Retiring politician takes parting shots

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By Richard Rolke - Vernon Morning Star Published: September 30

A veteran Vernon councillor is calling it quits and he’s urging voters to turf his colleagues. Barry Beardsell, who was first elected in 1996, has decided not to seek a fifth term during November’s civic election. And one of the reasons for leaving, he says, is frustration with how city hall is being operated. “After 12 years on council, I have found the last three disastrous for Vernon with no leadership from the mayor and a majority of council uninspiring,” he said. “This is the worst council I’ve seen in 35 years.” Beardsell believes there is a need for a political change in November. “I hope a new mayor and council will be elected. Openness and transparency have been lacking as well as financial accountability,” he said, adding that spending continues despite current global economic uncertainty. “There’s no tightening of the belt and they think we’re immune to what’s going on in the world.”

Beardsell is also upset with the western bypass corridor being removed from the new official community plan, and he says nothing has been done to resolve the entire civic complex issue after a failed referendum earlier this year. But while he is not satisfied with the current state of city hall, Beardsell refutes suggestions that he should run for mayor instead of retiring. “It’s fair comment but I’ve been there 12 years, doing my best. I’m 68 years old and it’s time for new people and new ideas,” he said.

Mayor Wayne Lippert takes issue with Beardsell’s claims that this is the worst council since the early 1970s. “You have to compare this council to previous councils. The finance committee meets more regularly than it has before and it’s been open to the public,” said Lippert, who is seeking re-election. “When it comes to openness and transparency, this council has been one of the better ones.” Lippert also defends the role he has played as mayor, saying that he has made himself available to members of council and the public. “He may not appreciate my leadership style but I believe in building relationships,” he said. “We have a better rapport with senior government and we are working with the regional district.” While they have often opposed each other in council chambers, Lippert has praise for Beardsell. “Councillor Beardsell is very smart and knows a lot of the history (of city actions),” said Lippert. “When he’s thinking positively, he’s been a great asset to council.” “Love him or hate him, he’s been a big contributor to Vernon and the Greater Vernon area.”

Looking back on his tenure at city hall, Beardsell is proud of how a base level was established for capital expenditures and how increased money was put towards road improvements. “These are the bread and butter issues that were always chopped when budgets were done before,” he said, adding that he was also pleased to see the indoor soccer centre go ahead. “This facility was very important for the entire community.”

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Dr. No leaves swinging Richard Rolke - Vernon Morning Star Published: September 30, 2008

It shouldn't come as a surprise that Barry Beardsell wouldn't ease into political retirement quietly. Beardsell has decided not to seek a fifth term on Vernon council in November, and as he made his announcement, he didn't mince words about his current colleagues at city hall. "After 12 years on council, I have found the last three disastrous for Vernon with no leadership from the mayor and the majority of council uninspiring," he said. "This is the worst council I've seen in 35 years." Talk about endearing himself to the other six individuals he has to continue to work with until the term officially ends. But, of course, Beardsell has never worried about what other people think of him or his views. He started off his political career as a loner and he ends it as a loner. It was only during the Sean Harvey era that Beardsell came close to being part of establishment and often served as a mentor for the young mayor.

It's not uncommon for people to say that Beardsell is too negative, and certainly his track record for opposing motions bears that out. He almost wears the titles of Dr. No and Grinch as badges of honour. But I maintain that Beardsell has played a significant and necessary role at city hall. There were many times where a watchdog was needed to keep an eye on the public purse, and who better than an accountant to take on that role. Unlike some politicians who seemed willing to rubber-stamp bureaucratic reports, Beardsell did research and asked questions. Earlier this year, it was just Beardsell against the rest of council over the civic complex issue but in the end, he was right and they were wrong. Sufficient planning and public consultation hadn't been done, and that was reinforced when a majority of voters refused to approve borrowing funds.

Beardsell was often portrayed as a hard-ass but there is a soft side to him. He supported efforts to get a homeless shelter established and years ago, he was among those who pushed to keep the Saturday street lunch from folding. Even his fight over increased slot machines was driven by a concern that some individuals and families suffer at the hands of gambling addiction. But Beardsell frequently was like a dog gnawing at a bone, not knowing when to give up. Case in point was his disdain for the North Okanagan Regional District and its disemboweling of Greater Vernon governance. Ultimately, NORD had the authority to do what it did, and all Beardsell achieved by constantly raising the issue was deepen a rift between city hall and its regional partners. Beardsell's comments could also occasionally go completely over the top. And for proof of that, one just has to consider his claim that "this is the worst council I've seen in 35 years." Has this current council — under the leadership of Mayor Wayne Lippert — made mistakes? Obviously. But as someone who has covered local politics for 18 years, I would be hard-pressed to describe this as the worst council ever. In fact, I can think of one in the mid-1990s that could win that title handily.

I am also left wondering why Beardsell is riding off into the sunset and not running for mayor himself if he thinks things at city hall are so bad? He claims he won't because of his age and because "it's time for new people and new ideas." For me, age is irrelevant as long as an individual is willing to serve the community, and what does his comment about "new ideas" say about those he has been putting forward for years? In the end, Beardsell has decided to retire and all Vernonites — whether they supported him or not — should acknowledge his commitment to the community over 12 years. He wouldn't have interrupted his career and home life if he didn't care about Vernon. And of course, he deserves praise for ensuring there was never a dull minute at city hall.

Plug pulled on election forum

Morning Star sept 30

Some Okanagan-Shuswap residents won’t be able to hear an all-candidates forum in their own town during the federal election campaign. Although the Salmon Arm Council of Canadians and the Shuswap Environmental Action Society had set up a forum for Sunday, Conservative candidate Colin Mayes says he won’t be available. The organizers initially were going to go ahead with the remaining five candidates, but they have since decided the Salmon Arm event will be cancelled. Chair of the local chapter of the Council of Canadians, David Hagel, said the organizing committee thought “there would not be a meaningful debate without the incumbent MP present.” Asked why he won’t attend, Mayes said, “I made a commitment in June to host a number of ambassadors (from Ottawa) who are touring the Okanagan Valley. I am tied up for three days,” he said. “Our calendar was booked. The last week of the campaign, I have all-candidates almost every night. There literally wasn’t any room. The night they picked was the night I am with the ambassadors. It’s unfortunate. That’s a little bit of the disadvantage – I’m still the member of Parliament.”

The forum was scheduled for the daytime, not at night. Asked if there was no other time that would work for him, he said no. “That’s right, we have a full calendar. Don’t think I wouldn’t like to be in my home town at the all-candidates. Why would I want to miss an all-candidates in my home town? It is just unfortunate but that’s the way it is.” Asked if he couldn’t take time out from the ambassadors’ tour, he said the forum would undoubtedly be several hours and the tour is in Kelowna and Vernon, so he would have to travel as well. “All the schedule for their tour was provided over the summer and I committed to it and I have to live up to my commitments. I’m sure people will read something in that and be critical but they have to remember I am still the Member of Parliament and I believe when you make commitments you live up to them.” In response to the suggestion that an incumbent is important to such a forum, Mayes said Salmon Arm residents can easily contact him. “The good thing is that I live here and they can talk to me anytime.”

