(Bonus Editorial! Was Meant to Air August 27, 2010 - but did not.)
I think I'm starting to turn into a crotchety old man. I promised myself just a few short years ago it seems never to lose sympathy, but it's starting to happen anyway.
Driving through Sahali, you're quite likely to come across the two young people I saw at the corner of Summit and Columbia today. The man and woman were on either side of the intersection, each with a dog at their side, each holding a sign bearing the words "traveling, broke, and hungry."
"Broke and hungry" I have plenty of sympathy for. Sometimes the world conspires against a person, you find yourself caught up in addiction or bad financial investments, maybe you have a mental health issue, all of the sudden you're out on the street. Sometimes it truly is "down on your luck."
But "traveling" is the part that chaps my hide. That's where I lose my empathetic side. I'd love to be traveling. The best times of my life happened while I was traveling. I work for the vast majority of my life so that I can see a bit of the world during the little time off I get. When you tell me that you are traveling, you tell me exactly why you are broke and hungry.
I suppose it's very straight-laced of me to tell these people to settle down and get a job. The 20-year-old version of myself would be steamed at this. But really. Get a job.
Monday, August 30, 2010
No Choice But to Euthanize Bears
(Aired on August 26, 2010)
I'm as big an animal lover as there is. I love animals. Am sad to the point of tears sometimes when I see a dead deer at the side of the highway, love having wildlife in my yard even when they take a good round out of the shrubs.
But I honestly believe an online petition trying to save about 15 bears in the Kootenays is just a little over the top. The bears were being fed by some people charged in a grow op. We don't know if they were being fed to keep them around to scare people away from the property, or whether they were kind of pets. But the fact is, most of them have become domesticated. As such, they cannot be saved from being put down. Maybe they could be transported to some zoos, maybe some of them could be returned to the wild, but any information I've received indicates that once these animals become used to human contact, and used to raiding the garbage in cities, it's hard to get them back into the wild. Sad as it is, these animals may have to be put down before they become a menace.
Some suggest they could be weaned back into the wild, and we should have the province put up some kind of transitional feeding station that would get them back into the wild. But it's not going to work. The people who fed these bears have made it such that the bears' lives have become too easy, no work involved when you get your daily fix from the neighbours. You don't even have to lift a garbage can lid for goodness sakes.
While protecting wildlife is a good thing, sometimes circumstances are such that protection is unrealistic. These seem to be some of those circumstances. As tragic as it would be to have to put some of these bears down, the reality is that they can't be left as they are, and if there aren't zoos or refuges to take them, and they can't be reacclimatized to the wild, there is little choice left but to put them down so they don't endanger anyone.
I'm as big an animal lover as there is. I love animals. Am sad to the point of tears sometimes when I see a dead deer at the side of the highway, love having wildlife in my yard even when they take a good round out of the shrubs.
But I honestly believe an online petition trying to save about 15 bears in the Kootenays is just a little over the top. The bears were being fed by some people charged in a grow op. We don't know if they were being fed to keep them around to scare people away from the property, or whether they were kind of pets. But the fact is, most of them have become domesticated. As such, they cannot be saved from being put down. Maybe they could be transported to some zoos, maybe some of them could be returned to the wild, but any information I've received indicates that once these animals become used to human contact, and used to raiding the garbage in cities, it's hard to get them back into the wild. Sad as it is, these animals may have to be put down before they become a menace.
Some suggest they could be weaned back into the wild, and we should have the province put up some kind of transitional feeding station that would get them back into the wild. But it's not going to work. The people who fed these bears have made it such that the bears' lives have become too easy, no work involved when you get your daily fix from the neighbours. You don't even have to lift a garbage can lid for goodness sakes.
While protecting wildlife is a good thing, sometimes circumstances are such that protection is unrealistic. These seem to be some of those circumstances. As tragic as it would be to have to put some of these bears down, the reality is that they can't be left as they are, and if there aren't zoos or refuges to take them, and they can't be reacclimatized to the wild, there is little choice left but to put them down so they don't endanger anyone.
BC Regs on School Properties Vexing
(Aired on August 25, 2010)
A report released today says BC's public school districts could have more money at their disposal, but accounting practices and government rules are preventing it. According to the Auditor General, school districts collectively have about $1-billion they can't reasonably access - much of it tied up in low-interest bank accounts. If they did use the money, they would have to show it on the books as an expense. That wouldn't be a problem, but the provincial government has mandated that all school districts must run a balanced budget. Thus, if you have a new expense, you have to show the revenue to offset it. With government funding cuts and a flawed funding formula, that revenue is not forthcoming.
Even more vexing to me are government rules restricting what school districts can do with surplus property. For example, District 73 has four new surplus school properties within Kamloops this year; those being John Tod, Ralph Bell, George Hilliard, and the former Beattie Pineridge campus. The district is obligated to maintain those properties and keep them from falling into disrepair.
