A10 www.kelownacapnews.com Thursday, August 29, 2013 Capital NewsCapital News Thursday, August 29, 2013 www.kelownacapnews.com A11 CAPITAL NEWS

OPINIONCAPITAL news ▼ OUR VIEW The Capital News is a division of , at 2495 Enterprise Way, It’s clear, it’s time to reform Senate , B.C. V1X 7K2 he latest revelation from tion just doesn’t get it. Harper. probably be enough of a popu- 2009 WINNER the ongoing Senate ex- It is notable that two of the Harper’s government has lar mandate to support a consti- 2009 Tpense scandal is that Sas- most pro igate senators in the now asked the Supreme Court of tutional change. katchewan Senator Pamela Wal- spending department, Wallin Canada to rule on just how Sen- But provinces don’t give up lin will likely be asked to repay and Mike Duffy, were longtime ate reform can proceed, as the powers easily, and all it would KAREN HILL Publisher/Advertising Manager about $120,000 in expenses. TV journalists who regularly re- institution is mandated in the take is one province which de- BARRY GERDING This comes as a result of an ported on numerous scandals in constitution and thus is very hard cided to go against the popu- Managing Editor ALAN MONK external audit of her expenses, . They join two other sen- to change. But it clearly has a lot lar will for whatever reason it Real Estate Weekly Manager which in about two years were ators, Mac Harb—who quit the of institutional problems which deems appropriate. TESSA RINGNESS Production Manager more than $300,000. Senatethis week—and Patrick are deep-rooted. The Senate is badly in need GLENN BEAUDRY While Prime Minister Ste- Brazeau, in showing Canadians The vast majority of the pub- of radical reform. Perhaps a rst Flyer Delivery Manager RACHEL DEKKER phen Harper has worked to try how out of touch the Senate is lic support abolition at present. If step would be to limit senators’ Of ce Manager and reform the Senate from with the real folks who pay taxes there was a national referendum expenses to a modest maximum within since winning power in to support this kind of behaviour. on abolition, it would likely pass amount which would cover real MAIN SWITCHBOARD 250-763-3212 2006, it is clear that this institu- All but Harb were appointed by in each province, which would expenses. Langley Times CLASSIFIEDS 250-763-7114 DELIVERY 250-763-7575

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WEBSITE YES 15% www.kelownacapnews.com NO 85% G A R UNDECIDED 0% This reserves the right to re- ject any advertising which it considers to contain false or misleading informa- tion or involves unfair or unethical prac- tices. The advertiser agrees that the pub- THURSDAY’S QUESTION: lisher shall not be liable for any damages arising out of error in classi ed, classi- ed display or retail display advertise- ments in which the error is due to the Should using a cell phone when driving, negligence of its servants or otherwise for non-insertion of any advertisement or texting when driving, carry the same beyond the amount paid for such adver- tisement. penalties as drinking and driving? (See Paul Hergott’s column below.)

BCYCNA BRITISH To register your opinion on the COLUMBIA AND YUKON COMMUNITY CNA DIVISION Sound Off question, go to ASSOCIATION www.kelownacapnews.com or call 250-979-7303. Results will be Member of the tabulated until 2 p.m. Monday. Press Council More deaths from talking hands-free than drunk driving hould phoning ACHIEVING lowing hands-free cell in British Columbia for a driver to larly after having caused a mass pur- driving. We have become less and and texting while JUSTICE phone use were ex- hold a cell phone up to his or her ear chase of hands-free cell phone tech- less likely to drive drunk, and less and Sdriving carry posed as problematic. while engaging in a dangerously dis- nology. less tolerant of that dangerous driving the same penalties as According to guest Jeff tracting telephone discussion, while I forgive you for being wrong. behaviour in others. drunk driving? Walker, the National allowing the exact same dangerous Please, just do what’s right. How With distracted driving topping That was the topic vice-president of Pub- behaviour with the cell phone sitting many hundreds of millions, perhaps drunk driving as a cause of driving of the Aug. 25 epi- lic Affairs for the Can- on the console? billions, of tax dollars and other costs injuries and deaths, the same transi- sode of CBC Radio’s Paul adian Automobile As- Perhaps our law makers were mis- to British Columbians need to be tion has to occur with distracted driv- Cross Country Check- Hergott sociation (CAA), the informed about the dangers of dis- wasted in emergency services, med- ing. Aggressive, and expensive, pub- up. Guest host, Ted data says that hands- tracted driving when we brought in ical care, economic and other losses, lic awareness campaigns need to be Blades, introduced the free cell phone use, the law. before we start taking steps to solve launched, pointing to the dangers of topic with the statistic that distracted whether voice to text or talking, is just As the statistics for distracted driv- this growing problem? cell phone use while driving. driving, such as talking on phones and as bad and may be worse than having ing injuries and deaths climb, how Back to the topic of treating dis- I suggest that the cheapest and texting, has become the No. 1 cause the cell phone in your hands. can we not yet have woken up to the tracted driving behaviours the same most effective public awareness cam- of highway deaths in Nova Scotia and I get frustrated and angry every truth and changed the law to pro- way we treat drunk driving. paign would be a change in the law to Saskatchewan. It is No. 2 in , time I think about British Columbia’s hibit cell phone use while driving al- Drunk driving has become less prohibit all cell phone use while driv- behind speeding but ahead of drunk laws that prohibit hand-held but im- together? and less socially acceptable as we ing, hand-held and hands-free. driving. plicitly endorse hands-free cell phone Perhaps politicians don’t like to have collectively come to recognize Laws prohibiting hand-held but al- use. How can we have made it illegal admit when they’re wrong, particu- the horrible consequences of drunk S H A11 A10 www.kelownacapnews.com Thursday, August 29, 2013 Capital NewsCapital News Thursday, August 29, 2013 www.kelownacapnews.com A11 LETTERS Classic Shoes ▼ WEST KELOWNA TIMELESS QUALITY & COMFORT