Asked if the forum’s sponsors - the Council of Canadians who have been critical of Conservative policies - was a factor in his decision, he said no. He said the same group organized the forum during the last election and he attended that one. Mayes also said the request for the Salmon Arm forum came in later than other requests. Hagel said the request, made Sept. 21, still gave candidates two weeks’ notice. “We believe this is more than adequate in a 30-day campaign. No other candidate had a problem with the notice.” Hagel said organizers were ahead of the chamber of commerce, which had also inquired about rental facilities. Hearing about the Council of Canadians’ interest in the federal forum, the chamber decided to put its efforts into a forum during the municipal election campaign instead. Hagel said when Mayes’ campaign manager Terri Jones told him he couldn’t come to the Sunday event, he asked what dates were available, offering to make it fit Mayes’ schedule. “She said ‘there is only one day available and there are two people ahead of you.’” Hagel said organizers are disappointed the incumbent won’t be there and they think his decision is disrespectful to the other candidates, the community at large, Conservative Party members in the riding and the forum’s organizing committee. “We believe that Mr. Mayes should have given priority to fitting in the only all-candidates’ forum planned for the areas of Salmon Arm and Chase.”

Beardsell leaving Politics

Starlee Speers-Vernon 105.7 SUNFM

A long time Vernon councillor has announced he's leaving politics. Barry Beardsell says openness and financial accountability have been lacking with this current mayor and council. "I had to make the decision, do I run again or do I run for Mayor. It's paramount in my mind that after twelve years it's time for somebody new." Beardsell says he has no plans to run on the Provincial ballot in May either.

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Veteran councillor bows out ! 107.5 KISSFM Pete McIntyre

A long time Vernon city councillor says 12 years is enough. Barry Beardsell has announced he won't be seeking a fourth term this fall. He tells KISS FM, "I found the last three years disastrous for Vernon with no leadership from the mayor and the majority of council uninspiring." Beardsell feels it's time for a change, saying openness and transparency have been lacking on council , along with financial accountability. The former chartered accountant says he considered running for mayor, but decided against it.

Police beef up traffic enforcement

By Peter McIntyre 107.5 KISSFM

There hasn't been many radar traps or other traffic crackdowns lately in Vernon, but that's about to change. RCMP begin a new campaign today looking for drivers who speed, go through stop signs, drive while impaired, or don't wear a seatbelt. Inspector Steve McVarnock says a lack of manpower has been a hindrance to traffic enforcement the last while but they've been able to hire a new reserve officer to specifically work traffic duty, along with a regular Mountie. "It's fair to say there needs to be a better job done by our detachment in terms of city traffic enforcement, and the reason for our limited effectiveness is because of our regular workload." McVarnock says Vernon is the 9th busiest detachment in BC in terms of case load. The Inspector won't be specific about the targeted sites other than to say it will be at local "hot spots". The new crackdown comes after calls for more traffic enforcement from city councillor Jack Gilroy and Mayor Wayne Lippert last week. The elected reps argued the recent increase in crashes at city intersections are more a result of drivers not obeying the laws, rather than unsafe intersection design or a lack of signage or traffic lights.

Harper speech plagiarized; Tory staffer resigns.

CTV.ca News Staff

A campaign worker for the Conservatives has resigned, after the Liberals showed a 2003 speech by Stephen Harper that plagiarized sections of an address by then-Australian prime minister John Howard. "In 2003, I worked in the Office of the Leader of the Opposition. I was tasked with -- and wrote -- a speech for the then Leader of the Opposition," Owen Lippert said in a press release issued Tuesday. "Pressed for time, I was overzealous in copying segments of another world leader's speech. Neither my superiors in the Office of the Leader of the Opposition nor the Leader of the Opposition was aware that I had done so." Lippert, who also became a senior policy advisor for the Canadian International Development Agency in 2008, apologized to "all involved." Just hours before Lippert's resignation, Liberal candidate Bob Rae accused Harper of plagiarizing almost half of Howard's speech, when Harper was opposition leader of the Canadian Alliance At a press conference, Rae showed video of Harper giving a speech in Parliament on March 20, 2003 -- the first day U.S. forces began bombing Baghdad. The video is contrasted with a speech two days earlier from Howard, in which he gives a strikingly similar address.Much of Harper's address matches Howard's virtually word-for-word.

Final Results of Amalgamation Poll.

Mayes a no show

Web posted on Monday, 29 September 2008 CHBC VIDEO

It's not an all candidates debate when one of the candidates won't be there.

Opening at Vernon City Hall ?

REAL ESTATE MANAGER Exempt (Full-time)
Competition #: 87-COV-08
Closing Date: October 15, 2008
Rate of Pay: $65,946.78 - $77,584.45 annual salary range

Reporting to the Manager, Administration Services, the incumbent is responsible for the
management and development of the City’s real estate assets, and acquisition of property and
rights of way related to City projects. The incumbent provides professional real estate advice to
City Council, the Land Committee, senior administration, other City divisions and outside
agencies. He/she relies on a commitment to professional appraisal principles, a good
knowledge of real estate values and trends, paralegal experience, the Local Government Act,
the Community Charter, the Land Title Act, the Land Registry Act and City bylaws and policies.

Regional district no show at signing

By SCOTT TRUDEAU Penticton Herald

The signing of a protocol and accord agreement involving three South Okanagan Indian Bands was missing a key player Monday -- the Regional District Okanagan-Similkameen was a no-show. Grand Chief Stewart Phillip of the Penticton Indian Band said he received a letter from RDOS chairman Dan Ashton Friday afternoon announcing that the ceremonial signing at the Penticton Trade and Convention Centre should be postponed. However, Phillip, Chief Clarence Louie of the Osoyoos Indian Band, and Keith Crow, representative for the Lower Similkameen Indian Band decided to move forward with the ceremony anyway. Signing the document without an RDOS representative present demonstrates the three bands’’ support for the contents of the agreement, said Phillip. He added it represents the harmonization of their government-to-government relationship and issues of joint concern. Ashton said Monday the regional district’’s municipal directors had asked for the signing to be delayed after recently receiving word that the Lower Similkameen and Osoyoos Indian bands were also signing onto the agreement. "When notifying the member municipalities of the regional district that we had been invited to participate in the signing ceremony on Sept. 29, we had a number of them request postponement so they could take documents back to their council for permission to participate," explained Ashton.
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No deal yet CHBC VIDEO Web posted on Monday, 29 September 2008

There's a last minute glitch in a protocol agreement involving Okanagan Indian bands.

Most Kelowna residents don‘t trust city hall

Ron Seymour Kelowna Courier
Only one-quarter of Kelowna residents trust city hall “to do what is right,” councillors were surprised to discover Monday. The annual citizen survey also found that less than one-third of residents believe Kelowna is headed in the right direction, and fewer than half believe city hall is “open and accessible.” “These are not great scores, in my view,” said Coun. Robert Hobson, who termed the findings “distressing.” “The general trust issue, that concerns me,” he said. “We have to really strive to raise that.”

The survey, mailed to 2,500 randomly selected residents earlier this year, posed dozens of questions on topics including transportation, satisfaction with city programs, recreation and leisure, taxation and livability. A total of 696 responses were received, with the margin of error said to be 3.7 per cent.