It would make far more sense to sell those schools and schoolyards, with the government investing the revenue right back into education. But the province has extremely tight rules that make it almost impossible for a district to do that. If you ask the education minister about those rules, she says that it's prudent policy. A selloff of property now - when student numbers are in decline - would hamstring districts in the future, when student numbers are bound to rise again.
It seems to make sense, but the question is, what is happening to students in the meantime? With the way school districts are being eviscerated of funds now, what will the public school system look like in 10 or 20 years' time? It would be better policy to fix what is badly broken now, and let tomorrow think about tomorrow.
A report released today says BC's public school districts could have more money at their disposal, but accounting practices and government rules are preventing it. According to the Auditor General, school districts collectively have about $1-billion they can't reasonably access - much of it tied up in low-interest bank accounts. If they did use the money, they would have to show it on the books as an expense. That wouldn't be a problem, but the provincial government has mandated that all school districts must run a balanced budget. Thus, if you have a new expense, you have to show the revenue to offset it. With government funding cuts and a flawed funding formula, that revenue is not forthcoming.
Even more vexing to me are government rules restricting what school districts can do with surplus property. For example, District 73 has four new surplus school properties within Kamloops this year; those being John Tod, Ralph Bell, George Hilliard, and the former Beattie Pineridge campus. The district is obligated to maintain those properties and keep them from falling into disrepair.
It would make far more sense to sell those schools and schoolyards, with the government investing the revenue right back into education. But the province has extremely tight rules that make it almost impossible for a district to do that. If you ask the education minister about those rules, she says that it's prudent policy. A selloff of property now - when student numbers are in decline - would hamstring districts in the future, when student numbers are bound to rise again.
It seems to make sense, but the question is, what is happening to students in the meantime? With the way school districts are being eviscerated of funds now, what will the public school system look like in 10 or 20 years' time? It would be better policy to fix what is badly broken now, and let tomorrow think about tomorrow.
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
Public Starting to Worry About Health Care
(Aired on August 24, 2010)
It is the perfect storm. It's been coming for some time. I wasn't the first to talk about it years ago, but I have said many times over the years the health care system is in jeopardy and needs to be overhauled. And a new Ipsos-Reid survey out this week shows most Canadians are starting to get the picture. It's taken them a long time to understand just how bad it is, but the new survey shows they're getting the message.
The new poll shows that most people perceived no improvement in health care. Younger adults anticipate going into debt to pay for their health care. Boomers, otherwise known as the Silver Tsunami, are becoming more and more reliant, pointing out just how tough it's going to be. The poll showed 80% fear the system will buckle and maybe even fail under the growing pressure. It says 80% nationally give the health system a grade of A, but few think that will continue.
Doctors have said for some time they are not crying wolf-that the health system is in disarray. Maybe more of the people nationwide who feel the same will start to put the pressure on the government to do something. Some suggest user fees rather than higher taxes. I've advocated user fees for 20 years. Interestingly enough, the survey showed British Columbians last or second last in their confidence level in health care. The only other province was Quebec, where 2.5 million people in that province are without a regular family doctor, out of a population of 7.5 million. Over a quarter of the population.
B.C. rates virtually last in rating the health care experience, only 25% of us gave a good grade for services available, and only 17% gave health care providers a good grade. That should be something for Gordon Campbell and the Liberals to take under serious advisement. If the economic downturn didn't hit B.C. as bad as other provinces, why can't we do better?
It's been obvious for a long time that something needs to be done. The general population finally seems to be getting the message. Now let's see if we can convince the politicians.
It is the perfect storm. It's been coming for some time. I wasn't the first to talk about it years ago, but I have said many times over the years the health care system is in jeopardy and needs to be overhauled. And a new Ipsos-Reid survey out this week shows most Canadians are starting to get the picture. It's taken them a long time to understand just how bad it is, but the new survey shows they're getting the message.
The new poll shows that most people perceived no improvement in health care. Younger adults anticipate going into debt to pay for their health care. Boomers, otherwise known as the Silver Tsunami, are becoming more and more reliant, pointing out just how tough it's going to be. The poll showed 80% fear the system will buckle and maybe even fail under the growing pressure. It says 80% nationally give the health system a grade of A, but few think that will continue.
Doctors have said for some time they are not crying wolf-that the health system is in disarray. Maybe more of the people nationwide who feel the same will start to put the pressure on the government to do something. Some suggest user fees rather than higher taxes. I've advocated user fees for 20 years. Interestingly enough, the survey showed British Columbians last or second last in their confidence level in health care. The only other province was Quebec, where 2.5 million people in that province are without a regular family doctor, out of a population of 7.5 million. Over a quarter of the population.
