We wish Marie-Eve Roberge the best of luck this summer as she tries to enforce the Town’s bylaws and be an ambassador at the same time.

It’s not going to be easy, but her hiring is the step in the right direction for Oliver.

Just don’t expect miracles.

No doubt there are expectations from the public regarding seasonal workers adhering to local bylaws, and Roberge is in a great position to influence that. She speaks French, she knows the challenges that fruit pickers face, and she’s non-confrontational.

Before we expect migrant workers to toe the line, we must ensure their needs are met, such as access to fresh water, showers, transportation and a place to camp. This is something Roberge is working on, but she can’t do it alone. She needs help from local growers who are willing to (and should) provide these things.

Loose Bay has worn out its welcome and is too far away for most pickers to walk. There is no designated shuttle service for workers who need transportation to various farms, and no shower facilities, hence we see them bathing in the river.
We believe if the needs of these workers are met, Oliver will see fewer problems.

As far as Lions Park is concerned, we can’t really keep the transients out of there because it’s a public park. Roberge and the RCMP can only ensure that these visitors aren’t drinking alcohol and creating a disturbance. That’s all we really ask, besides not camping along the river and seeing trails of garbage all over the place.

The hiring of Roberge is a proactive approach to a situation that concerns residents every summer. And with the work done by FACTOS (Farm and Community Team Okanagan Similkameen), we hope to see positive change in the local agriculture industry.
One change we’d like to see is a level playing field for French-Canadian workers compared with all of the amenities that Mexican workers are provided here.

It’s encouraging to see government reforms on the Temporary Foreign Worker Program to ensure that Canadians have first crack at available jobs. The purpose of the program is to fill acute labour needs on a temporary basis.

The reforms will require employers to pay temporary foreign workers at the prevailing wage by removing the existing wage flexibility. Prior to this, the majority of employers were offering wages at or more than the prevailing wage.

Locally, we encourage farmers to help Roberge make a positive difference in Oliver this season.