Issue is taxation without representation

Editor:rnI'm sorry.
As an aged prairie chicken I would never presume to speak for anyone.
I am the same person who several years ago wrote to the Osoyoos Times remarking on the quality of people we meet in the post office, the stores, shops, restaurants, etc. who were and are so helpful and courteous.
I gave up a life of crime when I was 16 and entered Divinity School, as was common in our generation. We raised and educated a family of four or five on a single income on a small farm. We led 4H, youth groups, chaperoned dances, coached, umpired and refereed and drove teams to neighbouring towns at our expense. It was a privilege. It kept us young.
Being almost human, we sometimes resented the golfers and curlers whose children we attended, but we didn't know any better. We felt we had a good life. We counted our pennies, we were not taken in by the 'spend now pay later' philosophy of Trudeau, Lewis and Mulroney.
We shopped at home, built and operated schools, churches, hospitals, rinks, co-ops and elevators, largely for the thanks, without government regulations or assistance.
For the last 10 to 15 years we filled the older motels of Osoyoos formerly closed in the winter or off season. We watched the building of the new ones. We see the changing faces of Osoyoos, its developments, condos and subdivisions. We tell others about what is happening in a place of growth while we watch our own communities struggle and diminish. We fill your churches while ours close. We leave the money here in our 'winter home,' we have no places left to spend it in at home. It is good to feel a part of your vitality.
The issue is not the courtesy of Osoyoosers but one of taxation without representation. Some 225 years ago a bunch polluted Boston Harbor over that issue.
Who speaks for us?
Probably you the editor as well as anyone. My question is why tax your best promoters and advertisers? Why not tax the developers who are changing the face and the backside of your community? Aren't they the ones who would benefit from Destination Osoyoos?rnI am venial. I can be bought but please do it with your money not mine. That is the issue as I see it, not whether snowbirds can fly and the residents of Osoyoos are nice.
Ralph Clark

Editor:rnWhat is this FOI (Freedom of Information) that the Town of Osoyoos is hiding behind?rnSince when has a judge's decision been withheld from those whom it affects? In this case us, and our tax money. This of course refers to your news item in the Osoyoos Times last week 'Judge turfs Town of Osoyoos' wherein you state you had to file a Freedom of Information Request to find out the cost (to us) of the judgement.
It also refers to the two previous letters you published from Stan Stodola where he ran into problems at the town office regarding the same FOI.
Is the administration misusing by misinterpretation the FOI act? If not the onus of clarification rests on the administration. We will expect an immediate explanation, perhaps a publication of the pertinent section of said act.
As the waste of money seems to be of little concern to our mayor, it would be nice to know who okayed the launching of this futile law suit. Was it done with or without approval of council? There must be records of this, no doubt hidden away in the secret FOI files. The tax paying public definitely was not included in the decision.
Therefore those responsible should be held so. Perhaps withholding of 'separation packages' and golden hand shakes would be a good start, as it seems to me that the ones responsible will try to get out before it gets too hot.
Fred FoutyrnOsoyoosrn