Lions in the community

The Penticton Lions Club recently partnered with the Salvation Army for their Kettle Campaign. Lions members volunteered and staffed the kettles at London Drugs on Nov. 25 and Save-On-Foods on Dec. 9. Pictured are past president Margaret Ashley, secretary Bob Elliott and membership chair Bev Dyck.

They each received a salary and expenses for their service, and some undoubtedly qualify for taxpayer-funded pensions.

As to what they accomplished, space precludes my detailing this, but I can point out that Mike De Jong as minister of finance created an environment which led to B.C. having triple-A credit rating.

Andrew Wilkinson as minister of advanced education poured huge sums of money into UBCO in Kelowna.

Diane Watts a mayor of Surrey saw tremendous growth in her community with considerable improvements in hospital services and transportation infrastructure

Todd Stone, as minister of transportation, oversaw major improvements in the Trans-Canada Highway, Sea to Sky Highway, Highways 99, 97 and 3, and Westside Road.

Sam Sullivan worked to ensure more affordable housing in Vancouver, and has some great ideas to have more available throughout the province.

Michael Lee did not have a cabinet role in the last Liberal government but has been working with, and a long advocate for, the Asian community in the Lower Mainland, as well as working with marginalized people in that area of the province.

As a final note, I can report that, while I initially was critical of Diane Watts for not answering questions at the debate in Kelowna, and for not outlining her platform, she subsequently released a comprehensive and well supported platform which was e-mailed to all party members. Bob Mason Kelowna