'CONFLICT OF INTEREST' A VAGUE TERM FOR TOWN ADMINISTRATION
Editor:
While doing your crossword puzzle and sudoku puzzles yesterday I noticed the Council Briefs on the next page.
Apparently someone on your staff must have slipped up as no doubt it should have also been on the puzzle page.
As stated in that article, in a May 22nd letter to council, four members of the remuneration committee wrote that We have become aware of a potential for conflict of interest of a member of the committee.
Yet at the end of said article it states, Legal counsel for the Town determined there was no conflict of interest for the members of the committee.
Does this mean there was no conflict of interest for Sy Murseli?
Or is it possible, like it seems, that the other four resigned because they felt that they were in conflict of interest?
Could it be that their selection to the committee was a conflict of interest?
Doesn't it seem strange that employees of the Town Council, the administration, should select a committee to look into their bosses' salaries?
To me that would be a definite conflict of interest.
Did the selected members of the remuneration committee apply for the position as I did or were they asked to sit on the committee?
It would be much appreciated if you could come up with some acceptable answers.
I must also commend you on your Opinion article in the April 30 issue where you questioned the actions of our mayor. Since there have been many issues of your paper since then and he has not answered your comments it definitely leaves us with the impression that something shady, as you said, must be going on.
Fred Fouty,rnOsoyoos
OSOYOOS TIMES-June 25, 2008
NDP'S STANCE ON ENVIRONMENT NEEDS TO CHANGE
Editor:
As a young British Columbian, I am shocked that Carole James and the NDP are willing to sacrifice the environment while they intend to axe the proposed Carbon Tax set to take effect July 1.
In the 1990's we saw the NDP axe something of importance to British Columbians… the Economy.
Carole James is just too selfish and foolish to tell the public the real benefits of a proposed carbon tax, one that is revenue neutral and will provide increased tax savings to B.C. families.
While the NDP sits on the fence, the B.C. Liberals are working to ensure that we have a lower-taxed, healthier and environmentally friendly province for our future to enjoy.
My younger generation believes in the changes brought forth by Premier Campbell and we intend to live a healthy, happier life because of it.
Maybe its time the NDP quit playing schoolyard partisan politics and start working at cleaning our environment.
Zach Poturica,rnOsoyoos
OSOYOOS TIMES-June 25, 2008
A LETTER TO FEDERAL ENVIRONMENT MINISTER JOHN BAIRD
Dear Minister Baird,
As you are well aware, Public Utility District No.1 of Okanogan County in the State of Washington has filed a Preliminary Permit Application to the United States Federal Energy Regulation Commission to build a hydroelectric dam on the Similkameen River at Shankers Bend.
The proposal calls for the dam height to be from 90 to 260 feet.
Should the dam be built to a height of 260 feet, this would necessitate the flooding of Canadian territory.
Both the Okanagan Nation Alliance and the Regional District of South Okanagan have passed resolutions opposing the 260-foot option.
It is my understanding that you have been following this project closely and I appreciate the information you have shared with me.
The time has come for our Federal Government to act decisively and inform the U.S. Government that any flooding of Canadian sovereign territory is totally unacceptable.
I respectfully ask that you advise the American authorities exactly where our government stands on this issue.
We must not allow any flooding whatsoever north of the 49th parallel.
Please rest assured that you have my full co-operation in this regard.
Sincerely,rnAlex Atamanenko, MPrnBC Southern Interior
OSOYOOS TIMES-June 25, 2008
DOG SHOOTER HAD OTHER OPTIONS BESIDES FIRING A GUN
Editor:
I don't think that Mr. Cimbala can claim self-defence for shooting Pepper.
I have carefully reviewed both your papers and nowhere does it say that he actually saw the dog (Pepper) bothering or attacking chickens.
The paper says that over the past year he has lost 140 – 160 chickens to local dogs or coyotes.
Was Pepper interested in the chickens or merely following a scent, as dogs will?
Losing 160 chickens in a period of one year in an area where there are coyotes, I question why he does not already have a fence to protect his chickens.
As a self-described hunter, why is it that the only animals Cimbala has been able to shoot are family pets?
A coyote will kill and eat chickens for survival, dogs generally do not.
At the end of the row down by the road it was Pepper that feared for her life and her owner.
She had to act in self-defense from a man with a loaded shotgun.
Mr. Cimbala being a hunter, I don't think that one malfunctional shotgun is his only weapon.
He needs to have all his guns removed.
Rudi Richter,rnOsoyoos
OSOYOOS TIMES-June 25, 2008
