Published August 29, 2013 in the Kelowna Capital News
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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 Black Press, at 2495 Enterprise Way, It’s clear, it’s time to reform Senate Kelowna, 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, Ottawa. 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 FAX LINES Newsroom 250-763-8469 Sound off Advertising, Classi ed, Real Estate Weekly TUESDAY’S QUESTION: 250-862-5275 E-MAIL Do you think Kelowna’s City Park is Newsroom an appropriate place to build a tourist [email protected] information centre? Production [email protected] Classi ed classi [email protected] WEBSITE YES 15% www.kelownacapnews.com NO 85% G A R UNDECIDED 0% This newspaper 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 NEWSPAPERS 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. British Columbia 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 Ontario, 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.