sure that the election is far enough away that anything can happen between now and then.
There have been lots of elections where political leaders have been dead right up to election day, and they wind up winning. I can recall doing polls just before an election and find out election day that the polls are totally wrong. Politicians are fond of telling you that the only poll that matters is the one on election day. And in this case, they are right.
The news headlines you are seeing right now may well sell newspapers and have you watch more TV, but that's all they do. They are hardly the essence of reality, and a lot of water will cross under the bridge between now and May of 2013. To paraphrase a famous quotation from Mark Twain, the reports of Gordon Campbell's political death are greatly exaggerated.
I never get tired of reading and hearing political pundits, and seeing newspaper headlines about things you absolutely know will change. The latest series of headlines and stories concerns the political future of Gordon Campbell. "Campbell Down But Not Out," screams one headline, "Even a New Leader Won't Help Liberals Win Next Election" says another.
Now when you've seen as much news as I have over 40 years of headline watching, you know that this group of headlines is going to change. When it's going to change, I'm not sure, but it will change. Those speculating about the future of Gordon Campbell will soon find out that Gordon Campbell is going to come back. Will he come back strong enough to win the next election? Who knows. Will he give way to a new leader? Again, uncertain. But we know for sure that the election is far enough away that anything can happen between now and then.
There have been lots of elections where political leaders have been dead right up to election day, and they wind up winning. I can recall doing polls just before an election and find out election day that the polls are totally wrong. Politicians are fond of telling you that the only poll that matters is the one on election day. And in this case, they are right.
The news headlines you are seeing right now may well sell newspapers and have you watch more TV, but that's all they do. They are hardly the essence of reality, and a lot of water will cross under the bridge between now and May of 2013. To paraphrase a famous quotation from Mark Twain, the reports of Gordon Campbell's political death are greatly exaggerated.
Tuesday, August 10, 2010
Kamloops Up to Hosting 2015 Canada Winter Games
(Aired on August 9, 2010)
More than 20 years ago, and I hate to date myself that way, I watched as our city transformed itself from a sleepy little city to one that showed the world what our community spirit was all about. When the Canada Games Bid Selection Committee came to Kamloops in April of 1989, the city turned out in droves to welcome the bid committee. That accomplished two things - first of all it helped enormously in getting the bid for the '93 Games, and secondly, and perhaps more importantly, it was one of the major steps in showing the country, and indeed ourselves, that we had the volunteer spirit. Ever since then, we've been able to get tournaments and host events based on our volunteer spirit. People have said we have this tremendous volunteer base and it all started back in 1989, when we convinced ourselves we had the spirit to get this job done.
Tomorrow, we have an opportunity to do it all over again. I am convinced we are up to the task. But it's going to take a big effort. In 1989, school was in, schools were organized and came on board big time. School is out in August, people are away, so those who are here are going to have to attend the rallies downtown, on the North Shore and at Hillside Stadium. Rallies are at 10:30 at the Spirit Square in North Kamloops, St. Andrews on the Square downtown and at Interior Savings Centre. It wraps up with a barbecue at 11 AM at Hillside Stadium.
The economic benefits of getting the games are huge, some speculate as much as $90-million. But more importantly, it's a chance for our city to show that we still have that volunteer community spirit that has stood us in such great stead over the past 20 years. I hope that spirit is still alive and shows up tomorrow when our visitors stop in to see what we've got.
More than 20 years ago, and I hate to date myself that way, I watched as our city transformed itself from a sleepy little city to one that showed the world what our community spirit was all about. When the Canada Games Bid Selection Committee came to Kamloops in April of 1989, the city turned out in droves to welcome the bid committee. That accomplished two things - first of all it helped enormously in getting the bid for the '93 Games, and secondly, and perhaps more importantly, it was one of the major steps in showing the country, and indeed ourselves, that we had the volunteer spirit. Ever since then, we've been able to get tournaments and host events based on our volunteer spirit. People have said we have this tremendous volunteer base and it all started back in 1989, when we convinced ourselves we had the spirit to get this job done.
Tomorrow, we have an opportunity to do it all over again. I am convinced we are up to the task. But it's going to take a big effort. In 1989, school was in, schools were organized and came on board big time. School is out in August, people are away, so those who are here are going to have to attend the rallies downtown, on the North Shore and at Hillside Stadium. Rallies are at 10:30 at the Spirit Square in North Kamloops, St. Andrews on the Square downtown and at Interior Savings Centre. It wraps up with a barbecue at 11 AM at Hillside Stadium.
