Passing the buck costs kids

May 30 2007 http://www.saobserver.net/portals-code/list.cgi?paper=29&cat=48&id=996426&more=0

Once again, the message was loud and clear. For many parents and child-care providers in Salmon Arm, the Conservative government’s policy regarding child care is not working. MP Colin Mayes and Roxena Goodine, MLA George Abbott’s assistant, were front and centre to answer questions at a meeting last week of about 30 child-care providers and parents. The political representatives heard that the Conservative policy of one hundred dollars per month per child under six does not begin to cover the cost of child care, nor does it provide enough to allow a parent to stay home without working. It also displaces the operating grants to child-care providers, meaning they cannot create enough spaces to fill the need for child care in the community, particularly with the wages they’re forced to pay. There are currently about 500 children on waiting lists in Salmon Arm. Even allowing for duplication, those lists are unacceptably long. It’s common practice for mothers to put their unborn babies on the lists, in the hope that a spot will open up by the time the child will need to attend.

Mayes, however, says the provinces are in charge of social services, not the feds. The provincial government’s stance, meanwhile, is that the blame lies at the feet of the federal government. Goodine said B.C. has not cut child-care funding by one dime. However, the provincial government has not stepped in to maintain the enhancements made possible by the federal money, something other provinces have done. So the bottom line is, while the federal and provincial governments are busy blaming each other, the child-care crisis for parents and children in the community worsens. Unfortunately for our community’s children, assigning fault and blame doesn’t solve problems. It’s time for both our provincial and federal governments to put their money where their collective mouths are, and to pay up. Not doing so will cost untold millions more in the long run.

Province sweetens deal on hotel room tax

By John MoorhouseThursday, May 31, 2007 http://www.pentictonherald.ca/stories.php?id=46365

OSOYOOS -- Introduction of an additional two per cent hotel room tax could open the door for Osoyoos to receive additional "resort enhancement" money from the province. Mayor John Slater said the room tax is expected to generate about $1 million over five years, with 50 per cent to be directed to outside marketing. Pending government approvals, the tax should come into effect Oct. 1. Slater said there was some reluctance among local motel owners over implementing the tax, but noted the additional provincial government funding made the tax much more palatable. The province will provide additional tax revenue for certain approved capital projects. "Because we’ve been designated as a resort community, we need to have this in place to get that other equal funding from the province," he said. A previous attempt to introduce the additional room tax in 2005 failed to gain enough support from local motel operators and was temporarily dropped by the Osoyoos Hotel and Motel Association. But town council later picked up the ball again. Last week, it gave final approval to the hotel room tax bylaw and is now applying to the province to enact the room tax within town boundaries. Penticton and Kelowna have introduced similar room taxes to boost tourism marketing efforts, but do not qualify for additional resort funding. The $10-million Resort Municipality Revenue Sharing Program, funded through the Ministry of Community Services, allows qualifying municipalities to receive a portion of the eight per cent hotel room tax. Osoyoos is one of 13 such resort communities which can direct these funds to resort-oriented projects determined by the municipality. The funding hinges on the municipality implementing the additional two per cent hotel room tax and having a resort development strategy in place. Three of the designated resort communities -- Whistler, Rossland and Golden -- have already signed agreements with the province. Osoyoos is the only Okanagan community involved. Tourism in Osoyoos has expanded rapidly in recent years -- and a new $75-million development on the former downtown packing house property is now underway. The four-storey Watermark Beach Resort will include 123 suites and 30 beachfront residences, as well as a restaurant, spa, convention centre and other amenities. When not being occupied by their individual owners, the suites can be put into an optional rental pool managed by Boutique Hotels and Resorts. About 70 per cent of the suites were sold in an initial offering last October, with the remainder expected to be purchased by the end of this summer. The resort is scheduled to open in the fall of 2008.

City likely to receive only ‘gist’ of Corrections investigation

By Jordan Nicurity The Vernon Daily Courier http://www.dailycourier.ca/

City of Vernon officials are unhappy with Corrections Canada claims that the department’s report on Vernon’s former halfway house won’t have the answers the city is looking for. “I believe the city thought the report would be all encompassing,” said mayor Wayne Lippert. Greg Fortnum, area director for Community Corrections, said he will know in a week what parts of the report will be revealed to council. Council will likely receive a “gist” summary of the actions taken by Corrections Canada based on the report’s recommendations, which themselves will not be divulged.

This is insufficient disclosure for some members of council. “This doesn’t satisfy me,” said Coun Barry Beardsell, “we deserve to know who is responsible and how it will be addressed.” The report to council will likely be made out of camera, meaning that it will be available to the public. “I can’t see us disclosing something in camera that we couldn’t disclose publicly so it will likely be before the public,” said Fortnum. While many people may be looking for the report to appoint blame, the John Howard Society, the group in charge of the former halfway house, is hoping the report will exonerate the society from any wrongdoing. “This is an issue of reputation for the society across Canada,” said Barb Levesque, executive director of John Howard House. “The inquiry has been done and it’s already been determined whether John Howard society is at fault; we want that information out there.”

Brian Lang, district director of Corrections Canada said that although “people want someone to blame,” the report only concerned itself with whether policy was followed by corrections, the parole board and the Howard house. Lang went on to say that that the report “will confirm that (Howard house) met our standards and passed our audits.” At Monday’s council meeting, Lang said that “certain expectations of that report might not be met.” Lang said that most of the report cannot be released as it may compromise Eric Fish’s right to a fair trial. Fish is accused of first degree murder in the beating death of Bill Abramenko. Fish was a resident of the halfway house and was missing for some time before the murder.

Lang said he realizes how the terms of reference for the report, which was charged with “thoroughly and rigorously examining all aspects of this tragic incident,” may be misleading to some. “I can see that people not as comfortable with the corrections system would see those terms as indicating a broad-based and wide-reaching report.”

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Don Quixote Note: The terms of reference news release re CORRECTIONAL SERVICE OF CANADA AND NATIONAL PAROLE BOARD ANNOUNCE BOARD OF INVESTIGATION INTO THE RELEASE AND SUPERVISION OF ERIC FISH dated aug 17/ 2004 can be found at:

http://www.csc-scc.gc.ca/text/releases/04-08-18_e.shtml#1

Middleton Way Tender Closes today at 2

http://www.vernon.ca/services/purchasing/pdf/T-PDE-07-29_Middleton_Way_Connection_Ad.pdf

Tender # Tender #T-PDE-07-29
Project Description: Middleton Way Connection"
Closing: May 31, 2007 2:00PM

Sharma Petition

http://www.vernon.thesun.net/node/535998 Starlee Speers, Standard Radio News


A petition to allow a Vernon doctor to return to his practice has collected 11 hundred signatures. In March of this year, Dr. Ramesh Sharma pleaded guilty to attempted assisted suicide and is no longer allowed to practice medicine.Petition organizer and a patient, Surry Massoud says, patients came from all over the Okanagan to sign the petition.Massoud says, the petition has been sent to the BC College of Physicians and the presiding judge for consideration. Dr. Sharma will be in court on June 11th to receive his sentencing for the matter. Susan Prins with the BC college of Physicians says, a petition could possibly carry weight when the board makes a ruling on whether Dr. Sharma can return to his practice.

Latest Bulletin: Multiple Retailer Win Information

In response to media interest, BCLC has released information about multiple wins by BCLC retailers from 1994 to 2007. To view multiple retailer win information click on the link below.
Multiple Retailer Win Information [20KB]
http://www.bclc.com/documents/PlayerFirst/Retailer_Wins.pdf

Single Retailer Wins $500,000 and Greater
Multiple Retailer Winners

Vernon and Districts Taxpayers Association is appalled !

