Reunion planned for Woodward’s
Dear editor: Gone but not forgotten. It was an amazing place to work and many long lasting friendships were forged.
It’s been 25 years this year since Woodward’s closed its doors after operating from 1975 to 1993.
I am trying to find former employees, as we are organizing a reunion for July 14 at the Penticton Lakeside Resort.
We are looking for all former employees and spouses. I have spoken to quite a few over the last five months, but if I have missed you, and you would like to come, please give me a call at 250-493-2343 Carol Beecroft Penticton with the education system and the huge funding contributions to the schools that First Nations make.”
You do not include any figures and leave “huge” contributions open to speculation. Facts are what people want to hear. You make an allegation but fail to back it up with facts.
What is the total annual amount contributed by First Nations for schools? How much do First Nations contribute in annual school taxes per student excluding building costs? What percentage of the building costs of schools do First Nations pay?
Or to simplify it: A few years ago a state-ofthe-art school was built on Penticton reserve lands. How much did that school cost? How much did the PIB pay towards those costs? What contribution did the province or federal government make towards building this school? How much does the PIB pay towards funding the annual running costs for lights, heat, wages, upkeep etc.? How much does the province or federal government pay? How many children attend this school? What is the total annual cost of this school per student? The PIB should have those figures.
My letter directly addressed the $12 million in school taxes over 20 years that normally taxpaying citizens will be evading by moving onto Penticton reserve lands. (Estimated at 1,001 homes at $600 per home annually on property taxes.)
I purposely low-balled this figure by averaging house prices at $400,000. As property taxes are prorated on the assessed value of a home the true amount would likely be several million higher than that.
I also left out of my calculations the new commercial development on reserve lands and the proposed housing development that is being held in reserve for future consideration.
The Province of B.C. has an obligation to its taxpaying citizens to ensure that taxes are levied in an equitable manner for all taxpaying citizens. That means the province must levy school taxes against all property owners or no property owners.
All taxpayers moving onto reserve lands should receive an annual bill from the province for their share of school taxes based on the assessed value of their property. Elvena Slump
Penticton
Stopped the expansion of the Trans Mountain Pipeline. Increased restrictions on lobbyists. Working towards electoral reform. Imagine what can be done for the people in three more years. Frank Martens Summerland XXX Dear editor: Let me declare upfront that I’m agnostic, so have no affiliation to the Fundamentalist Mormon Church, nor any other religious congregation for that matter.
I am a B.C. taxpayer, though, and remember that charges were first laid against Winston Blackmore back when former attorney general Wally Oppal headed the Justice Ministry in Premier Gordon Campbell’s administration. So it’s at least