Taxpayers’ money wasted
Dear Editor: I was curious as to which city councillors attended the Union of British Columbia Municipalities convention in Whistler. When I called city hall, I was told all members of the council attended except for Andre Martin. As we know that Martin, Helena Konanz and Tarik Sayeed are not seeking re-election, I’m wondering why we are sending two of its retiring members on a paid vacation to Whistler.
These conventions are for educational reasons, are they not? What, as taxpayers, will we receive for our money spent? I certainly hope that our next elected council will be more accountable with our tax dollars than this council has. I guess that’s why Penticton has one of the highest residential tax rates in B.C.. Carol Maynard Giles
Penticton lease agreement.
City administration, in their mind, has the situation well under control, and no further engagement or input from residents is required. I will let the residents be the judge of that.
I notice that the mayor credits the city with improving engagement with the residents as one reason to re-elect him. The engagement program could indeed be a valuable asset to the city, contingent on the decision makers using it as intended.
Based on past experience, this is not, in any way, assured. It will be well into the next administration’s term until that value of the engagement program is determined. In actual fact, no one really knows now. Its job is to sell the notion that common people don’t have the knowledge and experience to vote intelligently on electoral reform. Better the devil you know than the devil you don’t.
First-past-the-post voting systems allow laissez-faire oligarchies to dismantle the social safety net and pass legislation that favours the well-to-do.
An honest democracy must provide political equality. The open marketplace of ideas and diversity of thought makes proportional representation more representative. The more voices being heard, the better it is for democracy.
Hard-fought-for adult suffrage ushered in modern-day parliamentary democracy. If you want to have your voice heard, be sure to vote. Doug Poole Courtenay
Rather than offering clarity, three alternative PR options are being proposed, one of which has never been tried before anywhere in the world.
Only generic, esoteric information is being provided. No mention is made of electoral boundaries or other details that might influence an informed decision. In short, the NDP government, the Green Party and Vote PR B.C. are asking us to buy a pig in a poke, which is like buying a used car without checking the engine, or a house without a building inspection. Don’t do it. John Amon Victoria