May 30, 2007 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

The Vernon and Districts Taxpayers Association is appalled by Vernon Council's decision to use "'alternate financing" to stick the Vernon Taxpayers with a $20 million tax bill. Instead of Council doing its job by initiating a cost/benefit analysis and then going to the Taxpayers for their "Yes "or "No" through a referendum, this Council has decided to use an administrative loophole to spend 20 million dollars of Taxpayers' money. This is an blatant attempt to bring through the back door a widely rejected idea by the Taxpayers for a Cultural White Elephant, by putting the onus on the Taxpayers to block the proposal through counter petition. The VDTA supports the idea to upgrade our library provided it follows the Ministry's Vision for"Libraries without Walls". The VDTA also supports the RCMP, an essential service.

However, the Association opposes the huge expense proposed for the Cultural White Elephant and opposes any attempt to bring it in through the back door. Recently, the Coldstream Council went to the Taxpayers of Coldstream with a referendum to finance a new Fire Hall. Coldstream Taxpayers were INCLUDED and they passed the referendum, a demonstration of responsible Local Government and the responsible use of Taxpayers' dollars. Vernon Council needs to apply the same responsible approach. Furthermore, the Vernon Council that is proposing "alternate financing" is a Council that has several Councillors who own businesses and who do not live in Vernon and who voted to reduce taxes on business by over 5% while imposing that same amount on the already overburdened Vernon Taxpayers.

The VDTA maintains that Councillors who own businesses and who live outside Vernon should have excused themselves from voting on that imposition of 5% of taxes on the home owners of Vernon while giving their businesses a tax relief. The VDTA also demands to know why these big ticket expenditures are being pursued when we are supposedly in the midst of a review of the OCP, which includes a review of cultural facilities and services. The VDTA submits that Vernon Council should put a moratorium on big ticket items and spot zoning until the OCP Review is finalised with a community vision.

Contact information: Tony Stamboulieh: 260-1082

O'Keefe needs Barkerville's dollars

–managing editor, Scott Neufeld EDITORIAL May 30 http://www.dailycourier.ca/

At Monday’s council meeting, representatives from the O’Keefe Ranch came calling for an additional $1.8 million in capital funding. If they don’t receive the funding, so the story goes, the ranch will close by the end of the year. What a difference five months makes. Back in December ranch representatives appeared before the North Okanagan Regional District predicting a slight surplus for 2007 and saying that the grant from local government would be lower this than in past year. Now suddenly the sky is falling in and it’s all doom and gloom for the ranch. The ranch is now predicting a budget deficit of nearly $80,000. Most of that new deficit comes from the addition of a marketing position and doubling the amount of dough spent on advertising.

About one-fifth of ranch revenue, or $103,000, comes from local governments, $50,000 is given by the B.C. government and another $211,000 is expected from ticket sales this year. According to the ranch, the support they’re receiving from local and provincial governments is “insufficient.” To bridge the funding gap and ensure the long-term viability of the site, ranch staff want to build an RV park at a cost to taxpayers of $750,000.

Hopefully council will deny this request. While it’s important to preserve our heritage, specifically the O’Keefe Ranch, the city should not be compelled to join with the ranch in a business venture such as an RV park. Barkerville, a designated heritage site (something the O’Keefe is not) earns roughly double in ticket sales what the O’Keefe Ranch does. But Barkerville also benefits from $1.3 million in funds from the provincial government, the majority of which, pays for staff salaries. The central B.C. tourist attraction also has a trust account for capital projects that is kept at a minimum level of $2 million. Barkerville was founded in 1862; the O’Keefe Ranch was started in 1867. The main difference between the two is one is rolling in provincial grants while the other is left to beg at the municipal level.

The O’Keefe Ranch is one of the most important heritage sites in the Okanagan. They shouldn’t have to build an RV park to earn enough money to preserve the buildings. Other levels of government need to step in because the preservation of the ranch benefits not only Greater Vernon, but every Canadian and every foreign visitor. The best scenario would be for the City of Vernon to sell the ranch for $1 to the province and let them take care of it. That is unlikely to happen. What needs to happen though is the ranch must do everything possible to become a heritage site and tap into the same dollars Barkerville is getting. If they can’t, there’s a good chance this piece of our history will eventually decay and be lost.

Opinion

By Richard Rolke May 30 2007 http://www.vernonmorningstar.com/

Mayor Wayne Lippert was full of confidence last week as he inked an agreement with the Okanagan Regional Library for a new branch. And why shouldn’t he be? There’s no question a new library is required to keep up with a growing community. Also bolstering city hall’s spirits is a cumbersome, little-understood process to garner public approval. Once known as a counter-petition, an alternate approval process will be held in July to borrow $20 million for a new complex that would house a library, art gallery and RCMP/city administration offices. Through the process, only 10 per cent of registered voters signing a petition in opposition could scuttle the city going to the bank. And when you consider there are about 20,000 voters in Vernon, 10 per cent or 2,500 names is quite significant.

Generally, municipal leaders have counted on residents not understanding how counter-petitions work or not being interested enough to head down to city hall to ink their signature. Civic leaders claim it’s an entirely democratic way of determining public opinion, but I’ve always considered it as a chance for politicians to simply slide something through the side door. But while most counter-petitions are ignored by residents, there is some history of them embracing the process. Case in point is rural Lumby in March 2005. Twelve per cent of voters signed a counter-petition against funding O’Keefe Ranch. As a result, director Rick Fairbairn was forced to remove his area from the function. From what I understand, one or two residents, with petition in hand, began going home to home, rallying the troops. That diligence worked in rural Lumby, and there’s no reason why it couldn’t work in Vernon if a few residents banded together.

And I increasingly think that is possible based on the complaints I’m hearing. Whether it’s e-mails or phone calls, many people are expressing a concern about borrowing more money when taxpayers have already been hit by the Multiplex, Performing Arts Centre, sewer plant and water upgrades. Many also question squeezing a new building in between city hall and the museum, and why the Coldstream Hotel site was purchased for $2.1 million if cultural facilities aren’t going there? Of course it would take an organized effort to cast the city’s plans aside. That may not be too easy when most people have jammed schedules these days. But I can think of a handful of residents who may be up to the task, including the Vernon Taxpayers Association. The association appears to have taken a break from its rabble-rousing ways, but I could see it taking advantage of this situation.

If 10 per cent of voters’ names were collected, city hall would be forced back to the drawing board. The options would include shelving the project, finding other funding sources or holding an actual referendum to see if the counter-petition results were an anomaly. And that’s what council should have done from the get-go. A full-scale referendum would have allowed for all residents to have a say through a process that is truly democratic and that they are familiar with. It would have also provided the city with concrete direction. Instead, a counter-petition will only highlight public ignorance of how the system works, or the ease in which special interest groups can get signatures by knocking on doors. If the city is truly interested in meeting the needs of the community and cultural organizations, a legitimate process needs to be followed. But a new direction will only be charted if the politicians first admit they’ve made a mistake

Temporary solution within reach

By Jordan Nicurity Wed, May 30, 2007 http://www.dailycourier.ca/stories.php?id=46256


After months of searching, a temporary homeless shelter has been located and the rental agreement negotiated. Although the deal has been agreed upon, there are some details that still need to be addressed. “The deal can‘t be finalized until safety and renovation issues are addressed. We have a duty to ensure that we meet fire standards and other safety requirements,” said Annette Sharkey, executive director of the Social Planning Council for the North Okanagan. The installation of shower facilities is at the top of the list of renovations that must be completed before the shelter can be put to use. Sharkey declined to speculate on a timeline for the facility to be up and running, stating that many variables could affect the date. According to Sharkey, initial funding for the shelter will be provided by the First Nations Friendship Centre, although the BC Housing Authority is expected to provide additional funding once the safety and renovation issues have been dealt with. “BC Housing recognizes that there is a major gap in services in the area and we see them as a major partner,” said Sharkey, noting that the location of a temporary facility does not mean that efforts to locate a permanent facility have slowed. “Right now the pressure is to get people in from outside. Once we do that we can really focus on a permanent facility,” said Sharkey. Vernon has been without a homeless shelter since the Salvation Army‘s shelter was closed earlier this month due to a lack of funding. That closure came after the emergency women‘s shelter was shut down earlier in the spring. The new shelter will provide 15 men and 10 women with a mat to sleep on and is located in the Sigalet leasing building on Highway 97, across from Sir Winston‘s Pub. Although the demand for a permanent facility with addiction and mental health services is high, Sharkey emphasized that the process cannot be rushed. “We‘re looking at a couple of good possibilities but there is a lot of legwork and research we need to do.” “We want this to be a permanent place, not something we will have to move in the future,” Sharkey said.

