(Aired on October 6, 2010)
Doug Sage seems confident. Me, not so much.
I was speaking with Sage today about the former Rendezvous Hotel, soon to be called Emerald Centre. You may recall the property was purchased by the province earlier this year, with the promise that it would be turned into a homeless shelter, jointly run by ASK Wellness and Canadian Mental Health. Sage, who runs CMHA locally, says the estimate on how much it will cost to renovate the property has risen by about $1.5-million. The local organizations have to go back to BC Housing with open hands hoping that the government will pony up the dough.
As I said before, Sage is confident. He says he knows that times are tight, and the government is not handing out money very easily these days. If you listen to him, though, the province is committed to this project. Any hesitation to hand over the money will only result in a delay in project completion, not a complete cancellation.
I'm much more reluctant. I know the Campbell Liberals need to win some popularity points right now, and funding social projects is always a good way to do that. But it's my thinking they'd rather do that on the right, by yanking the reins on spending and getting BC out of deficit as soon as possible, than on the left by spending more. For the sake of the homeless in Kamloops, I hope I'm wrong.
Sage is certainly right about one thing, he says as long as people are forced to stay in shelters rather than their own housing, the fight must continue. In that fight, he will soon find out whether the province is foe or ally.
Showing posts with label provincial government. Show all posts
Showing posts with label provincial government. Show all posts
Thursday, October 7, 2010
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
Tougher Drunk Driving Laws Long Overdue
(Aired on September 20, 2010)
British Columbia now has the toughest drunk driving laws in Canada. Starting today, it's going to be easier for law enforcement officials to take away your car, slap you with a fine and take away your driving privileges. Not only for the drivers who are over .08, but there's a new "warning" category, where you can lose your licence for three days and pay a fine to boot. Over .08, penalties are even stiffer. You could get a 90 day driving ban. And speeders caught doing more than 40 clicks over the speed limit will be affected too, getting their vehicles impounded for a week with escalating penalties for subsequent offences.
It's about time. It's also good that refusing to take a breathalyzer test at the scene is no longer a way out. The penalty is immediate. It will make all of us think twice, not only those who drink more heavily, but even those of us who are more social drinkers. Speed and alcohol are contributors to so many accidents that it's about time we tried to take steps to curb the problem. And the Liberal government, who have been criticized on so many fronts recently, deserve to take some credit for this latest initiative. It's long overdue and hopefully will serve as a model for other provinces to follow.
The only problem I see is having the police resources to enforce these laws. We actually catch very few problem drivers. Our resources don't provide for the traffic checks we need to enforce these laws. We'll certainly do a better job than before even with the resources we have now, but we will almost certainly only catch a small percentage of offenders unless we put enough officers in place to really do an effective job. That might be a little longer in coming. But at least we've made a start, and hopefully we'll get people thinking before they become idiots on the road.
British Columbia now has the toughest drunk driving laws in Canada. Starting today, it's going to be easier for law enforcement officials to take away your car, slap you with a fine and take away your driving privileges. Not only for the drivers who are over .08, but there's a new "warning" category, where you can lose your licence for three days and pay a fine to boot. Over .08, penalties are even stiffer. You could get a 90 day driving ban. And speeders caught doing more than 40 clicks over the speed limit will be affected too, getting their vehicles impounded for a week with escalating penalties for subsequent offences.
It's about time. It's also good that refusing to take a breathalyzer test at the scene is no longer a way out. The penalty is immediate. It will make all of us think twice, not only those who drink more heavily, but even those of us who are more social drinkers. Speed and alcohol are contributors to so many accidents that it's about time we tried to take steps to curb the problem. And the Liberal government, who have been criticized on so many fronts recently, deserve to take some credit for this latest initiative. It's long overdue and hopefully will serve as a model for other provinces to follow.
The only problem I see is having the police resources to enforce these laws. We actually catch very few problem drivers. Our resources don't provide for the traffic checks we need to enforce these laws. We'll certainly do a better job than before even with the resources we have now, but we will almost certainly only catch a small percentage of offenders unless we put enough officers in place to really do an effective job. That might be a little longer in coming. But at least we've made a start, and hopefully we'll get people thinking before they become idiots on the road.
Thursday, September 16, 2010
Can Advertising Change Our Minds on HST?
(Aired on September 15, 2010)
Advertising works. It's a slogan that has kept my industry afloat through some pretty tough times. But we'll see just how well advertising works in the next year.