According to survey respondents, growth management is the most important issue facing Kelowna, followed by traffic congestion and affordable housing. The fire department had the highest level of public support, with 80 per cent of respondents saying they were either satisfied or extremely satisfied with the service. Satisfaction levels were also high for the airport (71 per cent), parks maintenance (71 per cent) and sports field maintenance (65 per cent). But the RCMP rated a satisfaction level of 54 per cent, placing it ninth on the list of 13 municipal services for which respondents were asked their opinion. “They (the police) come in a little lower than I would have thought,” given all the extra resources the city has put into the RCMP in recent years, Coun. Norm Letnick said.
Other survey highlights:
– Only three per cent use public transit as their primary mode of travel, but 67 per cent support additional investments in the bus system.
– 38 per cent say that overall city services are very good or excellent.
– Residents are split on increasing residential density as a way to accommodate growth and limit urban sprawl.

Changes to this year‘s survey make direct comparisons to previous ones difficult, consultant Alan Rice of Kettle Valley Research told council. For example, in previous surveys, respondents were typically given four possible responses to questions: strongly agree, agree, disagree, strongly disagree. This year, a fifth possible answer – neutral – was added, because people may not have strong feelings one way or another about a specific question. On the question, “I trust the City to do what is right,” four per cent strongly agreed, 20 per cent agreed and 43 per cent were neutral. That means 33 per cent disagreed or strongly disagreed.
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Don Quixoter Note: A quick survey for the City of Vernon taxpayers can be found on the right hand side of this blog. “I trust the City to do what is right,” is the question.

Councillor ’hurt‘ by mayor‘s end run on Simpson covenant

Ron Seymour Kelowna Courier
The leadership abilities of Mayor Sharon Shepherd were called into question Monday by Coun. Carol Gran. Gran, who is not running for re-election in November, said she was “hurt to the core” by Shepherd‘s actions on the Simpson covenant issue. “I like you, and I value your friendship,” Gran said at the end of the regular council meeting, “but I was very hurt, and I wanted you to know that, and to say it in public.” On Aug. 18, the city announced it would appeal a B.C. Supreme Court ruling that found the covenant was an enforceable charitable trust under common law. The agreement was struck in 1946 when Stanley Simpson sold downtown land to the city on condition it be used only for municipal purposes. The city‘s position is that the covenant is outdated and unenforceable, and that the land would be better protected through modern-day zoning regulations. Around 10 p.m. on Aug. 18, Shepherd sent out a press release saying she would oppose the city‘s planned appeal. She was criticized by some councillors, who said her statement amounted to a violation of the rules of confidentiality that surround an in-camera vote like the one where the decision was taken to launch the appeal. “I‘m deeply dismayed by the mayor‘s actions,” Coun. Brian Given said on Aug. 19. In response to Gran‘s criticism on Monday, Shepherd said she‘d had “many sleepless nights” over the issue. Asked if that meant she regretted opposing the city‘s planned appeal, Shepherd said: “No, I haven‘t changed my mind on that at all.” If she had it to do over again, Shepherd suggested she would not have announced her opposition to the appeal just a few hours after council stated its intention to go forward with it. “I‘ve learned a little bit about process,” Shepherd said.

National Do Not Call List

Don’t forget to register ON OR AFTER September 30th

As of Sep.30,2008 you can register with the federal CRTC to have your phone number included on a "Do not Call List" that telemarketers are required to keep. This list is updated monthly and if you are on the list and are contacted by a telemarketer they can face possible prosecution. To register on or after Sept.30, 2008 go to the Government of Canada website at www.lnnte-dncl.gc.ca or call toll free at 1-866-580-3625.

Key facts for consumers

Vernon council Candidate floats trial balloon.

Local Candidate indicates an interest in entering race and establishes a website to test the waters.

New Website can be found HERE.

Comments on the new Website will determine the viability of his seeking a Council seat.

NEW SUPPORTIVE HOUSING FOR ABBOTSFORD

The memorandum of understanding between the Province and the City of Abbotsford commits to the construction of up to 100 units of new social and supportive housing in Abbotsford. The new housing developments are proposed for two sites: Clearbrook Road and Emerson Street.

Sites

• The sites at 3106 Clearbook Road and 2323 Emerson Street are city-owned and will require rezoning.
• Both sites are currently vacant.
• New construction will provide 30 to 50 self-contained units of supportive housing on each site, with space for support services.
• The Province will issue a proposal call this fall to select non-profit housing organizations to operate the developments.
• The City will lease the sites to the successful proponents for a nominal fee for 60 years.
• The City will exempt the sites from property taxes as long as they continue to provide housing and support services for people who would otherwise be at risk of homelessness.
• The buildings will be designed to LEED Gold Certification or equivalent standards.

Process

• Memorandum of understanding signed by the Province and the City on September 29, 2008.
• The Province will pay all costs to design the housing through to the issuing of development and building permits, including consultant fees and disbursements for the two sites.
• The Province will seek funding for capital and operating costs.
• The City will provide the land for redevelopment.
• The City will designate a staff member to ensure the municipal approval process is expedited.
• Community consultation will include public information meetings and formal public hearings through the approvals process.

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The Province’s contribution to pay for development costs is part of the Provincial Homelessness Initiative, which has committed to the creation of more than 4,000 new and upgraded supportive housing units across B.C. The Province’s agreement with Abbotsford follows similar memoranda of understanding to expedite up to 1,200 units in Vancouver, up to 170 units in Victoria, up to 140 units in Kelowna and up to 106 units in Surrey. Budget 2008 increased the amount the Province invests in affordable housing and shelters to more than $380 million a year, more than three times as much as in 2001.Details on this initiative can be found at: http://www.bchousing.org/programs/homelessness/municipal_approvals

Federal Leaders debate who is Number 2 !

Click on Image To Enlarge:

Dion to regroup and hire new Rainmaker ? (Where is the new Keith Davey when you need him ?)

Click to Enlarge
Keith Davey, politician (b at Toronto 21 Apr 1926)
Following the Liberal Party's near defeat in 1972, Davey was summoned by PM Trudeau to guide the party's electoral fortunes and was rewarded by a successful election in 1974. Although the Liberals were defeated in 1979, Davey returned the Liberals to power in 1980 as their national campaign cochairman and was brought back in midcampaign to try to revitalize John Turner's flagging campaign in 1984. The experience was not a happy one, and in 1986 Davey took his doubts about Turner's leadership to the public in a book, The Rainmaker.

How to shift the Okanagan Shuswap from a dependent underdeveloped economy to an autonomous developed economy.

I have been talking of rebuilding a local economy in the Okanagan Shuswap for many months now, and am finding that many are curious to know more about the kind of jobs this would give, and the kind of economy it would create.

You might have heard the Conservatives candidate, Colin Mayes, talk of an inland port last year. This of course would serve the global economy by encouraging more global imports of finished goods and more exports of our raw resources, clearly not to our advantage in the long-term. Instead I am proposing a vision of our economy that will protect our raw natural resources for future generations, give us more varied jobs, and keep our money within our own jurisdiction. It will give us autonomy over our economy while building safer, better communities.

Super Mini Ports - Every Community a Production Centre.

The local economic platform I am speaking of serves the local economy by making every community a production centre with its own Mini-port.