Beardsell bristles at accusations

By Jordan Nicurity wednsday, May 30, 2007 http://www.dailycourier.ca/stories.php?id=46257

A recent article in the Kelowna Daily Courier regarding the sterile insect release (SIR) program has bugged Coun. Barry Beardsell. The article quoted Kelowna Coun. Colin Day, chairman of the SIR board, as saying that Beardsell had avoided SIR meetings, although he criticizes it frequently. According to Beardsell, not only is this misleading, it ignores the larger issues surrounding the program which is in its 16th year. “Why make these accusations? It‘s almost as if the purpose of (the article) was to try and stir things up before the SIR program comes under the service review,” said Beardsell. Beardsell said city council has put in a request to have the terms of the North Okanagan Regional District‘s partnership with the program reviewed by the minister of agriculture. Under the current agreement, municipalities cannot opt out of the program, which is something Vernon has contemplated. “It was not necessarily bad to help out at the beginning of the program, to give it a chance, but when does it stop?” asked Beardsell, “Taxpayers have contributed year after year and there is no end in sight.” Beardsell has said that some on council feel the city is being unfairly asked to subsidize the fruit growing industry‘s pest control costs. “What if it was the beef or asparagus industry? When does local government draw the line on programs it will subsidize?” Beardsell said Vernon is required to shoulder more than its fair share of funding for the program. “In 2007, greater Vernon has 13.5 per cent of the trees yet we pay 47.8 per cent of the taxes (for the North Okanagan).”

Cara McCurrach, SIR program general manager said the question of whether the funding scheme for the program amounted to subsidization was “a question of politics” and that the benefits to all Okanagan residents far exceeded the costs. “In 1991 there were 47,808 kgs of organo-phosphate pesticide sold in the valley; in 2005 only 16,807 kgs were sold. That is a huge reduction of chemicals in our air and water,” said McCurrach. “If you owned a $100,000 property, the program‘s cost to you is about the same as a latte.” According to SIR‘s website, the organization has raised and released 2,168,650,103 sterile moths in the Okanagan region since 1992. Coddling moth numbers are reduced as female moths attempt to mate with the sterile moths, resulting in no offspring. A 2006 update to growers claims that the program has been very successful in reducing moth numbers; 90 per cent of orchards experienced less than five moth damaged samples of fruit per thousand.

Halfway house up to city

By RICHARD ROLKE Morning Star Staff May 30 2007 http://www.vernonmorningstar.com/

Corrections Canada officials insist the future of a halfway house for parolees is in the hands of Vernonites. The federal agency made a presentation to council Monday, and district director Brian Lang is adamant that a 14-bed facility will not go ahead if the city opposes the move. “We would not consider imposing a halfway house in Vernon,” he told the media. “There are no guarantees. We are a long ways from having a facility here.” It had been anticipated Corrections Canada would announce the successful operator of a halfway house Monday. But that was delayed after the city asked Corrections Canada May 14 that it cease and desist with a corrections facility until further discussion could be held.

Lang told council Monday that a non-profit agency has been selected to run a facility but that group won’t be identified at this time. “There are some issues to work on before we can name the agency we’re going to work with,” he said. There has been considerable apprehension within the community about a new correctional facility opening. Vernon’s former halfway house closed after the murder of 75-year-old Bill Abramenko in 2004. Eric Fish, who has been charged with the death, was missing from that facility at the time of the incident. Council is demanding to see a Corrections Canada report into the Abramenko case before it makes a decision on a halfway house. Lang says his department is investigating what can be released without compromising Fish’s trial.

Lang also suggested that parts of the report may be censored for privacy reasons and that didn’t go over well with Coun. Pat Cochrane. “What we will see will be useless to us and the community and they (Corrections Canada) will go ahead any way,” he said. Beyond Corrections Canada, city council is now demanding seeing internal investigation reports from the RCMP and the Parole Board of Canada. “They are partners in this function,” said Coun. Juliette Cunningham. If a halfway house proceeds, Lang expects it could take two years before it is fully operational because of identifying a site, public consultation and phasing in parolees. A panel, including local representation, would determine who lives at a halfway house. There are currently 42 parolees in the community and 18 are considered to be from Vernon. “There are people living in neighbourhoods without the 24-hour supervision available at a halfway house,” said Lang.

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Don Quixote Note: Strangely, although it was this reporter who asked the question of Mr Lang about the eligibility of the 42 parolees in a new halfway house, he neglected to mention it in this article. The question I refer to was answered as published in the Courier on Monday :Corrections vows to work with city

Lang confirmed that there are 42 parolees already in Vernon, but none of them would be eligible for the halfway house, meaning that residents of the house would be new to Vernon.

Officials bungle O’Keefe Ranch (EDITORIAL)

Lack of funding jeopardizes O’Keefe Ranch’s future
By RICHARD ROLKE Morning Star Staff May 30 2007

The future of historic O’Keefe Ranch could be bleak unless there is a huge infusion of taxpayers’ dollars. Officials with the O’Keefe Ranch and Interior Heritage Society admit that the popular attraction could ultimately close if something isn’t done to stabilize finances. “The operation of the ranch is uncertain,” said Rod Drennan, society president. The ranch opened for the season in early May and its operating budget is already running a deficit. The society presented its five-year business plan to Vernon council Monday, and it indicates $1.8 million being required for capital works and operations. “We’re asking for a lot of money but the city is the owner,” said Drennan of the ranch. Of that, $1.1 million is being sought from the city and the North Okanagan Regional District, but Drennan admits there are also other pressures on those agencies.,

“They’re talking about the library, the science centre and the art gallery. I know we are another organization but the city owns the ranch,” he said. The remainder of the cash could possibly come from fundraising, a building adoption program and outside agencies. A total of $400,000 is being sought from the Southern Interior Development Initiative Trust. “This is one of the functions that falls within the mandate and has a good chance,” said Mayor Wayne Lippert, who sits on the SIDIT board. Of the $1.8 million, about $750,000 would go towards establishing a proposed recreational vehicle park on St. Anne’s Road. “If a significant revenue source is developed, like an RV park, something good could happen,” said Drennan. Beyond providing additional revenue, it is hoped an RV park would help wean the ranch off taxpayer subsidies. “It would bring the ranch up to where it should be so it is sustainable,” said Drennan. However, support from Spallumcheen council is required because the ranch is within the township, and the Agricultural Land Commission would have to endorse an RV park being constructed on farm land. Vernon council voted Monday to send O’Keefe Ranch’s monetary request to its finance committee for further consideration.