A year from now, British Columbians will go to the polls to show their feelings on the Harmonized Sales Tax. If the referendum was to be held today, the results would likely be very ominous for the Liberal government. And as TRU Political Studies professor Ray Pillar said yesterday, the referendum will foreshadow the next provincial election.
But who knows how we'll all feel about the HST in a year's time. During that interval, the Campbell government and their big business friends will likely want to max out on advertising the benefits of the HST. There will surely be spending limits placed on direct advertising, but there are always ways in which special interest groups can skirt those rules. You can count on being blitzed with propaganda.
But the anti-HST crowd has a bit of an advantage. While money must be spent to explain the benefits of certain tax policy, no money will need to be spent to convince the public that politicians are shady and coniving. It's an instinct probably all of us have. The government will be successful if it can shift attention away from how it sprung the HST on an unsuspecting public, and onto the benefits of a particular tax policy. If the debate focuses on cynical politics, however, I'm afraid the HST - and the Liberal government in turn - will be sunk.
Advertising works. It's a slogan that has kept my industry afloat through some pretty tough times. But we'll see just how well advertising works in the next year.
A year from now, British Columbians will go to the polls to show their feelings on the Harmonized Sales Tax. If the referendum was to be held today, the results would likely be very ominous for the Liberal government. And as TRU Political Studies professor Ray Pillar said yesterday, the referendum will foreshadow the next provincial election.
But who knows how we'll all feel about the HST in a year's time. During that interval, the Campbell government and their big business friends will likely want to max out on advertising the benefits of the HST. There will surely be spending limits placed on direct advertising, but there are always ways in which special interest groups can skirt those rules. You can count on being blitzed with propaganda.
But the anti-HST crowd has a bit of an advantage. While money must be spent to explain the benefits of certain tax policy, no money will need to be spent to convince the public that politicians are shady and coniving. It's an instinct probably all of us have. The government will be successful if it can shift attention away from how it sprung the HST on an unsuspecting public, and onto the benefits of a particular tax policy. If the debate focuses on cynical politics, however, I'm afraid the HST - and the Liberal government in turn - will be sunk.
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
Must Be an Effort to Protect Our Agricultural Land
(Aired on September 13, 2010)
Perhaps a new report out this week will finally address one of the critical problems facing us these days - trying to keep prime agricultural land from being developed in the face of increasing pressure from developers. There is a huge glut of land that is totally useful for housing, except that it may require a bit more challenge to develop. So developers want to use the best ranch land and the best arable land to develop because, for the most part, it's flat, and takes less money to put houses and condos on it than land which may be on a hillside or may not be the best to grow crops.
This new report from Auditor General John Doyle says the Agricultural Land Commission doesn't have enough staff or enforcement tools to protect land that is in the reserve. And he adds the agency doesn't have enough information to properly evaluate the results of its decision. The ALR has been under pressure for years from developers who want to continue to spread out development as opposed to trying to going to the European style, keeping green spaces while making smaller houses, and more flats and apartments. If you examine how much prime land has been destroyed around this country's largest cities, you can see how this problem is going to grow.
The ALR was a great idea, and has since been the subject of many attempts to destroy it. There have been times when I have disagreed with the ALR, but the idea of having some control over the rampant destruction of farmland is important to the lifestyle of generations to come. I don't know how many times I have heard how we'll be able to grown more on less space as technology improves, that hasn't happened. Sooner or later, it will come back to bite us, and any preventive action we take now will only benefit us down the road.
Perhaps a new report out this week will finally address one of the critical problems facing us these days - trying to keep prime agricultural land from being developed in the face of increasing pressure from developers. There is a huge glut of land that is totally useful for housing, except that it may require a bit more challenge to develop. So developers want to use the best ranch land and the best arable land to develop because, for the most part, it's flat, and takes less money to put houses and condos on it than land which may be on a hillside or may not be the best to grow crops.
This new report from Auditor General John Doyle says the Agricultural Land Commission doesn't have enough staff or enforcement tools to protect land that is in the reserve. And he adds the agency doesn't have enough information to properly evaluate the results of its decision. The ALR has been under pressure for years from developers who want to continue to spread out development as opposed to trying to going to the European style, keeping green spaces while making smaller houses, and more flats and apartments. If you examine how much prime land has been destroyed around this country's largest cities, you can see how this problem is going to grow.
The ALR was a great idea, and has since been the subject of many attempts to destroy it. There have been times when I have disagreed with the ALR, but the idea of having some control over the rampant destruction of farmland is important to the lifestyle of generations to come. I don't know how many times I have heard how we'll be able to grown more on less space as technology improves, that hasn't happened. Sooner or later, it will come back to bite us, and any preventive action we take now will only benefit us down the road.