The economic benefits of getting the games are huge, some speculate as much as $90-million. But more importantly, it's a chance for our city to show that we still have that volunteer community spirit that has stood us in such great stead over the past 20 years. I hope that spirit is still alive and shows up tomorrow when our visitors stop in to see what we've got.
Decision on Further Pickton Prosecution the Right One
(Aired on August 6, 2010)
I hope to never know the agony and heartbreak that the victims of Robert Pickton have gone through. But I can empathize with the families of victims attributed to Pickton who will never get the results of a day in court. The Crown this week stayed charges against Pickton involving 20 murders.
This after the Supreme Court of Canada ruled that Pickton would not get a new trial on his second-degree murder charges in the trial of the six charges originally laid. The families of many of the victims are upset that the trials aren't going to go ahead. But the reality of it is that, as far as justice being served, it would be largely a waste of time and money.
I don't make that comment lightly. Closure in cases like this is important. But Pickton is already serving the maximum sentence imposed. It's highly unlikely he will ever see outside prison walls again. New convictions won't change anything. Most of these families know the evidence the Crown had against Pickton. They know everything. They only thing they don't have is a conviction in court. But surely justice as a whole is better served by having Crown prosecutors, police investigators and the justice system as a whole spend their time bringing other criminals to justice than by spending time on cases that will result in no change against the criminal charged. I think it makes only common sense.
We know how long it takes to get cases through the court. Would we really want to spend several months tying up the courts again, simply to have someone say Pickton is guilty of 20 more crimes than the six he's already been convicted of? I know this isn't what most of the families want. They want to see justice done in the case of their relative, not just the cases of others charged. But the Crown made the right call this week, sad to say.
I hope to never know the agony and heartbreak that the victims of Robert Pickton have gone through. But I can empathize with the families of victims attributed to Pickton who will never get the results of a day in court. The Crown this week stayed charges against Pickton involving 20 murders.
This after the Supreme Court of Canada ruled that Pickton would not get a new trial on his second-degree murder charges in the trial of the six charges originally laid. The families of many of the victims are upset that the trials aren't going to go ahead. But the reality of it is that, as far as justice being served, it would be largely a waste of time and money.
I don't make that comment lightly. Closure in cases like this is important. But Pickton is already serving the maximum sentence imposed. It's highly unlikely he will ever see outside prison walls again. New convictions won't change anything. Most of these families know the evidence the Crown had against Pickton. They know everything. They only thing they don't have is a conviction in court. But surely justice as a whole is better served by having Crown prosecutors, police investigators and the justice system as a whole spend their time bringing other criminals to justice than by spending time on cases that will result in no change against the criminal charged. I think it makes only common sense.
We know how long it takes to get cases through the court. Would we really want to spend several months tying up the courts again, simply to have someone say Pickton is guilty of 20 more crimes than the six he's already been convicted of? I know this isn't what most of the families want. They want to see justice done in the case of their relative, not just the cases of others charged. But the Crown made the right call this week, sad to say.
Air Ambulance Idea Overdue
(Aired on August 5, 2010)
A new air ambulance service will soon be in place, dedicated to helping move seriously ill patients from rural areas to hospitals in larger centres. It's an idea whose time is long overdue.
The air ambulance service has been in place before, but not, perhaps, in such a dedicated way. The service announced late last month involves transporting patients by helicopter to larger hospitals like Royal Inland. While there will be no dedicated helicopters devoted specifically to this initiative, several companies contracted by the province will be able to provide the service. They'll transport paramedics to the accident site, allow the paramedics to provide treatment, then transport the patients if necessary to trauma centres for followup.
The only real criticism I have is the fact that the government is only going to try this out for 8 weeks. If it's effective, it will become a full time deal. But I wonder how you can honestly say two months is long enough. If the summer causes more cases because more accidents happen in the summer, will that give a false reading? Would we keep the service based on false numbers? Conversely, would we deny keeping the service because the next 8 weeks are relatively slow, with many gone outside the area for holidays. A minimum of six months for any type of study is about the least we should be putting in place for a fair assessment.
I can't see the cost being overly excessive. Let's face it, if we're contracting out these companies on a per-trip basis, it can't be that huge unless there are actual cases to deal with. Let's do the survey right, and make sure it's working or not working before we make a final decision. I think that's the least we can do. Otherwise we're just paying lip service to a very valuable aid in keeping people alive.
A new air ambulance service will soon be in place, dedicated to helping move seriously ill patients from rural areas to hospitals in larger centres. It's an idea whose time is long overdue.
The air ambulance service has been in place before, but not, perhaps, in such a dedicated way. The service announced late last month involves transporting patients by helicopter to larger hospitals like Royal Inland. While there will be no dedicated helicopters devoted specifically to this initiative, several companies contracted by the province will be able to provide the service. They'll transport paramedics to the accident site, allow the paramedics to provide treatment, then transport the patients if necessary to trauma centres for followup.