B.C. rates virtually last in rating the health care experience, only 25% of us gave a good grade for services available, and only 17% gave health care providers a good grade. That should be something for Gordon Campbell and the Liberals to take under serious advisement. If the economic downturn didn't hit B.C. as bad as other provinces, why can't we do better?
It's been obvious for a long time that something needs to be done. The general population finally seems to be getting the message. Now let's see if we can convince the politicians.
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
Justice Miscarried
(Aired on August 23, 2010)
So you want to know why we have no faith in our justice system? Here’s a perfect example. Last week, the legal system failed 15-year-old Ashley Aebig of Nanaimo. She was a passenger in a vehicle driven by 25-year-old Cory Barker in July of 2007. Barker was driving with more than twice the legal limit of alcohol in his blood. The court gave him a conditional sentence.
A conditional sentence. You know what that means? Not even a real slap on the wrist. Both crown and defence lawyers said there were “mitigating” circumstances in the case. These mitigating circumstances apparently related to Barker’s history of psychiatric problems, and his self-medication, which included the use of marijuana to make it easier to cope with his schizophrenia and depression.
Somehow that should make it OK to have twice the legal amount of alcohol and cause someone to be killed? That’s our justice system? Who could possibly think that’s right? So the judge imposed a five-year driving ban on Barker. That’s supposed to be a penalty? And he stays at his residence at all times. That’s a penalty? A young girl loses her life because someone drank too much and then the man who caused it walks away without serving a day of jail time?
The perception of the law must be seen to be followed as well as the reality of the law. In this case, neither was followed. If Barker were given time in a psychiatric facility to deal with his problems and learn to cope, I guess I might think that there is some justice. But when a person who has severe problems doesn’t get anything? That’s just plain wrong.
I’m not as hard-nosed as many I know about justice. I tend to be pretty compassionate. But in this case, there was an absolute miscarriage of justice in my opinion. I can’t see how justice was served in any way in this case, and I have the deepest sympathy for the parents of a girl who was killed without any serious punishment for the perpetrator.
So you want to know why we have no faith in our justice system? Here’s a perfect example. Last week, the legal system failed 15-year-old Ashley Aebig of Nanaimo. She was a passenger in a vehicle driven by 25-year-old Cory Barker in July of 2007. Barker was driving with more than twice the legal limit of alcohol in his blood. The court gave him a conditional sentence.
A conditional sentence. You know what that means? Not even a real slap on the wrist. Both crown and defence lawyers said there were “mitigating” circumstances in the case. These mitigating circumstances apparently related to Barker’s history of psychiatric problems, and his self-medication, which included the use of marijuana to make it easier to cope with his schizophrenia and depression.
Somehow that should make it OK to have twice the legal amount of alcohol and cause someone to be killed? That’s our justice system? Who could possibly think that’s right? So the judge imposed a five-year driving ban on Barker. That’s supposed to be a penalty? And he stays at his residence at all times. That’s a penalty? A young girl loses her life because someone drank too much and then the man who caused it walks away without serving a day of jail time?
The perception of the law must be seen to be followed as well as the reality of the law. In this case, neither was followed. If Barker were given time in a psychiatric facility to deal with his problems and learn to cope, I guess I might think that there is some justice. But when a person who has severe problems doesn’t get anything? That’s just plain wrong.
I’m not as hard-nosed as many I know about justice. I tend to be pretty compassionate. But in this case, there was an absolute miscarriage of justice in my opinion. I can’t see how justice was served in any way in this case, and I have the deepest sympathy for the parents of a girl who was killed without any serious punishment for the perpetrator.
Pickton Revelation Must Lead to Reforms
(Aired on August 20, 2010)
Some columnists in Kamloops like to tee off on the police, whether it's individual officers or entire forces. They pile on to any error or abuse of power - whether real or perceived - with hysterical, mouth-frothing fervor. And while that response is hardly as rational and measured as it should be, a report on the Robert Pickton investigation released today makes it hard to remain calm.
The report stated between the time Vancouver Police forwarded a report on Pickton to Coquitlam RCMP and the time he was arrested, 13 women went missing from the Downtown Eastside. 11 of those were later linked to Pickton's farm.
You may think this is yet another reason to tar the RCMP. That's partially true, but the review says both police forces are to blame. It says both forces committed errors that prevented an arrest of Pickton until 2002. There have long been loud questions as to why police didn't take the Pickton situation seriously much sooner. Now we have a few more answers to those questions.
RCMP have been taking it on the chin for quite some time now. And nothing seems to be able to stem the litany of embarrassments for the national force. Today's announcement shouldn't phase the Mounties; it should be like water off a duck's back. Vancouver Police looking bad, however, is another story.