Monday, September 13, 2010
Why Should Campbell Resign Now?
(Aired on September 10, 2010)
The timing for this cry for Gordon Campbell's head is a little odd right now. We've known about the Harmonized Sales Tax for a while now. And ever since the surprise announcement last summer that the tax was happening, the call for Campbell to step down or retire has been a general dull roar. Cabinet minister Blair Lekstrom resigned, but other than that, the level of discontent inside the Liberal circle has been minimal. Now, however, it's starting to snowball. Donna Barnett's former riding association executive secretary is the latest to add his voice the choir.
But once again, it's the timing that is a bit confusing. The height of the HST deception happened when the tax was announced, just a few months after Finance Minister Colin Hansen swore up and down that it wasn't being considered. The feeling of betrayal by the party rank and file should have been at its zenith in the weeks following that epic flip-flop.
Today, the HST has taken effect. There is still anger over the tax, but at the very least, a legislative committee is looking into the initiative petition opposing the HST is meeting now. It will force action on the tax, whether that's by asking MLAs, or by asking all British Columbians. The end result - somewhere a long way down the line - could result in the HST being lifted. Campbell is at the point now where his party will live or die in spite of him, not because of him. For so-called Liberal insiders to be coming out of the woodwork now, calling for Campbell's head, smacks of pure opportunism.
If it was up to me, the exact moment Gordon Campbell should have resigned was in January of 2003, when he was arrested for drunk driving in Maui. If you ask me, that's a more heinous offense than changing tax policy.
The timing for this cry for Gordon Campbell's head is a little odd right now. We've known about the Harmonized Sales Tax for a while now. And ever since the surprise announcement last summer that the tax was happening, the call for Campbell to step down or retire has been a general dull roar. Cabinet minister Blair Lekstrom resigned, but other than that, the level of discontent inside the Liberal circle has been minimal. Now, however, it's starting to snowball. Donna Barnett's former riding association executive secretary is the latest to add his voice the choir.
But once again, it's the timing that is a bit confusing. The height of the HST deception happened when the tax was announced, just a few months after Finance Minister Colin Hansen swore up and down that it wasn't being considered. The feeling of betrayal by the party rank and file should have been at its zenith in the weeks following that epic flip-flop.
Today, the HST has taken effect. There is still anger over the tax, but at the very least, a legislative committee is looking into the initiative petition opposing the HST is meeting now. It will force action on the tax, whether that's by asking MLAs, or by asking all British Columbians. The end result - somewhere a long way down the line - could result in the HST being lifted. Campbell is at the point now where his party will live or die in spite of him, not because of him. For so-called Liberal insiders to be coming out of the woodwork now, calling for Campbell's head, smacks of pure opportunism.
If it was up to me, the exact moment Gordon Campbell should have resigned was in January of 2003, when he was arrested for drunk driving in Maui. If you ask me, that's a more heinous offense than changing tax policy.
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
Hard to Trust Politicians After HST Revelation
(Aired on September 2, 2010)
It's hard to believe now that the B.C. government, or at least the Minister of Finance, didn't have some advance knowledge of the HST before last year's provincial election. It's no wonder politicians are so low on the list of people most trusted by the public. So much damage control, so much double talk it's so hard to know who, if anyone, you can believe.
New information out shows that bureaucrats in the finance ministry were preparing briefing notes for Finance Minister Colin Hansen well before last year's election campaign. This contrasts directly with government statements that the government didn't start discussing the issue until much later.
While the information shows Hansen may not have pushed the tax heavily until after the election, it's hard to imagine that he had absolutely no knowledge of what people under his control were doing. Hansen says he didn't ask for the research to be done, and staff were doing it on their own. Hansen says they were just doing their job researching tax policy and weren't taking any direction from the Liberals. If that's true, then Hansen wasn't doing his job. If the Minister doesn't know what his bureaucrats are doing, he isn't doing his job keeping track of what's happening in his department. And I find that really hard to stomach. If that's the case, Hansen should be turfed for incompetence.
Either way, the government comes out the loser, and we lose even more faith in our politicians. I've been around this game a long time, and I often try to think back to when we really started to lose faith in our elected officials. Was it Watergate that started it all? Or were there times before that when government scandals rocked our senses? Whenever it started, it seems to have ballooned to alarming proportions. And now it doesn't matter what government says, we have our doubts about their sincerity, their honesty and integrity. And that's a very sad state of affairs.