The only real criticism I have is the fact that the government is only going to try this out for 8 weeks. If it's effective, it will become a full time deal. But I wonder how you can honestly say two months is long enough. If the summer causes more cases because more accidents happen in the summer, will that give a false reading? Would we keep the service based on false numbers? Conversely, would we deny keeping the service because the next 8 weeks are relatively slow, with many gone outside the area for holidays. A minimum of six months for any type of study is about the least we should be putting in place for a fair assessment.
I can't see the cost being overly excessive. Let's face it, if we're contracting out these companies on a per-trip basis, it can't be that huge unless there are actual cases to deal with. Let's do the survey right, and make sure it's working or not working before we make a final decision. I think that's the least we can do. Otherwise we're just paying lip service to a very valuable aid in keeping people alive.
Lay Off Local RCMP on Police Shooting
(Aired on August 4, 2010)
I think people are perhaps being a little too hasty in condemning our local police for not releasing information yet regarding the shooting of a man in North Kamloops last Friday night. I've seen all sorts of comments from people asking me if we had a couple of cowboys shooting up the city, if the police were holding back because they were trying to hide things. We've had them all in the past few days.
But let's put things in perspective. This is a homicide investigation. Someone died. In any homicide, there's an investigation, and in many cases, information doesn't come out in any great detail for the first few days. Police are still looking for witnesses to interview. The pieces of the puzzle certainly aren't in place yet. And because police are involved, the situation becomes even more complicated. They want to make sure every base is covered before things are released.
And the fact is, an outside police team, including forensic investigators, have been called in to make sure the investigation is transparent. But let's get one thing clear - it's Calgary's investigation. They're the ones who are putting everything together, not the Kamloops detachment. Other than securing the scene the night of the shooting, local mounties have not been involved in this investigation. People who suggest the Calgary police shouldn't be doing the talking on this are wrong. The fact is, they are the ones who should be talking, if anyone is.
I think we have to be a bit patient here. Local police have done a lot to make themselves more transparent. It wasn't very long ago that they held a news conference to come right out and say that two officers had been charged with assault in separate incidents. They're trying to be open and honest. And I, for one, am prepared to give them the benefit of the doubt. When all the facts are known and released, then let's make our judgments. It's a little early to be condemning them right now.
I think people are perhaps being a little too hasty in condemning our local police for not releasing information yet regarding the shooting of a man in North Kamloops last Friday night. I've seen all sorts of comments from people asking me if we had a couple of cowboys shooting up the city, if the police were holding back because they were trying to hide things. We've had them all in the past few days.
But let's put things in perspective. This is a homicide investigation. Someone died. In any homicide, there's an investigation, and in many cases, information doesn't come out in any great detail for the first few days. Police are still looking for witnesses to interview. The pieces of the puzzle certainly aren't in place yet. And because police are involved, the situation becomes even more complicated. They want to make sure every base is covered before things are released.
And the fact is, an outside police team, including forensic investigators, have been called in to make sure the investigation is transparent. But let's get one thing clear - it's Calgary's investigation. They're the ones who are putting everything together, not the Kamloops detachment. Other than securing the scene the night of the shooting, local mounties have not been involved in this investigation. People who suggest the Calgary police shouldn't be doing the talking on this are wrong. The fact is, they are the ones who should be talking, if anyone is.
I think we have to be a bit patient here. Local police have done a lot to make themselves more transparent. It wasn't very long ago that they held a news conference to come right out and say that two officers had been charged with assault in separate incidents. They're trying to be open and honest. And I, for one, am prepared to give them the benefit of the doubt. When all the facts are known and released, then let's make our judgments. It's a little early to be condemning them right now.
Graffiti on the Rise in Kamloops
(Aired on August 3, 2010)
The city’s graffiti problem is suddenly getting worse, and there doesn’t seem to be much going on to slow it down. Driving around the city recently, it was amazing to see how much the problem has increased in the past few months. We hear nothing from the city’s graffiti task force, whose leader, Gord Giles, passed away earlier this year. I don’t know if anyone has succeeded him yet, but the city has to get on this problem quickly. I assume from some of the places where graffiti is suddenly showing up that there must be some new taggers out there who have come to the fore.
Some of the graffiti isn’t the result of traditional taggers. It’s amateur writing that is just sprayed on by people bent on vandalism. I don’t know how you track these people down, but we have to find a way to do that. Graffiti is something that not only looks bad, it is perceived by many as a threat because, while it doesn’t amount to physical violence, it makes people uneasy about their safety, and they’re concerned when it happens in their neighbourhood.