May 30 2007 http://www.vernonmorningstar.com/ EDITORIAL

It’s almost like the little boy that cried wolf. O’Keefe Ranch has cast doubts on its future many times over the years so it’s hard to always take the situation seriously. But based on the latest report to Vernon city hall, things are beyond the crisis point. In fact, being in a deficit just a month after the ranch opened, should indicate all is not well at the historic site. And if anyone is to blame, it is the very political agencies the O’Keefe Ranch board is trying to get $1.1 million out of. The City of Vernon has owned the ranch since the 1970s and done little in terms of concrete marketing or ensuring the integrity of the heritage buildings. Allowed to deteriorate over the years, many of the structures now need special attention. And the North Okanagan Regional District’s involvement has been a complete joke. There was tremendous optimism when NORD started funding the ranch, but most participants have now opted out for various reasons. Only four are left and they are caring the financial burden for something that benefits the entire region.

With tourism a crucial part of our economy, it is vital that we have attractions for them to visit. And in the case of O’Keefe Ranch, it taps into the lucrative sector of cultural tourism. Its role could also grow if a proposed recreational vehicle park takes off. Not only would it provide visitors a place to stay, but any revenue would offset the taxpayer subsidy. But such a project will require not only funding from the city and NORD, but vision. In the end, O’Keefe Ranch is worth saving. But if it closes, that dark chapter in our history will thanks to the politicians.

Landing project fuels debate

By RICHARD ROLKE Morning Star Staff May 30 2007 http://www.vernonmorningstar.com/

A proposed tourist/residential development deep within Okanagan Landing is creating political divisions. Council had heated debate Monday over a plan by a developer to construct a 100-unit tourist accommodation/residential project on the old Paraiso Point campground site on Eastside Road, near Whitepoint Road and Camp Hurlburt. “They are going ahead like a runaway freight train and that’s not right,” said Coun. Barry Beardsell. Besides the Paraiso Point site, the project also includes one waterfront property located on Whitepoint Road. Beardsell tried to have the developer notified that the proposal was not appropriate at this time, but a majority of council opted to defer the matter for two weeks so staff can come back with a report.

Coun. Pat Cochrane opposed telling the developer not to forward his plans through city hall.
“There are long-term consequences if we are labelled anti-development,” he said. But those comments brought a sharp response from some of Cochrane’s colleagues. “I’m not anti-development but this is my opportunity to get it right for the greater community,” said Coun. Juliette Cunningham. “They may have a vision but it has to be done on our terms as a community.” Coun. Buffy Baumbrough pointed out that the city is in the midst of an official community plan review and moving ahead with a major project now would be inappropriate.
“It’s premature. We need to take a careful look at it and how it fits into the OCP review,” she said. That view was also shared by other council members. “We should discuss it as a council first and the conclusion from those discussions may be that nothing go ahead until completion of the OCP,” said Beardsell. A final OCP is expected to be before council for consideration in early 2008.

Among the issues Beardsell wants addressed first is upgrades to Eastside Road and extension of water lines. “It’s the poor taxpayer who winds up footing a lot of the bill off-site,” he said. In a letter to the city, the consultant working for the developer defends the proposal. “We are excited by the prospect of establishing a sustainable resort on the lake and believe that through the utilization of cutting-edge practices in green design, architecture, landscape architecture and engineering, the current campground will be transformed into a small resort that raises the bar for future development in Vernon,” writes Paul Fenske, with Ekistics Town Planning.

Ombudsman makes lottery security recommendations

Canada.com (full article) Chad Skelton, Vancouver SunPublished: Tuesday, May 29, 2007

The B.C. Government has launched an audit of the lottery system in response to today's report from the province's ombudsman which found the system open to abuse by unscrupulous retailers. "The ombudsman's report is a start but by no means an end," said Solitor-General John Les. "The bigger question of how and why B.C.'s retail lottery system was left vulnerable to potential fraud remains and that question is what the audit is intended to answer." B.C. Ombudsman Kim Carter launched her investigation in December after The Vancouver Sun reported that lottery retailers were winning major prizes at several times the rate of the general public. According to internal lottery documents obtained by The Sun, over the past six years, those who sell lottery tickets have won 4.4 per cent of all lottery prizes over $10,000 - a rate anywhere from three to six times their share of the population. The figures, obtained through a Freedom of Information request, raised fears that retailers may be stealing customers' winning tickets.

KISS FM NEWS SHORTS

(Pete McIntyre) http://www.1075kiss.com/news/headlines/

More Discussions Planned for Halfway House
Vernon city council wants more questions answered before deciding if it will support a new halfway house for parole offenders. Brian Lang from Corrections Canada appeared before council Monday, outlining the process and agreeing to hold-off on announcing the successful bidder for the facility, until the city's concerns have been addressed. Lang says says they will not proceed until they have the city's support. 'One of the main concerns they have is around the investigation that was done following Mr.Abramenko's murder and we're attempting to find a way to get information to them that would hopefully satisfy some of their concerns around what happened and what steps have been taken to try and mitigate against that happening again.'
Council will also be requesting information from the National Parole Board and the RCMP on how those agencies handled the Abramenko case in 2004. Abramenko's accused murderer, Eric Fish, will go on trial in January.

1 Million to Keep O'Keefe Ranch Open
The future of the historic O'Keefe Ranch is in limbo. President Rod Drennan says the ranch needs 1.1 million dollars from the city and NORD over thenext four years, to remain in operation. Drennan notes the city owns the attraction, and the money is desperately needed for capital upgrades and operating. The group has asked for a response before June 15-th.
'A straight rejection would certainly tell some of our board members, not speaking for me and I'm not speaking for the board, but it would certainly tell some of our board members that we can't carry on like this beyond the current year.' Drennan says some of the funding would be used to open a new R-V Park which would generate new revenue for the ranch. City council has referred the issue to its finance committee for discussion.

Corrections vows to work with city

By Jordan Nicurity The Vernon Daily Courier http://www.dailycourier.ca/

At city council on Monday, it was clear there are some major issues that need to be addressed by Corrections Canada before the city approves its plans to locate a 12 to14 resident halfway house in Vernon. According to Brian Lang, district director of Corrections Canada, the city’s position is completely understandable. Lang made a brief presentation to council although, at the request of council, he did not name which of the two bids to run the halfway house had succeeded.

Coun. Barry Beardsell said that council approval of the Corrections Canada plan was based on the satisfactory completion of 25 recommendations – one of which was a comprehensive report examining the circumstances surrounding Eric Fish’s disappearance from the previous halfway house and the murder of Bill Abramenko. Lang said he would try to get what portions of the report that could legally be released to council as soon as possible, however, it may not satisfy the questions council had. “The terms of reference are fairly narrow, so certain expectations of that report might not be met. It is not supposed to attach blame or find fault but to see if policy was followed,” said Lang, also noting that the report only examined Corrections Canada’s role in the affair, not the role of the RCMP, the parole board or Howard House.

Coun. Cunningham said that although there were concerns surrounding the halfway house, not having one was perhaps a greater risk for the community. “We are creating a false sense of security in the community because we don’t have a building called halfway house. (Parolees) are still out there.” Lang confirmed that there are 42 parolees already in Vernon, but none of them would be eligible for the halfway house, meaning that residents of the house would be new to Vernon. However, Lang said that the selection of the residents of the halfway house would be done by a screening committee comprising of citizens, a member of the RCMP and a member of the agency that won the bid.

In spite of the city’s concerns, Corrections Canada has the power to go ahead with its plans regardless of council approval. However, Lang assured reporters that this is not an option that they are considering. “The partnership we established in 2004 is very important to us and it’s in everyone’s interest to work together on this. We would not think of imposing a halfway house on Vernon.”