It's hard to believe now that the B.C. government, or at least the Minister of Finance, didn't have some advance knowledge of the HST before last year's provincial election. It's no wonder politicians are so low on the list of people most trusted by the public. So much damage control, so much double talk it's so hard to know who, if anyone, you can believe.
New information out shows that bureaucrats in the finance ministry were preparing briefing notes for Finance Minister Colin Hansen well before last year's election campaign. This contrasts directly with government statements that the government didn't start discussing the issue until much later.
While the information shows Hansen may not have pushed the tax heavily until after the election, it's hard to imagine that he had absolutely no knowledge of what people under his control were doing. Hansen says he didn't ask for the research to be done, and staff were doing it on their own. Hansen says they were just doing their job researching tax policy and weren't taking any direction from the Liberals. If that's true, then Hansen wasn't doing his job. If the Minister doesn't know what his bureaucrats are doing, he isn't doing his job keeping track of what's happening in his department. And I find that really hard to stomach. If that's the case, Hansen should be turfed for incompetence.
Either way, the government comes out the loser, and we lose even more faith in our politicians. I've been around this game a long time, and I often try to think back to when we really started to lose faith in our elected officials. Was it Watergate that started it all? Or were there times before that when government scandals rocked our senses? Whenever it started, it seems to have ballooned to alarming proportions. And now it doesn't matter what government says, we have our doubts about their sincerity, their honesty and integrity. And that's a very sad state of affairs.
Wednesday, September 1, 2010
Krueger's Arts Tenure a Disaster
(Aired on August 30, 2010)
Kevin Krueger's run as Minister of Arts and Culture hasn't had much of a positive run so far. In fact, you could safely say it's been an unmitigated disaster. When Krueger took over the portfolio, I thought that, based on his previous commitment to arts and cultural activities that we would have an advocate to promote the arts and improve their lot in life.
Arts, as you know, often is the first cut when governments decide to slash. They mistakenly think cutting the arts won't be noticed and doesn't do a whole lot of harm. As we know, they've been proved wrong. Government has cut gaming money to arts groups, cut regular grant programs and generally left the arts community in shambles. So much so that the head of the B.C. Arts Council has resigned in protest. And Krueger has been strangely silent. He seldom returns our phone calls, he seldom has anything concrete to say, except to spout the Liberal line that the Liberals have put more money into the arts than the NDP did. Kevin has to stop spouting that line. It's old. And what the NDP did years ago has no real bearing on what the government is doing now.
A vibrant arts community is important to the health of any city, town or village. And funding has to be maintained in order for those communities to survive. When communities don't have a consistent source of funding, and know what they're getting year to year, they can't move forward. They can't put on productions, hire staff, because they don't know if they will have the funds to do so. While education and health are absolutely critical, and health particularly is in dire straits, government can't ignore other things that help us maintain a healthy lifestyle, and arts and culture play a major role in a healthy community.
Kevin and the Liberals are strangely silent on what will become an issue, for sure, in the next election. And while the Liberals generally feel that Kamloops-South Thompson is a safe Liberal riding, many of those in Krueger's riding are people who appreciate what arts and culture do in a city like Kamloops, and they may not forget that in May of 2013.
Kevin Krueger's run as Minister of Arts and Culture hasn't had much of a positive run so far. In fact, you could safely say it's been an unmitigated disaster. When Krueger took over the portfolio, I thought that, based on his previous commitment to arts and cultural activities that we would have an advocate to promote the arts and improve their lot in life.
Arts, as you know, often is the first cut when governments decide to slash. They mistakenly think cutting the arts won't be noticed and doesn't do a whole lot of harm. As we know, they've been proved wrong. Government has cut gaming money to arts groups, cut regular grant programs and generally left the arts community in shambles. So much so that the head of the B.C. Arts Council has resigned in protest. And Krueger has been strangely silent. He seldom returns our phone calls, he seldom has anything concrete to say, except to spout the Liberal line that the Liberals have put more money into the arts than the NDP did. Kevin has to stop spouting that line. It's old. And what the NDP did years ago has no real bearing on what the government is doing now.
A vibrant arts community is important to the health of any city, town or village. And funding has to be maintained in order for those communities to survive. When communities don't have a consistent source of funding, and know what they're getting year to year, they can't move forward. They can't put on productions, hire staff, because they don't know if they will have the funds to do so. While education and health are absolutely critical, and health particularly is in dire straits, government can't ignore other things that help us maintain a healthy lifestyle, and arts and culture play a major role in a healthy community.
