(Aired on June 8, 2010)
Sometimes things happen that make you wonder... why? The case of a 17-year old California teen who fell from the Capilano suspension bridge on the weekend, has everyone in shock. The sad part is that the tragedy seems totally unrelated to the safety of the structure. What went through the teen's mind, what kind of activity was happening when he fell 30 meters to his death, we will likely never know. His fellow students aren't saying much. Safety was not an issue. That bridge has strong, high fences. It would have taken something out of the ordinary to make that happen. Oftentimes when you have accidents of this nature, someone is claiming that safety is a factor. It doesn't appear that way here.
Teenagers often think they're invincible. That's one of the reasons they pay higher driving insurance premiums and get into more accidents. They take more chances. They do more goofy things. I remember doing a lot of that kind of thing. How I didn't do something more serious, I'll never know.
If nothing else, this tragedy goes to show us that the best-laid plans can go astray. We don't know what happened in Vancouver. We do know that something unexpected must have occurred. A young man's life was lost. An unnecessary risk? Perhaps. Accidents do happen. But if indeed this could have been prevented, we need to use this as an educational tool to show others the dangers that just a slight mistake can happen. If we saved just one other person from taking an unnecessary risk, it will have been worth the effort.
Wednesday, June 9, 2010
Tuesday, June 8, 2010
Performing Arts Centre Should be Top Priority for Kamloops
(Aired on June 7, 2010)
What a welcome relief to hear someone say something positive about the Arts. Councillor John O'Fee suggesting this morning that a new Performing Arts Centre should be high on the list of projects for the city to consider. Such a centre would go a long way to attracting more artists here, and it would definitely be an attraction when people are coming to the city to live. When you survey professionals who are considering moving, one of the major factors is the amenities. We have some great amenities in Kamloops, but we can certainly do more in certain areas. Music and theatre are big attractions to professionals.
What form a new Centre might take is up for debate. When I was on the Arts Commission a few years back, one of the big discussion points was the need for a space seating somewhere between 300 and 400 people. A space kind of like the Pavilion Theatre, but properly designed for performance. Pavilion is a great space, but it's not designed for concerts and the like.
Most people know me as a big fan of the arts. Long before my kids became known for their artistic work, I was heavily into the performing arts areas. I grew up backstage listening to many of the big groups of the 50's and 60's because my dad was involved in that field for a time. I could see the value of the arts even then. While some feel the arts play a secondary role to other critical needs, they nevertheless have a big role to play, and they can't be hung out to dry like the provincial Liberals are doing.
I agree with Councillor O'Fee that a new Centre is a big priority for our city. We're working on new recreational amenities like a new bike path, and slo-pitch city and upgrading McArthur Island. I think it's time we moved the arts a little higher up on our priority list.
What a welcome relief to hear someone say something positive about the Arts. Councillor John O'Fee suggesting this morning that a new Performing Arts Centre should be high on the list of projects for the city to consider. Such a centre would go a long way to attracting more artists here, and it would definitely be an attraction when people are coming to the city to live. When you survey professionals who are considering moving, one of the major factors is the amenities. We have some great amenities in Kamloops, but we can certainly do more in certain areas. Music and theatre are big attractions to professionals.
What form a new Centre might take is up for debate. When I was on the Arts Commission a few years back, one of the big discussion points was the need for a space seating somewhere between 300 and 400 people. A space kind of like the Pavilion Theatre, but properly designed for performance. Pavilion is a great space, but it's not designed for concerts and the like.
Most people know me as a big fan of the arts. Long before my kids became known for their artistic work, I was heavily into the performing arts areas. I grew up backstage listening to many of the big groups of the 50's and 60's because my dad was involved in that field for a time. I could see the value of the arts even then. While some feel the arts play a secondary role to other critical needs, they nevertheless have a big role to play, and they can't be hung out to dry like the provincial Liberals are doing.
I agree with Councillor O'Fee that a new Centre is a big priority for our city. We're working on new recreational amenities like a new bike path, and slo-pitch city and upgrading McArthur Island. I think it's time we moved the arts a little higher up on our priority list.
Monday, June 7, 2010
Don't Write BC Liberals Off Too Quickly
(Aired on June 4, 2010)
Yesterday, Doug Collins tried to convince you that the BC Liberals are doomed when the next election comes around in 2013. He said their gaffes are piling up to the point of absurdity. While I agree with the latter statement, I cannot agree with the former.