One of the best defences against graffiti, of course, is to wipe it out and paint over it as soon as it happens. But if that isn’t done - and I don’t see much evidence that it is - then it’s like a snowball, and just grows and grows.
The city is the leader here. They have to be, because much of the problem appears on their property. They have to commit to getting rid of it, and they have to put resources in place to track down and prosecute the offenders.
People who perceive graffiti as a minor problem just don’t get it. Psychologically, both for the residents and for the attackers, it’s not good. For the residents, a sense of uneasiness, for the taggers, a sense of power that can often lead to more brazen and much more serious acts. If you get away with tagging, how long before you start stealing? There is a definite correlation. Mayor and Council need to take some initiative here. I understand tagging is more common in the summer, with the warm weather, but that doesn’t lessen the necessity for dealing with what is a very serious and expensive problem.
The city’s graffiti problem is suddenly getting worse, and there doesn’t seem to be much going on to slow it down. Driving around the city recently, it was amazing to see how much the problem has increased in the past few months. We hear nothing from the city’s graffiti task force, whose leader, Gord Giles, passed away earlier this year. I don’t know if anyone has succeeded him yet, but the city has to get on this problem quickly. I assume from some of the places where graffiti is suddenly showing up that there must be some new taggers out there who have come to the fore.
Some of the graffiti isn’t the result of traditional taggers. It’s amateur writing that is just sprayed on by people bent on vandalism. I don’t know how you track these people down, but we have to find a way to do that. Graffiti is something that not only looks bad, it is perceived by many as a threat because, while it doesn’t amount to physical violence, it makes people uneasy about their safety, and they’re concerned when it happens in their neighbourhood.
One of the best defences against graffiti, of course, is to wipe it out and paint over it as soon as it happens. But if that isn’t done - and I don’t see much evidence that it is - then it’s like a snowball, and just grows and grows.
The city is the leader here. They have to be, because much of the problem appears on their property. They have to commit to getting rid of it, and they have to put resources in place to track down and prosecute the offenders.
People who perceive graffiti as a minor problem just don’t get it. Psychologically, both for the residents and for the attackers, it’s not good. For the residents, a sense of uneasiness, for the taggers, a sense of power that can often lead to more brazen and much more serious acts. If you get away with tagging, how long before you start stealing? There is a definite correlation. Mayor and Council need to take some initiative here. I understand tagging is more common in the summer, with the warm weather, but that doesn’t lessen the necessity for dealing with what is a very serious and expensive problem.
Air Quality "Good?" Are You Kidding?
(Aired on July 30, 2010)
It seems that there's nothing wrong with the equipment, and there doesn't seem to be anything wrong with the people who work there either. So something must be wrong with the Ministry of Environment's Air Quality Health Index.
The index was at a 3 in Kamloops for most of the day today, on a scale of 1 to 10. That means the index has determined the air quality in Kamloops is "good." Yet in the time it took me to walk from my car in the parking lot to my desk inside the building, my eyes began burning. Thankfully, I have a fairly robust respiratory system. Others who don't are suffering today.
If you judged the air quality based on the index, though, you'd think it was all good. People like me are in a good state of general health are told that this is "ideal air quality for outdoor activities." And the at-risk population is encouraged to enjoy life in the great outdoors as usual. Yet when you step outside, it looks like a cloudy day when there are no clouds, and it smells like an ashtray.
So there is likely no one who is taking the Air Quality Health Index seriously. If that's the case, the system needs to be revamped. If it's not, the Air Quality Health Index will soon lose all credibility and rendered completely obsolete.
It seems that there's nothing wrong with the equipment, and there doesn't seem to be anything wrong with the people who work there either. So something must be wrong with the Ministry of Environment's Air Quality Health Index.
The index was at a 3 in Kamloops for most of the day today, on a scale of 1 to 10. That means the index has determined the air quality in Kamloops is "good." Yet in the time it took me to walk from my car in the parking lot to my desk inside the building, my eyes began burning. Thankfully, I have a fairly robust respiratory system. Others who don't are suffering today.
If you judged the air quality based on the index, though, you'd think it was all good. People like me are in a good state of general health are told that this is "ideal air quality for outdoor activities." And the at-risk population is encouraged to enjoy life in the great outdoors as usual. Yet when you step outside, it looks like a cloudy day when there are no clouds, and it smells like an ashtray.
So there is likely no one who is taking the Air Quality Health Index seriously. If that's the case, the system needs to be revamped. If it's not, the Air Quality Health Index will soon lose all credibility and rendered completely obsolete.
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