So much for transparency

Dear editor: Now that the Trio deal seems to be dead and the city pundits and chief administrative officer have smoothly tried the “mea culpa... my bad” route,” I am wondering as to the latest venture: Our taxes are going up three per cent.

Surprise! Surprise! What else is new?

In a recent publication, there was a release by the CAO stating that the tax rate would be increasing. It also made reference to the fact that the South Okanagan Events Centre debt should be erased in 2018.

It brings up the question of how will we know .... for sure? What guarantees are there? How truthful or transparent is this based on past performance of COP? The jury is definitely out on that one!

The press release goes on to say that because the events centre debt will be gone in 2018, COP is in a position to borrow funds to facilitate the upgrading of the marina at Skaha Park. Interesting chain of events, to say the least!

COP paid off Trio and supposedly ended the contract with them by the end of summer 2018.

Recently, the mayor made the observation that perhaps much more public consultation might have been a good thing. It seems that this sentimentality was not much more than smoke and mirrors.

Having said that, the CAO in his press release has stated that COP is entertaining an idea to upgrade, possibly change or restructure the marina to the tune of $1.7 million.

Can you imagine that? They sent Trio packing but have something planned for Skaha Park. It seems odd that we, the taxpaying public were not told of this intent until this article came out.

It tends to make one wonder as to how long this idea has been discussed by COP. So much for the promised transparency, accountability and fiscal responsibility. Deja vu or what? It seems that COP is running on the theory that it’s easier to do what you want and to ask for forgiveness later.

Playing “birdies in the bush” with a $1.7 million purse is the plan, apparently. It seems that COP has adopted the “taxpayers are dullards, what do they know?” philosophy.

If this is their premise, “Look out next election!” Ron Barillaro Penticton our prime minister very evidently is not concerned about the future of climate change and its impact on natural resources and quality of life for all Canadians.

The Government of Canada, under the leadership of Justin Trudeau, has managed to find a meagre $1.6 million to further the work of PEARL (Polar Environment Atmospheric Research Laboratory) in the far north.

Without this contribution of taxpayer dollars, the laboratory would not be able to continue vital research and consequently would be forced to shut down. The timeline for continued research is one year with the funds received to date. Compare this $1.6 million to the $10 million handout given to certain Canadians who have been caught in a web of political misfortune.

I feel gravely disappointed, Mr. Trudeau, by the inept decisionmaking of the Liberal party on these two specific issues: paying out Omar Khadr (as well as others) versus funding PEARL. Seriously? In my view, it is within the government’s jurisdiction to provide financial clout for research into climate change. The problem is not going to go away for Canadians, nor for any global citizen. There’s work to be done, and as a Canadian, I would like to see our scientific efforts contribute to a positive outcome.

Many years ago, in Jericho Beach Park, Vancouver, Pierre Elliott Trudeau spoke of a “just society.” The crowd roared even louder when the charismatic Trudeau broke into melodious French, reiterating promises “for all Canadians.”

Prime minister Pierre Elliot Trudeau might not have won every voter’s approval, and the issues of the day were different, but at least he had a vision for Canada on the world stage. Laurie Richards Okanagan Falls