Let us look at what every community needs: food, furniture, housing, clothing, books, transportation, computers and more. Each community could not produce all of this but each community could produce some of these goods, and all communities together could produce a lot of these goods. But the key is regulations and transportation. In order to make this happen I would immediately work at:

1) Reversing the Meat Inspection Regulations and the federal Canadian Food Safety Agency regulations that are designed for multinationals and have now proven to not even work for that. Instead, we would pass food safety regulations that address small family farms and help local farms to sell safe food within their communities first, and within their region next.
2) Getting the trains back on track: overhaul our rail system for both passenger and freight. It will mean shifting cargo containers off highways and onto freight trains, driving the development of freight distribution nodes (off-loading containers onto local trucks) along new “green corridors.”
Make trucks greener by adding generators to avoid the need to idle to maintain air conditioning and refrigeration, while ensuring the right fit of trucking in a more efficient, rail-based intermodal system.

3) Implementing Accelerated Capital Cost Allowances and other incentives for trucking companies so they can purchase hybrid trucks. Make all trucks sold in Canada subject to scale-based rebates for the purchase of efficient vehicles and fees for the purchase of non-efficient vehicles.
4) Fast tracking community forests in all communities able to sustain them and provide model for secondary and tertiary sectors of the economy so that innovative and profitable businesses take root. Businesses such as: hardwood flooring, turn-key condos, furniture, and more. Community forests are recognized for protecting water in their communities by ensuring sustainable forestry practices.
5) Providing educational and green touristic ventures. Healthy forests, family farms, and excellent transportation make green touristic adventures possible and interesting, bringing profit to rural communities. Art and culture workers also benefit.

How much will all this cost? A lot less than continuing to subsidize the global economy. This is within our grasp.

Huguette Allen, Green Party Candidate, Okanagan-Shuswap.

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Don Quixote Note: This is an idea from a local Federal candidate that is worthy of examination and it is posted on this blog for the readers to debate. Any of the local candidates that post a comment will naturally get their comment posted immediately and prominently. If any of those other candidates wish to e-mail me with an idea that they feel is worthy of debate and examination I will naturally post those ideas also. Email at pancho.sanchez@shaw.ca

The Rhino Party is Back

The NeoRhino Party only has seven candidates in the upcoming Federal election and all of them are running in Quebec. This party is the reincarnation of the Rhinoceros Party who reached their high water mark in the 1980 election when they received 110,286 votes and ran 120 candidates.

The Parti Rhinocéros, commonly known as the Rhinoceros Party in English was a registered political party in Canada from the 1960s to the 1990s. Operating within the Canadian tradition of political satire the Rhinoceros Party's basic credo, their so-called primal promise, was "a promise to keep none of our promises." They then promised outlandishly impossible schemes designed to amuse and entertain the voting public.

Platform promises of the Rhinoceros Party included:

• Repealing the law of gravity
• Paving Manitoba to create the world's largest parking lot
• Providing higher education by building taller schools
• Instituting English, French and illiteracy as Canada's three official languages
• Tearing down the Rocky Mountains so that Albertans could see the Pacific sunset
• Making Montreal the Venice of North America by damming the St. Lawrence River
• Abolishing the environment because it's too hard to keep clean and it takes up so much space
• Annexing the United States, which would take its place as the third territory, after the Yukon and the Northwest Territories (Nunavut did not yet exist) in Canada's backyard, in order to eliminate foreign control of Canada's natural resources
• Ending crime by abolishing all laws
• Paving the Bay of Fundy to create more parking in the Maritimes
• Turning Montreal's Saint Catherine Street into the world's longest bowling alley
• Adopting the British system of driving on the left; this was to be gradually phased in over five years with large trucks and tractors first, then buses, eventually including small cars and bicycles last
• Selling the Canadian Senate at an antique auction in California
• Putting the national debt on Visa

Breakthrough Reached in Negotiations on Bailout

New York Times:

WASHINGTON — Congressional leaders and the Bush administration reached a tentative agreement early Sunday on what may become the largest financial bailout in American history, authorizing the Treasury to purchase $700 billion in troubled debt from ailing firms in an extraordinary intervention to prevent widespread economic collapse.

Officials said that Congressional staff members would work through the night to finalize the language of the agreement and draft a bill, and that the bill would be brought to the House floor for a vote on Monday.The bill includes pay limits for some executives whose firms seek help, aides said. And it requires the government to use its new role as owner of distressed mortgage-backed securities to make more aggressive efforts to prevent home foreclosures.In some cases, the government would receive an equity stake in companies that seek aid, allowing taxpayers to profit should the rescue plan work and the private firms flourish in the months and years ahead.The White House also agreed to strict oversight of the program by a Congressional panel and conflict-of-interest rules for firms hired by the Treasury to help run the program.

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Lawmakers Reach Tentative Bailout Deal Wall Street Journal

Credit crunch banker leaps to his death in front of express train Mail Online

Wall Street Executives Made $3 Billion Before Crisis Bloomberg

Rieger runs for mayor

By Richard Rolke - Vernon Morning Star Published: September 26, 2008

The race for mayor is heating up in Spallumcheen. Guenter Rieger, who was mayor for six years in the 1990s, has announced he will seek the township’s top job during November’s civic election. “Many people have asked me to run and there are several things going on that I don’t like right now,” said Rieger who has lived in Spallumcheen for the last 24 years. Primarily, Rieger says he is concerned about how Spallumcheen deals with the City of Armstrong when it comes to joint services. “The relationship has deteriorated,” he said. He also wants to see long-term planning as a way of addressing growth issues in the community. “In 1996, we had an official community plan with a vision and it’s been trashed,” he said. “We don’t want to do the same as Greater Vernon where there is a bit of development here and a bit there.” As someone who operates an organic farm, Rieger says he is committed to maintaining Spallumcheen’s agricultural lifestyle, but there is a need to broaden the economy. “We need additional tax base or people can’t afford to live here,” he said, adding that there should be enhancements to the industrial park. “This should take place in an area where we have the infrastructure already in place or close.”Rieger also believes there is a need for open government.“I want to bring back trust and integrity by respecting taxpayers’ wishes,” he said.

Rieger is just the latest person to launch a mayoralty campaign for November. Dustin Griffin, who works at Predator Ridge, announced two weeks ago that he wants the position, while incumbent mayor Will Hansma is seeking re-election. Hansma was acclaimed to office in 2005.“It’s excellent for the community to have a race. It puts all of the issues out on the table and that’s what democracy is there for,” he said.Hansma doesn’t believe that having two challengers reflects on his job as mayor. “It says that they are interested in running for mayor, that’s all,” he said.“I believe I have done a good job as mayor and I haven’t heard anything to the contrary.”

Citizens shell out for letters

By Jennifer Smith - Vernon Morning Star Published: September 26, 2008

Taxpayers are on the hook for the majority of $8,500 for two letters telling the district it acted within its authority in relation to sewer extension and fees. The District of Coldstream has received a chartered accountant opinion from BDO Dunwoody, billing in at $6,530, plus a legal opinion worth $2,030 from Murdy and McAllister Barristers and Solicitors. The two letters outline opinions in relation to the Kalamalka sewer extension and the Coldstream Meadows sewer extension. “As these were requested by a taxpayer, the majority of the funding came from general taxation,” said Catherine Lord, director of finance. “Because the matter pertained specifically to sewer, 25 per cent of the cost was charged to the sewer fund.” The request came from resident Gyula Kiss, who has routinely expressed concerns about how these projects were funded. It’s the taxpayers who ended up paying for these projects, said Kiss, while the sewer extensions only benefit a few.