Lack of funds could ensure ranch closure

By Vernon Daily Courier staff http://www.dailycourier.ca/

Historic O’ Keefe Ranch, may be history after this season if the ranch does not receive a grant of $1.139 million from the City of Vernon and the North Okanagan Regional District (NORD). The B.C. historic site is already operating at a loss for the year even though it has only been open since the end of April. Rod Drennan, president of the O’Keefe Ranch and Interior Heritage Society, brought a large contingent of volunteer board members to city council on Monday for a “charm offensive.” “We have some very serious decisions to make,” said Drennan. Drennan said that the ranch needs $1.819 million to build a 50 space RV complex on the property and to do building repairs. A paper written by the group claimed that the society was expecting to raise $685,000 to go towards the projects and needs the City of Vernon, who own the ranch, to work with NORD in supplying an additional $1.139 million.

“We have very good information from two RV park owners who have given us a look at the costs involved and outlined what is needed,” said Drennan. The ultimate goal of the RV park would be to provide income to the ranch that would allow it to wean itself off of city funding, said Drennan. Catherine Lord, treasurer of the ranch society, said that $750,000 would be needed from the city and NORD over the next two years to build the RV park and repair the buildings on the property. “It takes a unique contractor for this type of work,” said Drennan. “It’s not like we’re just putting on vinyl siding.” “Just about any of the 20 or so structures need work done on them.” Drennan said that there were no easy answers for council and that issues being examined now “should have been dealt with years ago.” Drennan said that without the cash injection from the city and NORD, it was hard to see the ranch continuing its operations after the current season, which ends Thanksgiving weekend.

“Any decision to close the ranch would be the owner’s,” said Drennan, emphasizing that the City of Vernon owned the ranch. “But a straight rejection would tell some of the board members that we just cannot carry on past this season.” Council agreed to look at the issue and referred it to the finance
committee.

Corrections Canada starts the halfway house dialogue.

Brian Lang, district director for Corrections Canada gave a presentation on a new halfway house and the time line he expected before such a house was actually up and running. He gave a brief history of the circumstances that caused the previous halfway house to be closed down and the agreement that was signed by Corrections Canada, the John Howard House and former Mayor Harvey on behalf of the City of Vernon on Aug. 20, 2004. He then spoke of the Community Advisory Board that had been set up to visit other facilities in B.C. and produce a report on the 'The Future of a Community Residential Facility (Halfway House for Federal Parolees) '. (This report was produced Oct. 5, 2005) (See a copy of report at COW AGENDA BACKUP (p.100-110) How the Council handled report can be found at Oct.24/05 Council Minutes & Oct 11/05 Council Minutes

He told the Council that Corrections Canada accepted 24 of the 25 recommendations of the report but were not sure about 1 of the financial recommendations. Mr Lang also indicated that he would endeavor to get a redacted copy of the comprehensive report of Corrections Canada into the hands of the council as soon as it could be legally released. This was in response to a question of Coun. Beardsell. Other questions re the number of parolees in the area and the number of Vernon residents in the number were partially answered and clarifications of residency etc will be sent back to council shortly. (There are 42 active parole cases handled by the 3 Vernon Parole officers including clients from remote locations like Salmon Arm etc who are assigned Vernon located Parole officers.)

Coun. Cunningham expressed concerns about a halfway house and mused that 'not having one was perhaps a greater risk for the community'. "We are creating a false sense of security in the community because we don't have a building called a halfway house. (Parolees) are still out there."

Outside at the media scrum, Lang in response to a question confirmed that there are 42 parolees already in Vernon, but none of them would be eligible for the halfway house. Residents of the new house would be new to Vernon. He also said that if this increased the caseload of the 3 parole officers then adjustments in funding for increased resources would have to be made.

The news Media will be publishing stories today (Vernon Courier) and Wednesday (Morningstar) and they should be elaborating on this important subject. The headline of the Courier's report is ' Corrections vows to work with city' with a quote from Mr Lang; "We would not think of imposing a halfway house on Vernon."

DON QUIXOTE NOTES:
If you take the time to read this report and its 25 recommendations you will be able to judge whether the recommendations were followed yet or are acceptable to you for the future running of a halfway house. The one that states "A hard Copy of the report be made available to Citizens at the City of Vernon offices and posted on the City website." stands out as one that has not been truly complied with yet.

I welcome a community discussion and a council decision on whether Vernon is prepared to host a halfway house again and only hope that the history provided is correct and decisions made on valid undistorted information. To further this end I leave you with my response to the Corrections Canada inhouse investigative report that the council may yet get in a redacted version. Our former Mayor best expressed what was required by the community in an article you can read at http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2004/09/23/vernon_parole040923.html on Sept 23/05 (a month after signing the Aug 20 agreement).

Please read the full report COW AGENDA BACKUP (p.100-110) and feel free to leave constructive comments!

New scandals face RCMP

Crimes, coverup of government corruption among allegations to be detailed by lawyer for Mounties
May 29, 2007 04:30 AM Tonda MacCharles Ottawa Bureau http://www.thestar.com/News/article/218715

OTTAWA–The RCMP is about to be struck with a new wave of allegations of wrongdoing, including a cover-up of government corruption and criminal acts by senior members of the national police force. The Star has learned that at least six, and as many as 12 current and former Mounties, are anxious to come forward with allegations against the force never before made public. They want to be subpoenaed by a House of Commons committee to give them some legal and job protection and if called will testify about: "Subversion of an investigation into corruption and nepotism" in purchasing and contracting practices, and "the falsification of signatures to pay out money, on the part of government officials" in the New Brunswick government.

Allegations that superior officers committed criminal acts against other RCMP members, including electronic surveillance and alteration of documents "to achieve improper goals"Misuse and misdirection of public policing funds to finance the vendettas of managers against targeted members The deliberate cover-up of evidence against former RCMP officer Staff Sgt. Clifford McCann and others implicated in the abuse of young boys at the now-defunct Kingsclear Youth Training Centre in New Brunswick. This is also the subject of an investigation by the RCMP's civilian complaints body that has been dragging on for nearly two years. Interference by superior officers in the political campaigns of RCMP members who sought election to government, including "spying on constituency meetings." Harassment of RCMP members based on their sexual orientation. Regular use of punitive transfers by RCMP management. Psychological "warfare" by certain superior officers against lower ranking members.

The allegations are contained in a letter from Toronto lawyer William Gilmour, himself a former Mountie, to an unnamed Conservative MP. The Star obtained a copy of the letter. It comes at a time when the RCMP is already in turmoil. It has been without a permanent commissioner since Giuliano Zaccardelli resigned last December after he gave conflicting testimony to a Commons committee over the story of Maher Arar, who was deported to Syria and tortured there. And the Commons public accounts committee has been holding hearings since Feb. 21 into allegations that money in the RCMP pension fund was misused. Stockwell Day, minister in charge of the RCMP, last month named lawyer David Browne to investigate the pension abuses. The force is also under scrutiny in two other judge-led inquiries: the Air India probe by John Major, and Frank Iacobucci's review of the cases of three Muslim Canadians who ended up tortured in Syrian or Egyptian jails.

The new round of would-be whistle-blowers includes Mounties whose concerns have never been made public before. All are or were regular uniformed members, including two commissioned officers (of inspector rank or higher). "My clients are of the view that a public inquiry is required to delve into all of the things that presently plague the morale of the men and women serving our national police service," wrote Gilmour, who described the force's internal complaints system in an interview as "broken. It doesn't work." While most of them do not yet want to be identified, the Star has learned that one of them seeking to bring forward new evidence is Const. Peter Merrifield of the RCMP's Toronto North detachment. Merrifield's predicament drew brief public attention after his unsuccessful bid to run for the federal Conservative nomination in Barrie in 2004 cost him a plum counter-terrorism job as part of the elite threat-assessment unit.