Kevin and the Liberals are strangely silent on what will become an issue, for sure, in the next election. And while the Liberals generally feel that Kamloops-South Thompson is a safe Liberal riding, many of those in Krueger's riding are people who appreciate what arts and culture do in a city like Kamloops, and they may not forget that in May of 2013.
Monday, August 30, 2010
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.
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.
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.
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
Changes to Family Law Act Bring it Into the 21st Century
(Aired on July 20, 2010)
It's certainly about time that B.C. Family Law Act was revamped to take it out of the Stone Age. Many of the measures introduced yesterday will go a long way to solving family difficulties. One of the biggest changes will change the way property is divided in common law relationships. Living together outside of marriage will have much more definable boundaries. Another area will bring same-sex marriages under the Act with respect to determining who the legal parent is. The thrust is to make the law more realistic given the changing nature of marriage and family relationships.
The Act hasn't been changed in 30 years, but relationships sure have. The courts will now not be the only primary source of resolving disputes. There will be much more emphasis placed on mediation and a broader range of non-court dispute resolution options. Less adversarial terminology is being advocated.
But in making all these changes, let's continue to remember that family disputes are just that - dispute, and in most cases they are adversarial in nature. When couples split up, the issue of property, of access rights to children, all take on a highly explosive role, and just changing things on paper doesn't mean the changes will make their way down the line when people are arguing over which days a parent gets access to children.
I have watched with increasing sadness the number of children torn apart by their parents splitting up. By having one parent in Trail, another in Kitimat, and the child having to split time with both parents, going to school in two cities, and so on. The split is bad enough, but the way courts rule in many of these cases is just plain stupid. So with the rewriting of the act has to come a new approach, new points of reference. If the child's interests are going to be paramount, as the new act states, a whole lot of people behind the bench, a whole lot of people in Family Services and a whole lot of support services personnel have to change the way they think too. Otherwise, all the work put into the changes will be just a waste of time.
It's certainly about time that B.C. Family Law Act was revamped to take it out of the Stone Age. Many of the measures introduced yesterday will go a long way to solving family difficulties. One of the biggest changes will change the way property is divided in common law relationships. Living together outside of marriage will have much more definable boundaries. Another area will bring same-sex marriages under the Act with respect to determining who the legal parent is. The thrust is to make the law more realistic given the changing nature of marriage and family relationships.
The Act hasn't been changed in 30 years, but relationships sure have. The courts will now not be the only primary source of resolving disputes. There will be much more emphasis placed on mediation and a broader range of non-court dispute resolution options. Less adversarial terminology is being advocated.
But in making all these changes, let's continue to remember that family disputes are just that - dispute, and in most cases they are adversarial in nature. When couples split up, the issue of property, of access rights to children, all take on a highly explosive role, and just changing things on paper doesn't mean the changes will make their way down the line when people are arguing over which days a parent gets access to children.
I have watched with increasing sadness the number of children torn apart by their parents splitting up. By having one parent in Trail, another in Kitimat, and the child having to split time with both parents, going to school in two cities, and so on. The split is bad enough, but the way courts rule in many of these cases is just plain stupid. So with the rewriting of the act has to come a new approach, new points of reference. If the child's interests are going to be paramount, as the new act states, a whole lot of people behind the bench, a whole lot of people in Family Services and a whole lot of support services personnel have to change the way they think too. Otherwise, all the work put into the changes will be just a waste of time.
Monday, July 5, 2010
HST Backlash Continues Because of Deception, not Tax Itself
(Aired on July 2, 2010)
I paid the Harmonized Sales Tax for the first time this morning. My extra-large mocha at Tim Horton's now sets me back to the tune of $2.60 - up about 15 cents from what it cost earlier this week. It was mildly annoying, but on the other hand the world did not end, I paid the extra 15 cents and went on my way.
For most of us in the middle class, that's what the HST will always be - mildly annoying. If you are in the upper income bracketm you may be more irritated than that - at least, that's dealing in stereotypes. Low income people will be impacted the most, of course, but Premier Campbell and the provincial government would argue that those people get a juicy rebate. And, in fact, that's the matrix the government is banking on for survival - that those less impacted will be less annoyed, and that the low income British Columbians can be bought with a rebate.
That's not playing out. Backlash over the HST is stronger than many - including myself - ever thought it would be. That's because, as I've said before, the tax itself is one thing. Most of us know paying an extra 7% on 20% of goods and services will not break the bank. On the other hand, there is little doubt that British Columbians are chafing over how the HST policy was announced and implemented.