Kiss’ complaints also centred around how the pay out of the latecomer agreement with Coldstream Meadows came into existence and how it was funded. Kiss claimed the financing decisions made weren’t legal, or at least morally right. “The point I was trying to make is the charter allows you to screw the people if you so desire,” said Kiss. Meanwhile the two outside opinions received conclude that the District of Coldstream acted within its authority. “While it may be argued by opponents of the project that there are elements of unfairness, it can not be said that the expenditures were unlawful,” states Christopher Murdy, of Murdy and McAllister, in his letter to Coldstream.

But Kiss says these opinions aren’t the ones the district should be receiving. “I didn’t ask for a lawyer’s opinion, I actually asked for a financial audit.” Lord confirms that the letter from BDO Dunwody came out of the financial audit. “I concur with both the legal and audit opinion,” said Lord. “Financial managers of municipalities advise their council if a method of financing being contemplated by council falls outside council’s area of authorization, or contravenes any section of either the Local Government Act or the Community Charter.” The legal opinion states that the Kalamalka sewer extension area was not improperly established or funded through taxation. As for the Coldstream Meadows latecomer buyout, the legal opinion also states that there was no unlawful work done.“This would be a decision within council’s jurisdiction and would not be open to challenge unless it was ‘patently unreasonable,’” said Murdy in his report.

But Kiss stands by his beliefs: that the funding formula was not fair to taxpayers and that the project appears to have benefitted the developer. Material for the audits was provided from Coldstream, which included letters from Kiss. But the fact that he was not contacted during these audits leaves Kiss to question them. “I have never talked to the lawyer,” said Kiss.“If you’re investigating something you should talk to the person making the complaint.”

Shelter forced to turn clients away

By Richard Rolke - Vernon Morning Star Published: September 26, 2008

Beds are at capacity at Vernon’s homeless shelter. The Gateway shelter opened its doors a week ago and the 13 beds for men and 12 for women are proving popular with those generally accustomed to living on the street. “The men’s floor has been full every night,” said Barb Levesque, with the John Howard Society, which has the contract to operate the facility. “Unfortunately, we’ve had to turn people away which shows the need. We don’t have enough beds.” The situation is the same in the women’s dorm. “During the first three nights, we had 10 women which is concerning because it’s not that cold outside yet,” said Juliette Cunningham, president of the Vernon Women’s Centre, which is responsible for the women’s beds. “We only have 12 beds and the numbers (of clients) is pretty high already.”

Many of the men seeking a place to sleep at the shelter have jobs.“They are really having a hard time finding affordable housing,” said Levesque. Beyond cramped quarters, those running the shelter have also had to contend with a backed-up sewer line that caused damage to the lower-level resource room. Repairs will have to be done to some walls before the area is available.The resource room is supposed to provide a number of services, including health care, assistance finding housing and drug and alcohol counselling. “On the men’s floor, the case workers are meeting with them there right now,” said Levesque. Opening the 12 beds has also been a busy time for the Women’s Centre. “We are trying to get organized and staff are getting used to a new (operational) model,” said Cunningham. Some neighbouring businesses were concerned that locating the shelter there would increase criminal activity in the area, but Levesque is pleased with the security measures in place. “The surveillance cameras outside of the building are doing their job,” she said. “The purpose is to protect the people inside the shelter. We don’t want drug dealers and johns hanging around.” Clients using the shelter have also been notified that crime is not wanted in the neighbourhood. “We make it clear that if they want to stay here or access our programs, they can’t be on the street for illegal activity,” said Levesque. Levesque added that the John Howard Society is committed to working with the RCMP and merchants to ensure security issues are addressed.“We want to hear back from the business community,” she said.

Annexations on the agenda

By Richard Rolke - Vernon Morning Star Published: September 26, 2008

B.C.’s community services minister has come face-to-face with the North Okanagan’s political challenges. Blair Lekstrom met with North Okanagan Regional District directors at the Union of B.C. Municipalities conference in Penticton Wednesday, and the topic revolved around governance and annexation of electoral areas. “He’s promising that he’s interested in healing the rural and urban areas,” said Herman Halvorson, rural Enderby director. For the electoral area directors, their specific questions dealt with annexation, and particularly BX-Swan lake and BX-Silver Star into the City of Vernon. “We wanted to see where he stands,” said Halvorson. “He’s stepped back from the issue and it could be part of reviews.” Vernon Mayor Wayne Lippert believes Lekstrom was quite clear about the government’s policy when it comes to lands in electoral areas being annexed into municipalities. “If a group of property owners want to join the city and makes application, they have to respect their wishes,” said Lekstrom. “The electoral areas have a different vision but they seem to understand it now.” While there was some discussion about valley-wide governance, Lippert says the message from Lekstrom was that local governance issues must be addressed first. “He said it’s not just the North Okanagan. There are issues with different regional districts across the province,” said Lippert.

NORD’s five electoral area directors recently decided to send out a survey to their residents asking for input on governance, and specifically whether they want to remain as is, incorporate or join adjacent municipalities. “We want to know what our constituents want,” said Halvorson.

Hobson elected UBCM President

Castanet:
Robert Hobson is the new president of the Union of BC Municipalities(UBCM). Hobson, who has served as vice-president of the association, was elected president this week during the UBCM's annual convention in Penticton. "It is a privilege to be elected to this position," says Hobson. "We have a lot of interesting projects we're going to be working on in the next year." Hobson, who has a seat on Kelowna City Council and also serves as chair of the Regional District of Central Okanagan, feels the upcoming year is a very important one for the UBCM. "The provincial election is happening and no doubt there will be change in B.C. We'll do our best to bring our issues to the table." Hobson's term is for one year.

Tolls gone from Coquihalla

Castanet
Tolls on the Coquihalla Highway will be removed immediately, Premier Gordon Campbell announced today during his annual address to the Union of B.C. Municipalities. "The Coquihalla Highway opened British Columbia's Interior like never before, generating economic opportunities and fostering the tremendous growth of communities," says Premier Campbell. "Former Premier Bill Bennett had a vision for a highway that would see our province reach its full economic potential. It has succeeded beyond anyone's expectations and has become the foundation for a transportation network that has opened up Canada's Pacific Gateway to North America and the rest of the world. Today's announcement marks the next milestone in that legacy." The highway officially opened on May 16, 1986, at the dawn of Expo 86. The first phase, from Hope to Merritt, opened on that day. Phase 2, from Merritt to Kamloops, was completed on Sept. 4, 1987 and the final phase, the Coquihalla Connector from Merritt to Kelowna, was completed Oct. 1, 1990. The total capital cost of the three phases was $848 million. Current annual revenue collected by the tolls is approximately $57 million. The Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure anticipates that revenues collected from the tolls since its opening will have effectively offset those total capital costs by next month. "Removing the tolls will mean literally hundreds of dollars annually in the pockets of British Columbians who regularly use the highway," says Premier Campbell.
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Toll booth employees in shock By Heather Thomson - Merritt Herald

No more tolls on the Coquihalla.At first glance this seems like great news to all British Columbians, but some Merritt residents don't agree. For 37 people working at the toll booths the announcement made by Premier Gordon Campbell at noon today was not great news."At 10 to one they called us in and told us we were out of a job," explains Janet Poehnell, an auxiliary employee at the toll booth. She says the first they heard of the change, which came into effect as of 1 p.m. today, was when one of the drivers came to her booth and mentioned it."I was totally shocked that we had to hear it from the public first."