The Liberals are not doing themselves any favours these days. Cuts to funding are going deep and to the wrong services, MLAs are showing remarkable flexibility in being able to put their feet in their mouths while having their heads buried somewhere else. The Kash Heed scandal was a major gong show, and the jewel in the crown of shame for British Columbians is the Harmonized Sales Tax.
But let's remember, the election will not take place tomorrow, this fall, or even next year. By the time we go to the polls, much - not all - but much will be forgotten. And as I have said before, for the Liberals to fall, they have to have some decent competition. The New Democrats have yet to show they can provide that.
All you have to do is look at the federal scene to see this principle in action. The federal Conservatives are in power simply because they're the least of the evils in most Canadians' eyes. Their competition, the federal Liberals specifically, haven't convinced the public that they are any competition whatsoever. I'm not willing to predict victory or defeat for either party when the next provincial election campaign. There's a long time before 2013, and there's a lot more than can go right, or wrong, before then.
Yesterday, Doug Collins tried to convince you that the BC Liberals are doomed when the next election comes around in 2013. He said their gaffes are piling up to the point of absurdity. While I agree with the latter statement, I cannot agree with the former.
The Liberals are not doing themselves any favours these days. Cuts to funding are going deep and to the wrong services, MLAs are showing remarkable flexibility in being able to put their feet in their mouths while having their heads buried somewhere else. The Kash Heed scandal was a major gong show, and the jewel in the crown of shame for British Columbians is the Harmonized Sales Tax.
But let's remember, the election will not take place tomorrow, this fall, or even next year. By the time we go to the polls, much - not all - but much will be forgotten. And as I have said before, for the Liberals to fall, they have to have some decent competition. The New Democrats have yet to show they can provide that.
All you have to do is look at the federal scene to see this principle in action. The federal Conservatives are in power simply because they're the least of the evils in most Canadians' eyes. Their competition, the federal Liberals specifically, haven't convinced the public that they are any competition whatsoever. I'm not willing to predict victory or defeat for either party when the next provincial election campaign. There's a long time before 2013, and there's a lot more than can go right, or wrong, before then.
Friday, June 4, 2010
BC Liberals Self Destructing
(Aired on June 3, 2010)
The B.C. Liberals continue to wind their way to self-destruction. It's hard to imagine circumstances that will prevent the Liberals from either losing the next election, or at the very best, holding on to a minority.
Let's look at a few of the things just in the last few weeks that have caught the public's attention. We already know about the HST, and whether it's a good thing or not, the end result of the petition initiative will be that the Liberals will do nothing. It may be the right decision to do nothing, that's another story, but the perception among the public is that the government doesn't care. We have the "let them eat cake approach" to school funding and health care. Again, editorials we've done before. This week, arts groups find out they're going to be hit hard again, losing funding that they were promised just weeks ago. Again, the government hitting out at groups that desperately need help. This week, a new group is formed to try to keep sports and arts programs alive in schools. These programs again decimated by the province. The Liberals continue to push Ottawa to again permit offshore drilling, even in the face of what's going on in the Gulf of Mexico. How stupid a move is that? What's next?
If I were interested in politics, it would be a good time to put my hat in the ring to run for the NDP. I don't think even the Premier is safe.
Now of course, we still have three years to go before the next election, and the Liberals are banking heavily on that to change their fortunes. They're going to count on a resurging economy, and hopefully a reduction in the deficit to allow them to spend money leading up to the vote in May of 2013. Whether the NDP can capitalize on the government's miscues remains to be seen. If they can, look for major changes in Victoria three years down the road.
The B.C. Liberals continue to wind their way to self-destruction. It's hard to imagine circumstances that will prevent the Liberals from either losing the next election, or at the very best, holding on to a minority.
Let's look at a few of the things just in the last few weeks that have caught the public's attention. We already know about the HST, and whether it's a good thing or not, the end result of the petition initiative will be that the Liberals will do nothing. It may be the right decision to do nothing, that's another story, but the perception among the public is that the government doesn't care. We have the "let them eat cake approach" to school funding and health care. Again, editorials we've done before. This week, arts groups find out they're going to be hit hard again, losing funding that they were promised just weeks ago. Again, the government hitting out at groups that desperately need help. This week, a new group is formed to try to keep sports and arts programs alive in schools. These programs again decimated by the province. The Liberals continue to push Ottawa to again permit offshore drilling, even in the face of what's going on in the Gulf of Mexico. How stupid a move is that? What's next?