He now works in the force's customs unit. He is a supporter of a move within the RCMP to unionize rank-and-file members. He was unwilling to speak to a reporter about the problems he's witnessed, citing the RCMP Act and the force's ability to press internal Code of Conduct charges against members who speak out. But he is willing to volunteer testimony if summoned. So far Day has resisted calls to broaden the inquiry, saying Prime Minister Stephen Harper intends to name a new RCMP commissioner in June, and the government awaits recommendations on RCMP pension abuses on June 15.

Letter clearly show city's position

–managing editor Scott Neufeld EDITORIAL May 28 http://www.dailycourier.ca/

The strong tone the City of Vernon appears to be taking with Corrections Canada is a welcome relief. In a fairly direct letter, Mayor Wayne Lippert reminded Corrections Canada of what is needed before the city supports a halfway house in Vernon. The previous halfway house was shut down at the city’s request and a citizen committee outlined some of the conditions for its re-opening. Near the top of the list was the provision that the city be provided with a full report of why Eric Fish managed to elude authorities for so long.Although his trial has not begun and he is still innocent until proven guilty, the city wants to know how someone labelled “ a high-risk
offender” was able, leave the halfway house and walk the streets for nearly a month-and-a-half. Nearly two years after Fish’s escape, the city has not received any report detailing what happened. Another requirement was that the public have input into what a new halfway house would look like. But with a halfway house contract likely already awarded, the public has been kept in the dark.

Previously we’ve argued in this space that Corrections Canada needs to launch a public relations campaign to keep the public informed and quash any doubts. They needed to keep up a steady flow of information to avoid rumours from starting. This campaign never happened. The public still has little idea what was proposed other than the rumours that are floating around. Will it be located downtown? What type of offenders will be housed there? What safeguards will be put in place? Do we even need a halfway house in Vernon? None of these questions have been addressed.

Of course, Corrections Canada doesn’t need to abide by the recommendations of the city’s committee. They could just force a halfway house down the community’s throat. Council could block it using zoning but it’s unclear whether council would have the fortitude to take such a drastic step or whether doing so is even advisable. Hopefully, Corrections Canada will read the city’s letter, see Vernon’s resolve and work more closely with the public to make sure the halfway house is a positive addition to the community. If Corrections Canada truly wants criminals to be rehabilitated at a Vernon halfway house, they need to first make sure that a community that has too frequently been victimized by violent crime is ready. They need to
ensure the public is prepared to welcome recovering violent offenders back into the community.

Halfway house benefits (VIDEO)

http://www.chbc.com/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=14224

- VideoWeb posted on Monday, 28 May 2007

Proponents of a halfway house in Vernon try to convince city council of its merits.

Possible withdrawal by Vernon could kill progam

http://www.kelownacapnews.com/ By Judie Steevesstaff reporter May 27 2007

Members of the Sterile Insect Release program board are “aghast” that Vernon city council has reservations about such an environmentally-friendly program when all polls indicate the public favours such initiatives. The program involves irradiating codling moths (an introduced and devastating pest of the apple industry) to sterilize them, then releasing them in orchards to mate ineffectively with wild moths. At Friday’s monthly board meeting SIR director Allan Patton questioned whether Vernon realizes if they succeed in dropping out of the valley-wide program, “it’s the end of the SIR program.” North Okanagan Regional District director Stan Field responded, “Some realize and some don’t give a damn.”

An amendment to the service establishment bylaw, which would allow the board to continue with representatives from all areas until the end of the year, was deferred when it got to Vernon city council pending a meeting between Coun. Barry Beardsell, MLA Tom Christensen and regional district chairman Jerry Oglow. It’s already been approved by the other regional districts that make up the board. Director Kevin Flynn of the Okanagan Similkameen Regional District stated: “With all the public concern about the environment I can’t understand why some politicians would object to paying $6 to $12 a household to reduce this pesticide use.” "Public pressure will dictate how the politicians respond to the program,” said Fred Steele. Director Joe Sardinha pointed out the program protects the air and water by reducing the volumne of pesticides that have to be sprayed. So he doesn’t understand how it wouldn’t fit with an objective of being more environmentally-friendly.

SIR general manager Cara McCurrach said they are in the process of applying for a designation as a Low Pest Prevalence Area by the North America Plant Protection Organization. The basis of the designation would be the fact that 90.2 per cent of all orchards in the region have had less than .5 per cent damage from codling moth for the past two years. That would give growers a marketing tool for apples grown in the region covered by the SIR program, she explained. The program is one that’s being watched by scientists from all over the world, and this summer seven visiting scientists will be coming to the valley facility to train, paying the program $31,000 for the opportunity.

Councillor calls city surplus ’ridiculous’

By Jordan Nicurity Monday, May 28, 2007 http://www.dailycourier.ca/stories.php?id=45955

Vernon City Council has revealed that 2006 was a good year financially for the city. A very, very good year. At the finance meeting on Thursday the city made it known that the net surplus for 2006 was $1,554,204. “It‘s a ridiculous amount of money,” said Coun. Barry Beardsell, “I was expecting a surplus but nothing of this magnitude. Usually you end up with a surplus of $50,000 or $100,000.” While this may seem like a pleasant surprise, Beardsell said he is not sure the public will view it as such, especially after the raise in residential taxes this year. “A lot of people will be saying, ’If (council) has got so much money then why not cut my taxes?‘” said Beardsell.

Coun. Patrick Nicol feels that citizens of Vernon will be more understanding. “Citizens always appreciate when they get something for their hard-earned tax dollars, and they‘ll see that they get that,” said Nicol, noting that much of the surplus will go towards the redesign of Middleton Way. “It‘s a matter of balance, we have big projects with considerable expenditures that need to be addressed,” said Nicol. While the sources of the surplus will not be made public until Thursday‘s finance committee meeting, it is known that approximately $440,000 has come from development fee revenue that was not budgeted. Councillors are aware that citizens may criticize the city for deliberately underestimating growth in order to secure a large surplus. According to Nicol, this is partly true. “The growth percentage we chose was us being conservative,” he said. “There was a very healthy debate on the percentage and maybe we were overly cautious.” Under a new accounting system known as Generally Accepted Accounting Practices (GAAP), the funds have been temporarily allocated to various reserve accounts until a full review of the city‘s reserve account system happens later in the year. The GAAP system must be used due to legislation enacted by the provincial government in the wake of the Enron scandal in the U.S.

SIR board bugged by no-show

By J.P. SQUIRE Monday, May 28, 2007

Some Vernon councillors continue their stinging criticism of the sterile insect release program, but its chairman is hitting back. “Some members of Vernon city council have expressed concerns about the SIR program and the cost of it,” said Kelowna Coun. Colin Day, chairman of the SIR board, which met in Kelowna Friday. One of the most outspoken critics is Vernon Coun. Barry Beardsell, but “every time we put on a presentation, he‘s been busy or wasn‘t able to make it,” said Day. “We have all the information that he‘s asked for. He‘s asking questions mostly related to the cost of the program, and we‘ve tried our best to answer them.”

If Vernon councillors have any questions or issues, they will have to go through Stan Field, SIR representative on the North Okanagan Regional District board, said Day. “So it‘s not really a SIR board issue; it‘s a NORD issue. It‘s the same as the Central Okanagan Regional District; the majority rules. Sometimes, when the majority rules, some of the minority don‘t like it, so they have to work that issue out, to work through it.” Vernon can‘t just pull out of the SIR program, Day explained. “It would have to be a majority of NORD directors and, as I understand it, a majority of them are in favour of the program. So, it‘s an internal issue.” Maybe Beardsell has some legitimate questions, Day added. “I really don‘t know. I haven‘t really had an opportunity to talk to him directly about it because he didn‘t show up to the meeting we scheduled and took the time to go up there prepared to answer the questions. He didn‘t make it to the meeting. Other people did; they had all their questions answered and obviously they were satisfied with the answers they received.”