By 1:30 p.m. most of the staff members had been notified, each being called in either alone or in small groups. Poehnell says they were too shocked to go home. Instead they cashed out for the last time and gathered to talk about the announcement. The overall reaction was shock and disappointment."Gordon Campbell figures he'll be the good guy," Poehnell explains only minutes after hearing her world had been turned up-side-down. "But he has shown us no respect."

She says perhaps the worst part is that the employees have been shown no loyalty after years of "busting their butts." She points out that they are part of a system that keeps the highways open, no matter what conditions they have to battle to get to work. She says they have a hard job, and no one complains. In fact, only minutes before she heard that the tolls would be dropped, she had faced one of the most difficult parts of their job. A woman came through her booth who had forgotten her bank card and had no way to pay. "I had to send her back to Merritt. If she had been through a few minutes later I could have let her through."Of the 37 employees Poehnell estimates half of them live in Merritt. Approximately 17 are classified as auxiliary, which means they are either part time or on call. According to Poehnell, they will get no compensation or severance pay."In a week they'll be tearing the toll plaza down," she explains. "With it goes my job, and my financial security has been blown out the window. "The remaining 20 staff are permanent employees and have been guaranteed positions with the government, according to Bridgett Anderson, press secretary to the premier. She could not confirm where the replacement jobs would be, and no one from the Ministry of Highways was available for comment.

Scott Young says he may run again in PoCo

By Gary McKenna - The Tri-City News Published: September 26, 2008

Port Coquitlam Mayor Scott Young said he is still considering all his options before he decides whether to run for re-election in the November civic campaign. And the embattled politician also said he has not ruled out seeking a different office, suggesting that even a council or school board position is still under consideration. “I haven’t discounted any of my options,” Young told The Tri-City News. “Whether it is [running] for mayor or council or school board, or not running at all, I haven’t made any concrete decisions.” If he were to run, Young said he believes people would see past his legal troubles and look at what he has contributed to the community. Earlier this summer, Young pleaded guilty and was sentenced on three criminal charges stemming from an incident with his former girlfriend in April 2007. He pleaded guilty to two counts of assault and one breach of recognizance. He originally faced seven criminal charges after an incident at the home of his former girlfriend, Colleen Preston, but the other four charges — criminal harassment, break and enter with intent, and two counts of breach of an undertaking — were stayed. “I think that is in the past,” he said. “I am not going to live in the past. I recognize in my private life I have made mistakes and I have taken measures to correct that. “More importantly, I think people will look at my professional record and it is one that has received very little criticism in terms of my accomplishments for the city.”

Young told The Tri-City News that he would spend the weeks leading up to the nomination deadline consulting with family and supporters before making his final decision. He said he has received a lot of encouragement from members of the community to run again this fall. Current councillor and mayoral candidate Mike Bowen was cautious when asked to comment on Young’s plans. He said he would encourage and support anyone who wishes to throw their name into the ring and it is up to the voters to decide who is best for the job. “If they are elected you have to work with that person potentially,” Bowen said. “You can’t be putting up barriers... We don’t decide, it is the public that decides.” Another mayoral candidate, Coun. Greg Moore, concurred with Bowen, saying he was not surprised Young is still considering a potential run for re-election. “If he wants to put his name forward, fine,” said Moore. “Let the electorate decide.”

YOUNG’S SENTENCE

Mayor Young is serving a one-year conditional sentence, which will be followed by 18 months probation. Until next July, he must abide by several conditions that include:

• keep the peace and be of good behaviour;• abstain from consuming alcohol or drugs;• abstain from owning, possessing or carrying a weapon;• perform 60 hours of community service;• complete counselling as directed;• have no contact with Colleen Preston, her family, or Glen Shaw;• stay 500 metres away from the home and workplaces of Preston, her family and Glen Shaw;• and submit a DNA sample.

Young must also abide by a strict curfew and be at home between 8 p.m. and 6 a.m., except for the second and fourth Mondays of each month for regularly scheduled council meetings. On those days, he’ll abide by a 10:30 p.m. to 6 a.m. curfew. Conditions of Young’s 18-month probation are largely the same except he will not have a curfew.

Dion asks Liberal candidate to step down over controversial comments

CBC NEWS:

Liberal Leader Stéphane Dion has asked Winnipeg-area candidate Lesley Hughes to step down over comments she made in the past suggesting Israeli companies were given a heads-up ahead of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks on the U.S. "I have reviewed the past comments of Lesley Hughes and it is clear they do not meet [our] standard," Dion said in a Friday release. "While I appreciate her apology, I cannot condone those sentiments in any way. I have therefore asked Ms. Hughes to step down as the Liberal party candidate in Kildonan-St. Paul." Earlier on Friday, Dion refused to discipline Hughes and repeated his calls for a Tory MP to be fired for his comments linking immigrants to crime.

Google offers $10M for ideas that can 'change the world'

September 24, 2008
(Computerworld) Google Inc., which is celebrating its 10th birthday this month, today unveiled a $10 million effort to implement ideas that can "change the world by helping as many people as possible." As part of the Project 10^100 (pronounced Project 10 to the 100th), Google plans to ask its users to submit ideas until Oct. 20 for ways to improve people's lives. Google will choose what it feels are the 100 best ideas and then allow its users to vote on which of them should be funded. The users will narrow the results to 20 finalists, and a panel of judges will choose up to five ideas that will receive funding, Google said."We've learned over the last 10 years at Google that great ideas can come from anywhere," the company said in a statement. For example, "Google Chrome emerged when engineers realized they needed an entirely new browser to sufficiently engage with rich Web applications. Google News began when on 9/11, an engineer became frustrated that he couldn't aggregate news sources from around the world in one place."

Google noted that the ideas can be big or small, technology-driven or not. But they do have to have a potential positive impact on the world. The company cited an example of two people coming up with an idea to help millions of people carry water long distances by designing the Hippo Water Roller, a relatively inexpensive 24-gallon container that can be easily wheeled on the ground. Google also noted a project undertaken by First Mile Solutions to connect isolated communities to the Internet. For example, the company is attaching Wi-Fi devices to public buses so they can detect and send stored e-mails as the bus travels through unconnected areas.

The categories for the project include, but are not limited to, community, energy, environment, health, education, shelter and opportunities for people to better provide for themselves and their families.

Cops looking at community courts

by Kelly Hayes & Rachael Kimola -Sep 26, 2008 CASTANET

An idea which started in New York could soon be making its way to the Okanagan. An expedited court system known as ‘community court’ is being considered by Kelowna RCMP as a way to deal with prolific offenders and drug addicts. RCMP Superintendent Bill McKinnon says the method of displacing people into the Red Zone is just a bandaid solution. “We really haven’t solved the problem, we displace people, they move on. It’s dealing with the prolific offenders who commit generally nuisance crimes, petty crimes like stealing from cars and shoplifting. A large number of the people we deal with are committing petty crimes in order to survive, to get the money to feed their addiction,” says McKinnon. He says the community court works by getting all social agencies on board together to put a person back on the right track.