They don't care that the HST is a consumption tax and thus supposedly more fair. They don't care that business groups love it. They don't care that it's a federally administered tax, and they don't care that the PST was abolished to bring it in.
They do care that the Liberal government signed on the dotted line just days after winning an election with a platform that did not include a major shift in tax policy. And that may be enough to end Campbell's government.
I paid the Harmonized Sales Tax for the first time this morning. My extra-large mocha at Tim Horton's now sets me back to the tune of $2.60 - up about 15 cents from what it cost earlier this week. It was mildly annoying, but on the other hand the world did not end, I paid the extra 15 cents and went on my way.
For most of us in the middle class, that's what the HST will always be - mildly annoying. If you are in the upper income bracketm you may be more irritated than that - at least, that's dealing in stereotypes. Low income people will be impacted the most, of course, but Premier Campbell and the provincial government would argue that those people get a juicy rebate. And, in fact, that's the matrix the government is banking on for survival - that those less impacted will be less annoyed, and that the low income British Columbians can be bought with a rebate.
That's not playing out. Backlash over the HST is stronger than many - including myself - ever thought it would be. That's because, as I've said before, the tax itself is one thing. Most of us know paying an extra 7% on 20% of goods and services will not break the bank. On the other hand, there is little doubt that British Columbians are chafing over how the HST policy was announced and implemented.
They don't care that the HST is a consumption tax and thus supposedly more fair. They don't care that business groups love it. They don't care that it's a federally administered tax, and they don't care that the PST was abolished to bring it in.
They do care that the Liberal government signed on the dotted line just days after winning an election with a platform that did not include a major shift in tax policy. And that may be enough to end Campbell's government.
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
When is an Announcement not an Announcement?
(Aired on June 25, 2010)
It must be really challenging to write press releases for the provincial government - especially if you're boss is Education Minister Margaret MacDiarmid. This week, for example, we received a release touting over $600,000 was spent to buy our local school district five new state-of-the-art cleaner burning diesel school buses. But talking to district officials gives you a little bit of a different story.
You see, every year the district evaluates its buses to see if they are too old and too used. For example, if a bus meets a certain mileage criteria, it has to go. This year, five buses expired. So in essence, the government did exactly what it had to do. The government was obligated to replace the old buses. Hardly something worth crowing over. Not only that, the buses are in no way cleaner running than any other new buses out there. They are diesel buses that simply comply with current emissions standards.
It's nothing new, of course. The provincial government regularly trumps up mundane obligations as if it is saving the world. It also routinely re-announces funding that has previously been committed, trying to fool those of us in the media who don't pay attention. Sometimes it works.
And the tricks worked for some in the media this time, too. The first dead giveaway that there was something fishy here should have been the mere fact that it's funding for education. We should all be skeptical when that's announced.
It must be really challenging to write press releases for the provincial government - especially if you're boss is Education Minister Margaret MacDiarmid. This week, for example, we received a release touting over $600,000 was spent to buy our local school district five new state-of-the-art cleaner burning diesel school buses. But talking to district officials gives you a little bit of a different story.
You see, every year the district evaluates its buses to see if they are too old and too used. For example, if a bus meets a certain mileage criteria, it has to go. This year, five buses expired. So in essence, the government did exactly what it had to do. The government was obligated to replace the old buses. Hardly something worth crowing over. Not only that, the buses are in no way cleaner running than any other new buses out there. They are diesel buses that simply comply with current emissions standards.
It's nothing new, of course. The provincial government regularly trumps up mundane obligations as if it is saving the world. It also routinely re-announces funding that has previously been committed, trying to fool those of us in the media who don't pay attention. Sometimes it works.
And the tricks worked for some in the media this time, too. The first dead giveaway that there was something fishy here should have been the mere fact that it's funding for education. We should all be skeptical when that's announced.
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.
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
Coke Toll Revenue Could Be Helping BC Right Now
(Aired on May 25, 2010)
Driving home from the coast yesterday, I couldn't help but reflect on the vast increase in traffic on the Coquihalla Highway. I've driven the highway extensively the past three years, at all times of day, in all seasons of the year. The volume of traffic is up substantially. Heavy truck traffic has really climbed. In fact yesterday, it was as busy between Kamloops and Hope as it was between Hope and Vancouver.