Day, an Okanagan farmer, says the big benefit of the codling moth eradication technique using sterile moths is that it‘s a green program. “It gets chemicals out of the air and out of our water system. I think at least in the Central Okanagan, there is a lot of support for the program because of that,” he said. “It‘s an environmental issue, and I would suggest that it should be an issue in Vernon and in NORD too that this is a green program that gets rid of those chemicals. And some of those chemicals are really bad, really, really bad. Guthion is one of them, and it‘s extremely toxic and deadly.” Beardsell could not be reached for comment on Sunday.

City council demands halfway house delay

By Jordan Nicurity Sunday, May 27, 2007 http://www.dailycourier.ca/stories.php?id=45956

It appears as if Corrections Canada have made their decision regarding the location of a new halfway house in Vernon. However, city council doesn‘t want to hear it. The Corrections Canada announcement, which would have been made at today‘s council meeting, would likely be delayed after a request from mayor Wayne Lippert to defer the presentation and instead “further discuss the proposal and address our concerns.” “(Corrections Canada) were told that we had conditions of what we wanted to see before we would consider the matter,” said Coun. Barry Beardsell, “They still haven‘t stepped up to the plate with those.” Council is in agreement that before the Corrections Canada proposal is heard, the Eric Fish trial must be concluded and a report on the operations of the previous halfway house be seen by council.

Fish was charged with first degree murder in the beating death of Bill Abramenko in 2004. At the time of the murder, Fish had been missing from the Howard House for six weeks. RCMP did not issue an alert when Fish disappeared although the National Parole Board had noted that he was a high risk to violently re-offend. The halfway house was later closed at the city‘s request. “Bill Abramenko was a very decent man. The very least we need to do is get answers as to what occurred, and that has never been forthcoming,” said Coun. Patrick Nicol. “This is not to point fingers but to find out what went wrong. It‘s a very reasonable request. It‘s difficult to think that we have to beg to have that request adhered to,” Nicol said.

Although council is not in favour of moving ahead with the halfway house at this time, there may not be much it can do to stop Corrections Canada. “The moratorium (against the halfway house) ends in October. I‘m not sure that after the two years we have the right to stop them,” said Coun. Juliette Cunningham. Cunningham said that if Corrections Canada goes ahead without the support of council, the city may try to block the project using zoning bylaws. “That‘s where we have control; if its in an area that needs to be rezoned to accommodate it, then it will have to go to public hearing.”

Vernon has an extra $1,554,204 from last year budget !

The NET surplus for 2006 is $1,554,204. I stress the word NET because this is the amount that will be sliced and diced by the Council into various 'flavour of the day' projects or formally put into Reserves to be used in the future. This figure above of $1,554,204 does NOT include more than $726,090 that were 'carried over' projects of 2006 to be completed in 2007 that were authorized by the previous Financial Manager. As well a further $3,135,975 had been authorized by council resolution in 2006 to be carried over to 2007. (Mostly the 25th ave construction deferred to spring of 2007).

Despite the fact that the originally estimated surplus was $700,000 and they used $230,600 of this for the OCP review the council refused to use any of the surplus to reduce residential class taxes when they decided to reduce business class taxes. (Residential taxes were increased from the original 2% forecast of $193,868 to $468,868 which is a 4.95% increase, while business taxes were decreased from the original 2% forecast of $100,608 to ($311,092 decrease) which is a 6.6% decrease.)

I hope that when the Council does their final slicing and dicing and their formal reserve account review which is long overdue they will consider using account # 246-201-024 which is a tax equalization reserve to place sufficient money from this windfall surplus to reduce the residential class taxes in 2008 by at least the amount by which they were increased (screwed) in 2007 !

IT IS TOO LATE TO ADJUST THE 2007 TAXES AS NOTICES HAVE GONE OUT BUT PUT ASIDE ENOUGH IN THE TAX EQUALIZATION RESERVE TO CORRECT IN 2008. (After all it is an Election year and individuals vote not businesses.)

QUESTION: What is a tax Equalization Reserve?
ANSWER: It is the taxpayer's equivalent of the Council Initiative Fund, Slush fund or the Mayor's "wiggle room" where the excess taxes or surpluses that had been collected from the year could be deposited. This fund which would benefit the taxpayers tax RATES has not been used since late 1984 when it was created to smooth out excessive rate increases in any one year.
The Council should commit to put the under budgeted building fees and others of the same ilk into this reserve each year to smooth out future taxes when revenues are more correctly forecast or even mis forecasted on the high side. The Council of the day can still remove these reserves and slice and dice them but the open audit trail would be more transparent and open to constructive public scrutiny.

Council says Halfway House Proposal Premature !!

Click on Image to enlarge:

http://www.vernon.ca/council/documents/2007/agenda_070528_pkg1.pdf (p.27 or 55)

http://www.1075kiss.com/news/headlines/

Halfway House Plan On Hold
There's been a major new development in the initiative for a new halfway house for paroled offenders in Vernon. Corrections Canada was to have made an announcement Monday as to which of two groups was the successful bidder for a new 14 bed facility. However, the city of Vernon has sent a letter to Corrections Director Brian Lang, insisting that its concerns first be 'taken into account and thoroughly explored.' Mayor Wayne Lippert says in the letter, the city continues to feel the proposal is 'premature' given that the Bill Abramenko case has not been resolved and there's been 'little public consultation.' Lippert says the city is not in favour of moving forward on the plan without further input. He's asking Corrections to defer its announcement on Monday and instead come talk with council about the concerns.
Lisa Bayne from Corrections tells KISS FM, they will abide by the city's request, and will attend Monday's meeting to discuss the situation. However, she still feels an announcement on the succesful bidder will be made 'very soon' after the outstanding issues are discussed. (Pete McIntyre) )5/25/07

Community encouraged to take part in planning

By RICHARD ROLKE Morning Star Staff May 27 2007 Vernon Morningstar

Vernonites are being urged to stay involved in developing a new official community plan. The city will host stakeholder meetings June 9 and 16 as part of creating a new long-term land use document. All residents are invited to take part in the discussions. “The OCP reflects the opinions and priorities of residents and council,” said Jeremy Kinch, manager of planning, development and engineering services. These meetings are just the latest stage in the OCP review. “We have spent the last seven months gathering input and so far it has been fairly broad,” said Kinch. The process has included visioning workshops, a community survey, focus groups and an online form. From that, guiding principles have been established to direct the writing of policies and the OCP.

With the two stakeholder meetings, Kinch said the city’s goal is to get more specific information about land use. Maps have been produced and they will be used to reveal development preferences, including the location of new employment, commercial centres and residential subdivisions. Kinch hopes to see between 120 and 150 people participate in each session. Besides city staff, the meetings will also involve Smart Growth Advisory Services, the firm contracted to lead the OCP review. The June 9 stakeholder meeting will be at Okanagan Landing Elementary School from 1 to 4 p.m., while the June 16 meeting will be from 1 to 4 p.m. at the Performing Arts Centre. City staff anticipates having a draft OCP before council in December for consideration, with approval coming in early 2008

Tolko takes a second look at project

By Morning Star Staff http://www.vernonmorningstar.com/

May 27 2007A Vernon-based company is backing off a major expansion in Alberta. Tolko Industries is slowing construction of a new $35 million I-joist plant in Sturgeon County. Brad Thorlakson, president of Tolko marketing and sales, says a review of the project’s timeline is necessary because of poor market conditions. “The outlook is for continuing low U.S. housing starts, a strengthening Canadian dollar and rising transportation costs,” he said. “After considering these factors and our customers’ current needs, we felt this was the most practical decision.” Tolko announced the project in January and it was initially scheduled for completion in late 2007. Thorlakson said building erection and equipment installation will be completed when there is a clear indication of sustainable markets. “Tolko remains committed to this project and the Sturgeon site.” Construction of Tolko's Athabasca division continues near Slave Lake. The price tag of that project is $250 million. Earlier this month, Tolko temporarily closed its divisions in Williams Lake and Quesnel due to market pressures, while its Merritt plant dropped from three to two shifts.