Youth at risk need our continuing ME TRO In-stock widths S-n-M-w-ww KELOwnA CROSSIng bY COSTCO support from a wide base of sources 140-2463 Hwy 97 778-484-2688 It’s clear, it’s time to reform Senate To the editor: lent and unreasonable is reasonable. ally. It certainly was in my running on the Westside. On May 7, 2013, there damaging to a person of Unless they are able to family. These kids are worth it, was a meeting at the West- any age. get counselling, which is The abuse today’s they have value and theyof the Central and South probably be enough of a popu- Okanagan / Similkameen bank Community Hall A child who is abused hard work and not always homeless youth have suf- are the future of this place lar mandate to support a consti- concerning homeless and constantly told that it affordable, they may well fered, may well be passed and this society. A Gift in Memory tutional change. youth here in West Ke- is their fault, is a child that be dealing with the effects on to this community’s They can only become But provinces don’t give up lowna. is being programmed to of their abusive home life next generation if there is all that they were born to powers easily, and all it would I hope that our com- fail in life. The youth is well into their 40s, as they no help established. be if they have the safe- Makes a Difference take is one province which de- munity continues to insist now wired to be attracted are trying to raise families Please continue to be ty and encouragement to on helping them. To have to, and attract, people of their own. involved in supporting the discover who that is. cided to go against the popu- to return day after day to a who are like their parents Abuse tends to be initiative to get a shelter Robin Munro,of the Central and South lar will for whatever reason it home that is unsafe, vio- were—unsafe and un- handed down generation- for homeless youth up and West KelownaOkanagan / Similkameen250-860-2356 deems appropriate. www.unitedwaycso.com The Senate is badly in need of radical reform. Perhaps a fi rst ▼ WAGES OF WAR step would be to limit senators’ expenses to a modest maximum amount which would cover real Where do Syria’s chemical weapons expenses. Langley Times