While I was driving, I wondered how many lives we could have saved in B.C. hospitals, or how many kids we could have given a proper education to, if we had not removed the tolls on the Coquihalla Highway a couple of years back. In retrospect, it was one of the stupidest moves ever by a government bent on trying to get votes for re-election. The money lost from the tolls on the highway, millions and millions every year, was lost because the government decided votes were more important than using the money for the good of the province. What if we had taken that money and used it to provide services in our hospitals, or kept more teachers on the job. Wouldn't that have been a great thing?
I know it's just another form of taxation, but it's no different than the tax on booze or cigarettes or gas, or any of the other hidden taxes we have to pay. But I would certainly rather pay the toll and have health services than not. The other side of the coin, of course, is that many of these taxes simply go into general revenue, and I'm not in favour of that. I prefer taxes go to specific items, like that transit tax on the Lower Mainland.
The government has put itself into such a hole economically, and much of it they've dug themselves with poor planning, and politically expedient moves like the removal of the toll on the Coke. They really could do a lot better.
Driving home from the coast yesterday, I couldn't help but reflect on the vast increase in traffic on the Coquihalla Highway. I've driven the highway extensively the past three years, at all times of day, in all seasons of the year. The volume of traffic is up substantially. Heavy truck traffic has really climbed. In fact yesterday, it was as busy between Kamloops and Hope as it was between Hope and Vancouver.
While I was driving, I wondered how many lives we could have saved in B.C. hospitals, or how many kids we could have given a proper education to, if we had not removed the tolls on the Coquihalla Highway a couple of years back. In retrospect, it was one of the stupidest moves ever by a government bent on trying to get votes for re-election. The money lost from the tolls on the highway, millions and millions every year, was lost because the government decided votes were more important than using the money for the good of the province. What if we had taken that money and used it to provide services in our hospitals, or kept more teachers on the job. Wouldn't that have been a great thing?
I know it's just another form of taxation, but it's no different than the tax on booze or cigarettes or gas, or any of the other hidden taxes we have to pay. But I would certainly rather pay the toll and have health services than not. The other side of the coin, of course, is that many of these taxes simply go into general revenue, and I'm not in favour of that. I prefer taxes go to specific items, like that transit tax on the Lower Mainland.
The government has put itself into such a hole economically, and much of it they've dug themselves with poor planning, and politically expedient moves like the removal of the toll on the Coke. They really could do a lot better.
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
New Snowmobiling Regs Needed
(Aired on May 11, 2010)
Last week, I didn't agree with Kevin Krueger over his thoughts about banning big rigs from Highway 5A. Today, I am agreeing with him on another topic, the need to impose some rules against high-marking and other high-risk back country behaviour.
High marking, for those who don't know, is a popular activity performed by snowmobilers in mountainous terrain, where the snowmobile operator tries to ride as far up a steep mountain slope as possible, then turn around and come back down the hill without getting stuck, rolling the snowmobile or losing power. It's extreme, and for those who enjoy that kind of activity, probably gives them a huge rush. But it can be very dangerous, and it's time some kind of regulations were put in place.
I agree with Krueger when he says you don't want more regulation than you need, and you don't want regulations you can't enforce. The problem is that those who want the thrill are going to do it anyway. Back country activity, whether it's winter or summer fun, always carries an element of risk, and we shouldn't prevent people from undertaking that risk if they understand it, and still want to partage. But the rub comes when other lives are put in danger. When a snowmobiler or a a high country skiier, or a mountain climber has an accident, people have to go in and rescue them. And that's just as dangerous as the original activity. And why should rescuers put their lives in danger because some goomba was out for a weekend thrill? That's the fine line the government has to deal with.
We have helicopter skiing companies taking people to remote areas to ski. These companies are well trained, have good safety records and are well-prepared for emergencies. Still doesn't avoid accidents, but certainly reduces the chance. But what do you do when a group of snowmobilers decides to head out and do whatever they want on their own, with no guidelines or rules? Those are the people Krueger and the Liberals should be targeting.
We don't want to punish responsible riders for the sake of a few. Unfortunately, that might be hard to avoid to rein in the goofs who are causing most of the problem.
Last week, I didn't agree with Kevin Krueger over his thoughts about banning big rigs from Highway 5A. Today, I am agreeing with him on another topic, the need to impose some rules against high-marking and other high-risk back country behaviour.
High marking, for those who don't know, is a popular activity performed by snowmobilers in mountainous terrain, where the snowmobile operator tries to ride as far up a steep mountain slope as possible, then turn around and come back down the hill without getting stuck, rolling the snowmobile or losing power. It's extreme, and for those who enjoy that kind of activity, probably gives them a huge rush. But it can be very dangerous, and it's time some kind of regulations were put in place.
