Editor:
Those 700,000-plus British Columbians who signed the first successful Citizen Initiative Petition in Canadian history should feel proud.
Instead, petitioners are (again) dealing with mounting frustration as the petition’s progress is halted thanks to one bureaucrat – Elections BC acting chief electoral officer Craig James.
The decision not to submit the anti-HST petition to the legislative committee until a court challenge by pro-HST big business groups is dealt with is nothing more than a stall tactic.
Thank those big business groups – including the BC Chamber of Commerce, which has been lobbying the Liberal government to implement the HST since 2002 – for this unsurprising manoeuvre.
After all, they will do all they can to keep this greed-driven tax in place.
Our democratic rights are being trampled on by the big corporations, which have bought into a lie, a fraud.
Remember Premier Campbell’s pre-election announcement that the HST was “NOT on the radar?”
If we are to believe the HST was a post-election reconsideration, we still ask, why then did Campbell not call for a referendum on this major tax issue?
The BC Liberals were elected under false pretences and the job falls to each and every British Columbian to stand up for their rights.
The Liberals were not given the mandate to implement the HST.
Every Liberal MLA who asserts they will continue to represent the people they were elected to serve – yet who ignores their constituents and supports the HST ‘hoax’ – is NOT doing the job they were elected to do and has no right to be an MLA.
If the Liberals think they will just ride out this storm as they have done in the past, they are sadly mistaken.
If we can’t change the government’s mindset, we will change the government.
Whoever is writing the script for the Liberal MLAs is doing a terrible job for them and a fantastic job for us.
If the BC Liberals thought citizens were angry during the petition phase, just wait for the recalls to begin.
If it weren’t for the roadblocks put in place by a past government, we would already be initiating a recall in the Boundary-Similkameen riding.
There is a new sense of urgency among British Columbians as we watch other economies struggle with 20-per-cent (and higher) sales taxes.
We don’t want the cut wages and pensions, lost jobs and thriving underground economies, thank you.
But more than that, as Fight HST supporters have said from the start of the campaign, this is first and foremost a fight for democracy against a dictatorial government and we will not give up until our democracy is restored and the politicians – ANY politicians from ANY political party – are held accountable to the people.
Paul McCavour and Julie Turner
Fight HST Regional Organizers – Boundary-Similkameen and Penticton

OSOYOOS TIMES-August 18, 2010

LOCAL FIRST NATIONS SHOULD NOT HAVE A PROBLEM WITH RECREATIONAL FISHERY

Editor:
When we first heard about Fisheries and Oceans permitting sport fishermen to catch sockeye on Osoyoos Lake, we didn’t pay much attention to it.
Realized that it meant that the returns of sockeye to the lake had already met three thresholds – 1st: enough sockeye for spawning requirements; 2nd: enough sockeye to permit a Native-only food, social, ceremonial fishery; 3rd: enough sockeye to permit a Native-only commercial sockeye fishery.
It was nice to see that the fourth and last threshold had been met – sports fishermen were going to be able to catch a sockeye also.
Then on Friday, Aug. 13, we see Chief Louie and a band of Osoyoos Natives on the news protesting that there was to be a sport sockeye fishery on “their” sockeye.
He admitted that the Department of Fisheries and Oceans had contributed a “little” money over the years to make this event happen.
He also admitted that the U. S. had made major contributions to making the sockeye returns viable for fisheries.
So, here are the Osoyoos Indian Band, a group that received a federal government contract, without having to go through a tendering process, complaining because the contract achieved the desired harvesting goals.
No wildlife or sports fishing group could bid on this contract (if such a group had bid on and received this contract the end result, who had first, second, and third access to the fish, would have been unchanged).
This was a Native-only deal.
A deal in which the Natives knew exactly what the successful completion of their contract would mean.
Instead of being happy with the results of this project, they are trying to deny access to those who financed it.
Rather than sharing the results of this project with those who are willing to purchase a sport fishing licence, the Osoyoos Indian Band wishes to deny them access.
The public of Canada with their tax dollars, and Americans, funded this project.
Yes, the Osoyoos Indian Band were the employees, but they were paid employees.
Over and above their financial remuneration they have received the first and largest access to the returning surplus sockeye.
This year, starting back on July 9, they have been permitted to fish for sockeye 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
They should be happy to see others benefit from their labours.
T. Calwell,
Osoyoos

OSOYOOS TIMES-August 18, 2010

WRITER HAPPY WITH PROCESS SURROUNDING OASIS DEVELOPMENT

Editor:
As residents and/or taxpayers we are often quick to criticize and slow to compliment.
With that in mind, I would like to compliment the following:
The Osoyoos Times for their reporting of the special meeting of Council of Aug. 2 regarding the Oasis project.
Mayor Wells and council, in the measured and professional way they are handling what no doubt is a landmark development for our community.
Town CAO Barry Romanko and his planning department group headed by director Alain Cunningham.
The work, thought and carry-through on their part regarding this project is outstanding.
Developers Ron Bartsch and Stanley Yasin for their foresight, patience and fortitude throughout the required development process.
In the past several years I have had the privilege of working with the local medical community, mayor and council and many others to recruit physicians to our community.
While we have had some moderate success in that regard there are still people in our town that do not have and cannot obtain a family doctor.
While the potential of a medical professional centre, as part of the Oasis complex, is no guarantee to alleviate this problem, from firsthand experience, it is a key element in what has to be one of our community’s top priorities.
I look forward to the successful completion of the process and the benefits that this development, when approved, will provide to each and every one of us.
Derek Noske,
Osoyoos

OSOYOOS TIMES-August 18, 2010