If I were interested in politics, it would be a good time to put my hat in the ring to run for the NDP. I don't think even the Premier is safe.
Now of course, we still have three years to go before the next election, and the Liberals are banking heavily on that to change their fortunes. They're going to count on a resurging economy, and hopefully a reduction in the deficit to allow them to spend money leading up to the vote in May of 2013. Whether the NDP can capitalize on the government's miscues remains to be seen. If they can, look for major changes in Victoria three years down the road.
Thursday, June 3, 2010
RIH Saboteur No Prophet
(Aired on June 2, 2010)
The fact that police haven't caught the person who deliberately sabotaged surgical tools at Royal Inland Hospital is unfortunate for several different reasons. First, the crime itself is serious. Had the tools made their way into the surgical theatre, they could have caused an infection. That infection could have had serious health consequences for the patient. Of course, the likelihood of that actually happening is extremely remote.
But maybe the more disappointing aspect of the story is that the person who did this is probably thinking that the point was made without any consequences. It's clear that this was done to make a point. Maybe about access to the central sterilization department or maybe about the failure to replace archaic equipment. It doesn't really matter, because there is a way to make a point, and there is a way not to make a point. RCMP and hospital authorities refuse to disclose how the tools were contaminated, presumably because whatever happened would have reinforced the culprit's objective. Credit to the police for doing that because now the point is lost in the method of delivery. All we know is that it was a criminal act that theoretically could have caused serious harm.
It looks like the culprit here has essentially gotten away with sabotaging surgical equipment. If anything can temper the disappointment, it's that the person responsible looks less like a protester or a prophet and more like a pinhead.
The fact that police haven't caught the person who deliberately sabotaged surgical tools at Royal Inland Hospital is unfortunate for several different reasons. First, the crime itself is serious. Had the tools made their way into the surgical theatre, they could have caused an infection. That infection could have had serious health consequences for the patient. Of course, the likelihood of that actually happening is extremely remote.
But maybe the more disappointing aspect of the story is that the person who did this is probably thinking that the point was made without any consequences. It's clear that this was done to make a point. Maybe about access to the central sterilization department or maybe about the failure to replace archaic equipment. It doesn't really matter, because there is a way to make a point, and there is a way not to make a point. RCMP and hospital authorities refuse to disclose how the tools were contaminated, presumably because whatever happened would have reinforced the culprit's objective. Credit to the police for doing that because now the point is lost in the method of delivery. All we know is that it was a criminal act that theoretically could have caused serious harm.
It looks like the culprit here has essentially gotten away with sabotaging surgical equipment. If anything can temper the disappointment, it's that the person responsible looks less like a protester or a prophet and more like a pinhead.
Wednesday, June 2, 2010
Too Soon to Raise Interest Rates?
(Aired on June 1, 2010)
The move was not unexpected, but the Bank of Canada is treading on very dangerous ground in moving the interest rate up substantially this morning. The rate jumped from 0.25% to 0.5%, likely the first of several moves to get the rates up from the rock bottom levels set last year. The drop in rates in 2009 was designed to help stimulate the economy. There are signs the economy is starting to bounce back, but in raising the rates, the Bank of Canada is counting on the fact that the economy will continue to rise.
The question is - did they make the move too soon? Are we really far enough into a comeback to be able to raise the rates? The world economy is still on very shaky ground. The stock markets have not rebounded to previous levels. Europe's unfolding debt crisis has shaken expectations of a global rebound. And since we are tied so much to world markets, are we assuming too much in raising our rates?
And let's not forget the impact on the local economy. Those interested in going to the banks to raise money to get back on track will have more trouble with higher borrowing rates. Young people trying to get into the housing market will certainly be affected. While the rates are still pretty low, and there may be some truth to the fact that there is still room for lots of stimulus, the move is still risky given all the criteria.
I don't think you'll find many takers on the streets of any city in our viewing area who feel the economy has bounced back to the point where such a risk is worth taking. Let's hope Bank of Canada Governor Mark Carney doesn't regret his actions a few months down the road.