“The courts are often criticized for their turn-style, swinging door approach where the offender comes into court in the morning and is back on the streets by the afternoon. Then what have we really solved?” McKinnon says in our current system, in many cases, a person can appear nine times before they are dealt with by the courts. “This is an expedited system where the person’s appearance is held within a fairly short time frame, and they are able to deal with the problem so it doesn’t go on forever. Part of their sentence may be that they are forced into an addiction program where its mandatory they attend. “ He says they are watching the progress of the Vancouver community court system to get an idea of how the system would work. “I’m not sure how much work has to be done in the background, but I think if we got all the partners all at the same table, hopefully something could be in place by next summer.”
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Prov. Press Release re Vancouver's Community Courts.

Vernon Casino to open in mid 2009 According to Australian Parent Company

C ROW N L I M I T E D A N N UA L R E P O RT 2 0 0 8 P.19

Crown holds a 50 percent equity interest in Gateway Casinos following its acquisition in November 2007 by New World Gaming, a 50:50 joint venture between Crown and Macquarie Bank.

Gateway Casinos operates seven casinos in British Columbia and two casinos in Alberta. These are operated under a unique business partnership model required under Canadian law whereby the Provincial Government owns the slot machines and tables, while Gateway collects an agreed share of gross gaming revenue. Additional compensation is received by Gateway in British Columbia to reimburse capital expenditure until the original amount is recovered. This usually takes five to eight years. Gateway retains ownership of the asset.

Operating performance
Trading at Gateway over the seven months since acquisition was negatively impacted by the introduction of full smoking bans in April 2008, the new Starlight property (which opened in December 2007) trading below expectations and delays in implementing previously identified operational improvements.

New developments
There are a number of projects in the development pipeline: the new Burnaby Grand Villa Casino, scheduled to open in late 2008; the expanded Cascades Casino, to be completed in late 2008;the new Vernon Casino, opening mid-2009; and expanded Kelowna Casino and new Kamloops Casino, both scheduled for completion in 2010. On completion of these new developments, Gateway will operate more than 5,400 slot machines and over 200 tables,together with 277 hotel rooms.

Outlook
Crown expects to see improved performance as additional capacity comes on line from new properties and expansions. Crown expects that the Gateway business will be a profitable long-term investment.

Council eyes Silver Star meeting

By Richard Rolke - Vernon Morning Star Published: September 25, 2008

Vernon council wants to discuss governance issues at Silver Star, but some residents in that community are questioning the city’s motives. Council wants to meet with Silver Star Mountain Resort and the Silver Star Property Owners Association to go over a governance study that was done a couple of years ago. “Silver Star and its economic well-being are very important to the Greater Vernon area,” said Coun. Barry Beardsell. Beardsell recently got a full copy of the study from the Ministry of Community Services after two years of freedom of information requests. “The study was just shelved and hidden,” said Beardsell, adding that the study’s recommendation was that Silver Star should join Vernon. But the president of the Silver Star Property Owners Association disagrees with that interpretation of the report. “It (joining city) was an option but it’s not what the report suggested. The recommendation to have a governance committee with the regional district,” said Ted Pleavin, who has had a copy of the study for a few years. “We are willing to sit down with them (city) but we arranged a meeting before and only the mayor showed up.” Pleavin believes council is only pressing the issue now because it wants to annex Silver Star, whereas his group prefers establishing a municipality.

The North Okanagan Regional District’s Silver Star advisory committee will likely be disbanded because most of its functions are being handled by other aspects of NORD. “They’ve stripped everything off the committee. There’s nothing left to do,” said Pleavin, who is committee chairman. “They’ve made the committee ineffective so why do we bother?” The most recent committee meeting only had one item on the agenda. “The current structure is completely useless,” said Coun. Pat Cochrane, Vernon’s representative. Stan Field, BX-Silver Star director, is suggesting that NORD meet twice a year with the property owners association and Silver Star Mountain Resort to discuss issues of concern. And Field disagrees that Silver Star residents are losing direct participation in matters involving their community. “It’s no different than other communities in the regional district. Everyone is on an equal footing,” he said.“We are not taking anything away from the resort if we have semi-annual meetings.”

One tin politician rides away

Listen, children, to a story
That was written long ago,
'Bout a kingdom on a mountain
And the valley-folk below.

On Silver Star was a treasure
Buried deep beneath the snow,
And the valley-people swore
They'd have it for their very own.

Go ahead and lust after your neighbor,
Go ahead and envy a friend
Do it in the name of efficiency,
You can justify it in the end.
There won't be any trumpets blowing
Come the referendum day,
On the bloody morning after
....One tin politician rides away.

So the people of the valley
Sent a message up the hill,
Asking for the buried treasure,
Tons of gold to load the Till.

Came an answer from the kingdom,
"With our neighbours we will share
All the resources of our mountain,
All the riches buried there."

Go ahead and lust after your neighbor
Go ahead and envy a friend.
Do it in the name of efficiency,
You can justify it in the end.
There won't be any trumpets blowing
Come the referendum day,
On the bloody morning after
....One tin politician rides away.

Now the valley cried with anger,
"Get the Lawyers! Draw the writ!"
And they assimilated the mountain-people,
The Kingdom to be ruled as they saw fit.

Now they stood beside the treasure,
On the mountain, dark and red.
Turned the stone and looked beneath it
..."Peace in the Valley" was all it said.

Go ahead and lust after your neighbor,
Go ahead and envy a friend.
Do it in the name of efficiency,
You can justify it in the end.
There won't be any trumpets blowing
Come the referendum day,
On the bloody morning after
....One tin politician rides away.

A PARODY OF A GREAT LEARNING SONG by Lambert-Potter One Tin Soldier
Originally posted Jul 19/06

Slot machines in question

By Richard Rolke - Vernon Morning Star Published: September 25, 2008

Actions at city hall have created uncertainty at Vernon’s new casino. Council has adopted a bylaw that would limit the number of slot machines in the community to 300, although plans for the new Lake City Casino outlet, which is under construction, called for 400 machines. B.C. Lottery Corporation, which owns the machines, isn’t sure if it will only install 300 slots or go ahead with 400. “It’s too early to tell,” said Greg Walker, public affairs manager. “It (bylaw) is a new one for us. It’s uncharted waters.” City officials have stated that even with the bylaw in place, Lake City Casino can have 400 machines at its Anderson Way site because they were shown in designs submitted to the city. But the business would be legally non-conforming under bylaw, and Walker says that is a problem for the corporation.“The non-conforming aspect of the bylaw is a challenge for us. BCLC isn’t accustomed to having facilities in a non-conforming use,” he said. “The corporation needs to hear from the city on what their position is and we will review our options from there.”

The city’s goal behind restricting the number of slot machines has been to get money from both Lake City Casino and BCLC for a social responsibility fund. “I’m hoping it (bylaw) will bring BCLC to the table to address some of the concerns in this community,” said Coun. Barry Beardsell of gambling addiction and other issues like O’Keefe Ranch. Beardsell believes the casino has had a negative impact on families and the local economy, claiming that $211 million has been lost by players since 1999. “The amount of money they take out of the community is colossal,” he said.