I agree with Krueger when he says you don't want more regulation than you need, and you don't want regulations you can't enforce. The problem is that those who want the thrill are going to do it anyway. Back country activity, whether it's winter or summer fun, always carries an element of risk, and we shouldn't prevent people from undertaking that risk if they understand it, and still want to partage. But the rub comes when other lives are put in danger. When a snowmobiler or a a high country skiier, or a mountain climber has an accident, people have to go in and rescue them. And that's just as dangerous as the original activity. And why should rescuers put their lives in danger because some goomba was out for a weekend thrill? That's the fine line the government has to deal with.
We have helicopter skiing companies taking people to remote areas to ski. These companies are well trained, have good safety records and are well-prepared for emergencies. Still doesn't avoid accidents, but certainly reduces the chance. But what do you do when a group of snowmobilers decides to head out and do whatever they want on their own, with no guidelines or rules? Those are the people Krueger and the Liberals should be targeting.
We don't want to punish responsible riders for the sake of a few. Unfortunately, that might be hard to avoid to rein in the goofs who are causing most of the problem.
Monday, May 10, 2010
Removing Trucks from 5A Misguided
(Aired on May 6, 2010)
When I first saw the story in Kamloops This Week, I looked at my calendar to make sure it wasn't April Fools. It wasn't.
MLA Kevin Krueger, reacting to an accident on Highway 5A, the old Merritt Highway, suggested it was time to ban large trucks from the highway. He is quoted as saying that the truckers have outgrown the old route. Typical that the government would react this way when the problem is really the government itself. Trucks speed down that road, they take the sharp turns too quickly. It can indeed be a dangerous route. But the answer is not to ban truckers from the road. The road has handled big trucks for a lot of years. My guess is truck traffic isn't nearly as heavy as before the Coke was built in the 80's. The answer, Mr. Krueger, is to put some government money into policing the situation.
I agree with Paul Landry of the Trucking Association that the problem is a few bad truckers. Years ago, truckers by and large were a pretty good group of drivers. Nowadays it just isn't the case. But if the government put some money into highway patrols that could monitor the truck traffic, could money the safety of the vehicles, could make sure drivers had proper licences and were properly trained, we would go a long way towards solving the problem.
What's the sense of taking stupid, dangerous drivers and moving them from one highway to another. Moving them to the Coquihalla does nothing to solve the problem. They're just as dangerous, and if you look at the stats, there are certainly plenty of truck accidents on the Coke. So why not make the effort to solve the real problem, which is the truckers and not the road? The road is narrow, it has sharp turns, but if you drive it properly, it's safe.
I don't want to suggest that our government is ignorant of reality, but the problem would be better solved in putting some money toward education, training and enforcement, as opposed to the cheaper solution of simply planting a "no fly" zone on a highway.
When I first saw the story in Kamloops This Week, I looked at my calendar to make sure it wasn't April Fools. It wasn't.
MLA Kevin Krueger, reacting to an accident on Highway 5A, the old Merritt Highway, suggested it was time to ban large trucks from the highway. He is quoted as saying that the truckers have outgrown the old route. Typical that the government would react this way when the problem is really the government itself. Trucks speed down that road, they take the sharp turns too quickly. It can indeed be a dangerous route. But the answer is not to ban truckers from the road. The road has handled big trucks for a lot of years. My guess is truck traffic isn't nearly as heavy as before the Coke was built in the 80's. The answer, Mr. Krueger, is to put some government money into policing the situation.
I agree with Paul Landry of the Trucking Association that the problem is a few bad truckers. Years ago, truckers by and large were a pretty good group of drivers. Nowadays it just isn't the case. But if the government put some money into highway patrols that could monitor the truck traffic, could money the safety of the vehicles, could make sure drivers had proper licences and were properly trained, we would go a long way towards solving the problem.
What's the sense of taking stupid, dangerous drivers and moving them from one highway to another. Moving them to the Coquihalla does nothing to solve the problem. They're just as dangerous, and if you look at the stats, there are certainly plenty of truck accidents on the Coke. So why not make the effort to solve the real problem, which is the truckers and not the road? The road is narrow, it has sharp turns, but if you drive it properly, it's safe.
I don't want to suggest that our government is ignorant of reality, but the problem would be better solved in putting some money toward education, training and enforcement, as opposed to the cheaper solution of simply planting a "no fly" zone on a highway.
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