The move was not unexpected, but the Bank of Canada is treading on very dangerous ground in moving the interest rate up substantially this morning. The rate jumped from 0.25% to 0.5%, likely the first of several moves to get the rates up from the rock bottom levels set last year. The drop in rates in 2009 was designed to help stimulate the economy. There are signs the economy is starting to bounce back, but in raising the rates, the Bank of Canada is counting on the fact that the economy will continue to rise.
The question is - did they make the move too soon? Are we really far enough into a comeback to be able to raise the rates? The world economy is still on very shaky ground. The stock markets have not rebounded to previous levels. Europe's unfolding debt crisis has shaken expectations of a global rebound. And since we are tied so much to world markets, are we assuming too much in raising our rates?
And let's not forget the impact on the local economy. Those interested in going to the banks to raise money to get back on track will have more trouble with higher borrowing rates. Young people trying to get into the housing market will certainly be affected. While the rates are still pretty low, and there may be some truth to the fact that there is still room for lots of stimulus, the move is still risky given all the criteria.
I don't think you'll find many takers on the streets of any city in our viewing area who feel the economy has bounced back to the point where such a risk is worth taking. Let's hope Bank of Canada Governor Mark Carney doesn't regret his actions a few months down the road.
Tuesday, June 1, 2010
Hounding the Dealers that Dog Our City
(Aired on May 31, 2010)
When RCMP Inspector Yves Lacasse made a comment a few months back that a particular North Shore property was going to become his "personal project" in an attempt to clean up the neighbourhood, there were many people extremely happy that the police were making a crackdown on a property that was the scene of many problems relating to drug and alcohol abuse and trafficking. I don't know where Yves' mission stands right now, but I hope it's ongoing. In fact, I would recommend that other officers take on "personal projects" of their own.
Residents of another North Shore neighbourhood are up in arms about the high number of drug complaints in an area around Hilltop Avenue and Clapperton. Residents say police are always on the scene there, trying to deal with a number of complaints. And maybe this is another area that should be looked at. Maybe we should be hounding these drug dealers until they eventually get the message, if that indeed is possible. But at least hounding them incessantly will curb some of the use of drugs in those neighbourhood.
Unfortunately, it's not only the high crime areas that need attention. Even areas of the city which have low crime rates have pockets where police are constantly surveilling homes to find out who is dealing and who the customers are. It's a sad part of the increasingly prolific volume of trafficking that goes on. Years ago, police knew all the dealers and most of the customers, but the numbers are growing by leaps and bounds, as more and more people get involved in the gangs that control the drug trade, and those who get addicted. Police resources are slim, and unfortunately, taking on areas as "personal projects" are not going to be the norm.
While police can work at ridding certain neighbourhoods of some of the problem, it won't be entirely eliminated. As people are put behind bars, more people start to get involved. It's a vicious circle. Police are doing their best, but it's a never-ending task, and one that, unfortunately, is going to be tough to eliminate.
When RCMP Inspector Yves Lacasse made a comment a few months back that a particular North Shore property was going to become his "personal project" in an attempt to clean up the neighbourhood, there were many people extremely happy that the police were making a crackdown on a property that was the scene of many problems relating to drug and alcohol abuse and trafficking. I don't know where Yves' mission stands right now, but I hope it's ongoing. In fact, I would recommend that other officers take on "personal projects" of their own.
Residents of another North Shore neighbourhood are up in arms about the high number of drug complaints in an area around Hilltop Avenue and Clapperton. Residents say police are always on the scene there, trying to deal with a number of complaints. And maybe this is another area that should be looked at. Maybe we should be hounding these drug dealers until they eventually get the message, if that indeed is possible. But at least hounding them incessantly will curb some of the use of drugs in those neighbourhood.
Unfortunately, it's not only the high crime areas that need attention. Even areas of the city which have low crime rates have pockets where police are constantly surveilling homes to find out who is dealing and who the customers are. It's a sad part of the increasingly prolific volume of trafficking that goes on. Years ago, police knew all the dealers and most of the customers, but the numbers are growing by leaps and bounds, as more and more people get involved in the gangs that control the drug trade, and those who get addicted. Police resources are slim, and unfortunately, taking on areas as "personal projects" are not going to be the norm.
While police can work at ridding certain neighbourhoods of some of the problem, it won't be entirely eliminated. As people are put behind bars, more people start to get involved. It's a vicious circle. Police are doing their best, but it's a never-ending task, and one that, unfortunately, is going to be tough to eliminate.
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