Residents asked to borrow $20 million

By RICHARD ROLKE Morning Star Staff May 27 2007 http://www.vernonmorningstar.com/

Vernonites are being asked to borrow $20 million for a new library/administration office complex. The city will seek public approval to borrow money for the project through an alternate approval process in July. If 10 per cent of voters sign a petition in opposition, a loan cannot proceed. But Mayor Wayne Lippert doesn’t see that happening. “We’re confident this will go ahead,” he said of the project. “If it (alternate approval process) fails, we could go to referendum. There are other ways to do this.”

On Friday, the city and Okanagan Regional LIbrary signed an agreement that will see both jurisdictions provide funding for the building between city hall and the current library. “We’re looking forward to a great new facility,” said Rick Fairbairn, ORL director. The total price tag is $29 million, with ORL bringing $9 million to the table. The building would be three to five storeys in size, with a new library covering the entire ground floor or 30,000-square-feet.
It’s anticipated construction could begin in the fall 2008, with it completed in late 2009. “I’m happy it’s going ahead finally,” said Maureen Kuch, Vernon’s head librarian. The current branch is half the size of what is planned and Kuch says it’s not big enough to meet local needs, especially when it comes to Internet access, study space and children’s programs. “Our magazine collection is about a third of what we should be providing.”

The rest of the building would contain city and RCMP offices, as well as possibly the art gallery. The museum would expand into the existing library. Coun. Patrick Nicol is confident the new building can fit into the designated space and still provide a sense of openness. “This is a foundation piece for our community,” he said.

Border agreement defended in lumber lull

By Tyler OlsenMorning Star Staff May 27 2007 http://www.vernonmorningstar.com/
The B.C. lumber industry may be slumping but it’s not because of the Canada-U.S. softwood lumber agreement, according to International Trade Minister David Emerson. Emerson, who is also Minister for the Pacific Gateway, was in Vernon Thursday to speak with local politicians and businesspeople at Predator Ridge. Taking a break from discussions, Emerson spoke to media about passports and lumber issues. On lumber, Emerson noted, “I think what we’re dealing with in the lumber industry may be a virtually unprecedented downturn...but I can assure you it is not caused by the lumber agreement.” Emerson pointed to a slowing U.S. housing market as one of the culprits for the troubles, which have caused several lumber companies to close mills and lay off workers in recent months. “The softwood lumber agreement gives us a framework with which we can deal with the U.S. government,” said Emerson. “I thank my lucky stars we have this lumber agreement,” he said, adding that without the agreement, tariffs could be as high as 40 per cent.

Flanked by Okanagan-Shuswap MP Colin Mayes on his right, Emerson said he had been warmly embraced by the Conservative caucus since he left the Liberals following the 2006 federal election. Emerson was also asked about plans to establish passport application offices in the Okanagan. “I can tell you that is one of the fundamental directions we’re moving in.” On Wednesday three Service Canada Centres – in Burnaby, North Vancouver and Coquitlam – were given the power to process passport applications.
--------------------------
By Tyler OlsenMorning Star Staff
May 27 2007Gateway opens door to opportunity
The B.C. Interior must find a way to connect to a rapidly evolving Pacific commercial transportation plan, Pacific Gateway Minister David Emerson told local politicians and businesspeople Thursday at Predator Ridge. Speaking to media during a break in discussions, Emerson, who is also the international trade minister, spoke at length about the proposed Pacific Gateway plan. “The gateways and corridor initiative is fundamentally about creating an efficient transportation and logistical system connecting the core markets of Asia with the core markets of Canada,” said Emerson. “What we’ll be talking about next is the plan that needs to be put in place so this region can connect in to what will be a global transportation initiative.” Emerson raised the possibility of an inland port that would serve as a hub for commercial transport, including containers. “One of the things we hear over and over again is we need to ensure container traffic gets efficiently through ports and into the Interior.” And with an ever-evolving globalized world, he said Canadians can’t let new opportunities pass them by.

“Canada has always been a trading nation. We’ve depended on it for our jobs and our wealth creation.” He noted that with its natural beauty, the Okanagan was uniquely positioned to become a high-tech hub. “You can compete almost anywhere in the world from anywhere in the world.” Vernon Mayor Wayne Lippert, who was joined by counterparts from Coldstream, Armstrong and Spallumcheen, was pleased with the discussions. “I’m very happy with the way the talks went. It gives us some insight into what the Pacific Gateway initiative is all about. We all had our ideas on it but he helped clarify it.” Lippert said that while the meeting was fairly general, “it gives us some direction, a chance to realize where the federal government is going with the Pacific Gateway and to generally identify areas to take advantage of.” Emerson also made an impression on Spallumcheen Mayor Will Hansma: “We have to make sure when that flow-through traffic starts to happen we aren’t passed by, that there’s somewhere the trains can stop.” Hansma said that failing to take advantage of the initiative could have a very negative effect on local businesses.

Container plan gains ground (Affordable Housing ?)

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/18475601/

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - This takes a little inside- and a whole lot of outside-the-box thinking. What looks like and lives like a house is actually a shipping container. "I call it my bunker," says Rosalynn Kearney of her container home. Used to import almost everything we use and wear, shipping containers are now a new concept in affordable housing. The containers are claimed to be hurricane-proof, fire-resistant, and there's not a termite to be found. With America exporting so little, shipping companies face the dilemma of what to do with these 32,000-pound containers. Increasingly too expensive to ship back overseas empty, these steel boxes — which can be as large as 20-by-48-feet — are stacked high, sitting in ports around the country. There are as many as 300,000 containers, by some estimates. And they're cheap — ranging from $500 to $2,000 for an unused container. In hurricane-prone Florida, more container houses are going up, though when finished you'd hardly know they're different from any other house.

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http://www.pentictonwesternnews.com/By WOLF DEPNER Western News StaffMay 25 2007
The public once again heard about the possibility of turning shipping containers into affordable housing. Linda Sankey, chair of the Penticton Affordable Housing Group, raised the prospect when she spoke before council Tuesday about restrictions to the use of metal shipping containers. “The homes that have been built with containers have been quite lovely in (terms of) construction value, as well as affordability,” she said, pointing to a host of communities, including Victoria, where shipping containers are used for housing. Former city councillor Gus Boersma was among the first to raise that possibility. He said that it would not take many resources to convert shipping containers into housing, provided the city would also change local bylaws. Amendments passed Tuesday restrict the use of shipping containers, but do not necessarily prohibit the use of shipping containers as frames for new housing, as some other municipalities have done. “That wasn’t considered,” said Mayor Jake Kimberley. “It has been brought to staff’s attention that there is a lot of these units being stacked around the city and that is a concern.” While the new regulations actually expand the number of zones where containers can be used, they impose new restrictions on the stacking of containers and their relative location to other buildings. Containers are eligible for use in any zone as temporary storage during construction provided their users have a valid building permit. They must be removed after completion of construction. Violators of these new rules face a $100 penalty.