come from? When will we ever learn? 250.769.6616 To the editor: China. It is the “business” of killing children and www.tropicanasolariums.com Re: chemical weapons of war. Are the other countries of the world any destroying a country of many innocent people So, now we hear news that chemical nerve better than the ones “using” the weapons that just trying to make a living and getting along. gas might have been used in Syria. were supplied from abroad? We should all be ashamed of ourselves for That is no surprise, some crazy people Saddam Hussein used the same kind of just being bystanders in all this. wage war. weapons against the Kurds in Iraq. We have not come very far from the time So, ask yourself: Where do the chemicals Where do all the weapons come from? of the crazy Romans who waged war just for come from? They are supplied by all the other countries— the fun of it. When will we ever learn? $ Probably the USA, Russia or maybe nothing personal—it is just business. Jorgen Hansen, Kelowna 200 OFF ▼ BUSINESS LONGEVITY Installation of a New Patio Cover Kelowna has a history of long-lasting businesses: o er ends July 31, 2013 Kitchens Can you add to the list of 50+ year businesses? where family memories are made To the editor: Shady Rest fi sh and chip This started me think- came up with the Para- get back to me. This letter is a ques- shop on Sutherland Av- ing—how many retail mount Theatre on Ber- Next calls should have tion put out to some of the enue. businesses can say the nard Avenue (walked been to Wayne Wilson or “born and raised in Ke- As I was sitting there same thing here in town? there once a week), Rob- Don Burnett they have lowna” people—there are enjoying my meal I was Still operating in Ke- ertson’s Clothing and much better memories really not a lot of us remembering coming to lowna, same business, Lakeview Market on than I ever will. So per- I was recently out for a this exact same spot as a same location, at least 50 Pandosy Street. haps they will throw out bike ride and stopped for a little girl, a teeny bit more years later. I even called in my some names? • Fine Custom Made Cabinets bite to eat at one of my fa- than 50 years ago (yikes). After thinking about mother-in-law, Joyce (An- So what about it, Ke- • Affordable • Quality Craftsmanship vourite little places—The Same name, same spot. it for the rest of the day I sell) Roche, who was also lowna alumni, can you • Tremendous Customer Service born and raised here. She think of other retail busi- • Made in the Okanagan suggested OK Builders ness that would fi t this cri- Experienced salesperson required. and Haworth Jewellers. teria? Quite amazing for Resume to [email protected] I did catch her off those that are still here! Scream, shout to change law guard though, and she is Susan Marshall, 250-868-8444 (inside Fanny’s Furniture Store) going to think on it and Kelowna 1794 Baron Rd. (behind Costco) kekulibaycabinetry.com H   A10 tracted driving behaviours which you can fi nd by as morally reprehensible typing “Cross Country While raising aware- as driving drunk? Checkup driving” into an ness is part of the solution, I say no, given our col- Internet search engine. driving. We have become less and we have learned the hard lective ignorance about Once you get your FREE less likely to drive drunk, and less and LEGAL FEES lesson with drunk driving the dangers of cell phone head around it, I invite *some conditions may less tolerant of that dangerous driving that dangerous driving be- use while driving, fuelled you to scream and shout Express yourself apply, see below behaviour in others. haviours don’t stop just by a lack of legal prohibi- and stomp your feet until We welcome letters that comment in a timely manner about ® Registered trademark of Mortgage Intelligence Inc. © 2009, Mortgage Intelligence Inc. all rights reserved.

With distracted driving topping because they become so- tion when that behaviour we take concrete steps in stories and editorials published in the Capital News. drunk driving as a cause of driving ▼ %

cially unacceptable. is done hands-free. the right direction in Brit- Letters under 200 words will be given priority in considering Variable Rate 2.60 injuries and deaths, the same transi- The brilliant step Once we learn about ish Columbia. 1 year ▼ 2.89% tion has to occur with distracted driv- them for publication. We reserve the right to edit for clarity,

taken by British Colum- how dangerous the be- This column is in- brevity, legality and taste. ing. Aggressive, and expensive, pub- bia to impose harsh, road- haviour is, though, I tended to provide general 3 year ▼ 2.99% lic awareness campaigns need to be side penalties for drunk would argue that the so- information about injury Letters sent directly to reporters may be treated as letters to 5 year ▼ 3.49% launched, pointing to the dangers of driving has resulted in ber choice to engage in a claims. It is not a substi- the editor. 10 year 4.19% cell phone use while driving. a measurable reduction dangerous driving behav- tute for retaining a lawyer Mortgages through Major Financial Institutions I suggest that the cheapest and in drunk driving deaths, iour is even more morally to provide legal advice Letters must bear the name, address and telephone number most effective public awareness cam- pointing to enforcement reprehensible than mak- speci cally pertaining to of the writer. Names will be withheld at the editor’s discretion, FREE service Call Walter Morelj TODAY! only under exceptional circumstances. paign would be a change in the law to as an important tool. ing the alcohol impaired your case. Paul Hergott is FREE Appraisals & Legal Fees* prohibit all cell phone use while driv- Yes, harsh penalties choice of driving drunk. a lawyer at Hergott Law E-mail letters to [email protected], fax to ing, hand-held and hands-free. would undoubtedly re- I invite anyone inter- in West Kelowna. 763-8469 or mail to The Editor, Capital News, Call 250-860-1821 [email protected] duce the behaviour, but is ested to listen to the ar- [email protected] 2495 Enterprise Way, Kelowna, B.C., V1X 7K2. Rate are subject to change without notice. it appropriate? Are dis- chived CBC program *Mtgs from $351K to 750K, prorata up to $750 legal fees covered. Max legal fee reimbursement $750.