Lake City Casino has refused to provide assistance for a social responsibility fund, and Coun. Jack Gilroy doesn’t believe the company should. “They did everything right,” said Gilroy of the zoning process for the new casino. “Barry wanted to go a certain way and he got enough councillors to support him. The city should be embarrassed about the situation.” Besides employing local residents, Gilroy points out that the city receives a share of casino revenue and that will decrease if the number of slot machines goes from 400 to 300. “It’s about one or two per cent in taxes we would have got,” he said. Officials with Lake City Casino have referred all questions about the city’s new bylaw to the B.C. Lottery Corporation.

Morning Star Editorial Sept 25 Casino slots a royal mess

The B.C. Lottery Corporation (BCLC) must be seeing lemons instead of sevens in its dealings with the City of Vernon over the number of slot machines allowed in the city. Vernon council adopted a bylaw that limits the number of slot machines in the city to 300. But plans for the new Lake Country Casino, already under construction on Anderson Way, call for 400 machines. The city has told BCLC, who own the slots, they can proceed with the 400 machines, as that was part of the city-approved original plan and design, but the business would be "legally non-conforming under bylaw." No wonder BCLC is hesitating over which number to pick, 300 machines or 400. "We are not accustomed to having facilities in a non-conforming use," said a spokesman for the lottery giant. The city says the reason for the bylaw that limits the number of machines is to try and pry money from BCLC and Lake City Casino for a social responsibility fund.

The move for such a fund may be admirable, but the casino does provide plenty of paraphernalia inside its walls about the dangers of gambling, and its addictions, as well as where people can seek help. And people do not have to walk through the doors of the casino. It's their choice. One can argue that alcohol is also a big problem in Vernon, but the city doesn't seem to want to limit the large number of wine and beer stores, or pubs, that operate in town. The fact is, the casino brings in tourists and needed revenue for the city, money that can be used for other programs. They employ a number of people, give back to the community by sponsoring leagues, and the city and province collect tax revenue from the outlet. The bottom line is, 400 slots were approved by council at the outset, so 400 machines should be allowed.

Rezoning changes denied

By Jennifer Smith - Vernon Morning Star Published: September 25, 2008

A chunk of commercial property that’s been boasting development for 10 years has failed to land a promising tenant. Therefore the sign that has stood beside Highway 6 for years, which reads ‘Future home of Aberdeen Shopping Centre,’ has come down. “Retail tenants felt that it was a little too early for a shopping centre,” said Rick Jones, Urban Design Group Architects, representing Trintec Enterprises. Instead, the land developer has been eyeing different tenants for the Coldstream space – homeowners. Trintec Enterprises is seeking a zoning change from the current C6 zone (shopping centre commercial) to permit multi-family residential use. “We’re taking a portion of the commercial land and changing it to residential,” said Jones. The plan is to construct 27 townhouses and one 39-unit apartment building on a portion of the 16 acre chunk of Coldstream property. But since the land is one of few commercial locations in Coldstream, and is the only C6 designation, council has turned down the request.

“If we’re going to run a community I think we have to have a variety of zones,” said Coun. Jim Garlick. Coun. Doug Dirk also pointed to the Official Community Plan, where there is a lack of community support for apartments. But bringing apartments into the community appeals to Coun. Mary Malerby as something to build forward on. “There’s people who don’t want to move out of the Coldstream but want to downsize. That’s something in the Coldstream we don’t have to offer.” Coun. Glen Taylor also liked the way the development is headed. Seven nearby residents have also submitted input to the proposal. A couple are dead against the idea of changing the zoning and constructing apartments, while most of the others are open to the idea as long as concerns such as noise, traffic, lights and appropriate public green space are addressed. The development application was turned down in a tie vote (which is automatically defeated). Coun. Bill Firman joined Dirk and Garlick in opposing the staff recommendation to support the zoning change.The developer can come back to council with a new and altered application for consideration.

Vernon’s new OCP nears completion

By Richard Rolke - Vernon Morning Star Published: September 25, 2008

Vernon’s new official community plan is almost a done deal. Council gave third reading to the revised 2008 OCP package Monday and it’s anticipated that the document will be adopted Oct. 14. “It’s not perfect but it’s a good document,” said Coun. Juliette Cunningham, adding that it tackles matters such as hillside development and pressing social issues. The OCP will govern land use decisions for the community, and the content within it was a result of extensive work by city staff and consultants, as well as numerous public consultations over the last two years. “I’ve never seen the amount of input,” said Cunningham. “There will always be those who see themselves as winners and losers in the process but there is so much substance in this document.”Cunningham has been pushing to have the proposed OCP finalized before November’s civic election. “If we don’t adopt it before Nov. 15, all that hard work could go out the window. Single-issue candidates could derail it,” she said.

Lone opposition to the OCP proceeding came from Coun. Barry Beardsell, who is concerned the document doesn’t include preservation of a western bypass corridor. “I can hold up my head in the future and say, ‘I was not responsible for terrible congestion,’” he said. Beardsell also believes the OCP does not refer to parks enough, doesn’t provide a clear future for the airport and doesn’t encourage mobile home parks as a source of affordable housing. In speaking to the media after Monday’s council meeting, Beardsell reiterated his objections to the OCP moving ahead. “This is the worst council I’ve seen since I moved to Vernon and that was 1973,” he said.

A new aspect to the document is the city only considering OCP amendments and annexation applications once a year instead of the current process which can occur at any time. “This way, you can consider the overall impact if they go forward,” said Kim Flick, planning and building services manager. Flick added that the policy was developed in response to public concerns that the OCP is undermined by such amendments and annexation applications coming forward.

Ministers looking at meat regulations

By Richard Rolke - Vernon Morning Star Published: September 25, 2008

The provincial government may be easing up on regulations that have impacted meat processors and farmers. North Okanagan Regional District officials met Wednesday with Healthy Living Minister Mary Polak and Agriculture Minister Stan Hagen during the Union of B.C. Municipalities conference in Penticton. “The meetings were the most positive we’ve had so far on the issue,” said director Wayne Lippert. The processing regulations, which were initiated last fall, force all meat to be slaughtered in a provincially licensed facility. It also has to be inspected prior to being sold. NORD is concerned the rules will put small processors out of business, as well as farmers who can’t get their beef, poultry or pork processed. “Producers are selling their farms or going underground,” said Buffy Baumbrough, alternate director. Baumbrough believes Hagen understands the seriousness of the situation. “He said the issue of meat regulations is on his radar and he has heard from local governments around the province,” she said.

Baumbrough’s main argument is that there is a need for communities to produce their own food as climate change becomes more evident. “They need to recognize that the regulations have led to a loss of producing meat locally,” she said. While meeting with Polak, director Rick Fairbairn pointed out the economic impact of the rules in rural Lumby. “It’s been detrimental to the viability of the small farms,” he said. “She (Polak) was up-to-date on the file and aware of the situation occurring in the North Okanagan.” Directors proposed a system be initiated where there are federal and provincial inspections of meat, but also an opportunity for farmers to sell directly to customers. Farm-gate meat would be identified as not being inspected. “Minister Hagen was happy that we had some solutions,” said Lippert. It’s not known when or if changes to the regulations could occur. “There’s a willingness to examine the issue. He (Hagen) did not shut the door on us,” said Baumbrough.UBCM delegates are considering five regulations on meat regulations.