If this should teach us anything, it's that there are problems with law enforcement in general - not just the RCMP. A public inquiry is necessary, followed by sweeping reforms. It's one thing for four cowboys to zap an exhausted Polish man at an airport with a taser. It's quite another for almost a dozen women to die thanks to an inter-office foul-up. Something has to change.
Some columnists in Kamloops like to tee off on the police, whether it's individual officers or entire forces. They pile on to any error or abuse of power - whether real or perceived - with hysterical, mouth-frothing fervor. And while that response is hardly as rational and measured as it should be, a report on the Robert Pickton investigation released today makes it hard to remain calm.
The report stated between the time Vancouver Police forwarded a report on Pickton to Coquitlam RCMP and the time he was arrested, 13 women went missing from the Downtown Eastside. 11 of those were later linked to Pickton's farm.
You may think this is yet another reason to tar the RCMP. That's partially true, but the review says both police forces are to blame. It says both forces committed errors that prevented an arrest of Pickton until 2002. There have long been loud questions as to why police didn't take the Pickton situation seriously much sooner. Now we have a few more answers to those questions.
RCMP have been taking it on the chin for quite some time now. And nothing seems to be able to stem the litany of embarrassments for the national force. Today's announcement shouldn't phase the Mounties; it should be like water off a duck's back. Vancouver Police looking bad, however, is another story.
If this should teach us anything, it's that there are problems with law enforcement in general - not just the RCMP. A public inquiry is necessary, followed by sweeping reforms. It's one thing for four cowboys to zap an exhausted Polish man at an airport with a taser. It's quite another for almost a dozen women to die thanks to an inter-office foul-up. Something has to change.
Friday, August 20, 2010
Must be a Better Way to Report Highway Conditions
(Aired on August 19, 2010)
It's time in this world of electronic communication that we did a better job reporting highway conditions in our area. We have a web site in the province that should be the perfect vehicle for giving motorists updated information. But it's reliability in emergencies is very poor, and motorists often wind up getting into bad driving conditions or into long lineups after accidents even though the information is available to avoid the problem.
A perfect case this morning. A bad accident on the Coke north of the Logan Lake turnoff around 5:30 this morning. Logs spilled all over the highway. No southbound traffic getting through. It was almost two hours before Drive B.C. could get updated information onto its website. Information that was available well over an hour earlier.
What is wrong with emergency crews, whether they be ambulance drivers, police officers, road maintenance crews, radioing in a report right away to whoever controls the website and the electronic road signs, saying traffic is halted, alerting motorists and the media immediately so that the message can get out. Instead, we get backed up traffic like we did this morning, a backup that could have easily been avoided.
It's the same in winter. I don't know how many times we report information from the Drive B.C. site, when a motorist will phone in and ask us where we get our information because we've just said the Coke is good, and they're driving through a blizzard. It's unacceptable in this time of modern technology.
We need to do a better job of notifying motorists. Traffic backups may not seem too terribly bad, but try telling that to a family with two or three kids under three years old, waiting for hours to get through. In the winter, try telling a family who has gone off the road that you should have been able to update the conditions an hour earlier, but didn't. It's a situation that's easily resolved, and for the life of me, I can't understand why we have to put up with this crap year after year. Time to make some changes.
It's time in this world of electronic communication that we did a better job reporting highway conditions in our area. We have a web site in the province that should be the perfect vehicle for giving motorists updated information. But it's reliability in emergencies is very poor, and motorists often wind up getting into bad driving conditions or into long lineups after accidents even though the information is available to avoid the problem.
A perfect case this morning. A bad accident on the Coke north of the Logan Lake turnoff around 5:30 this morning. Logs spilled all over the highway. No southbound traffic getting through. It was almost two hours before Drive B.C. could get updated information onto its website. Information that was available well over an hour earlier.
What is wrong with emergency crews, whether they be ambulance drivers, police officers, road maintenance crews, radioing in a report right away to whoever controls the website and the electronic road signs, saying traffic is halted, alerting motorists and the media immediately so that the message can get out. Instead, we get backed up traffic like we did this morning, a backup that could have easily been avoided.
It's the same in winter. I don't know how many times we report information from the Drive B.C. site, when a motorist will phone in and ask us where we get our information because we've just said the Coke is good, and they're driving through a blizzard. It's unacceptable in this time of modern technology.
We need to do a better job of notifying motorists. Traffic backups may not seem too terribly bad, but try telling that to a family with two or three kids under three years old, waiting for hours to get through. In the winter, try telling a family who has gone off the road that you should have been able to update the conditions an hour earlier, but didn't. It's a situation that's easily resolved, and for the life of me, I can't understand why we have to put up with this crap year after year. Time to make some changes.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
