Boot should resign as Summerland mayor

COVID-19 has changed many things. We have lost our rights to assembly and endured onerous government lockdowns.

Conspiracy theorists are certain that it is all a grand plot to take away our freedoms and reduce us to serfdom.

Fuel is being added to this fire by the recent actions of B.C.’s NDP government. They had a contract with the Greens ensuring a stable government until the next fixed election date which is a year away.

The NDP threw that in the dustbin in an opportunistic run for a majority government, hoping to cash in on the popularity of a civil servant, Dr. Bonnie Henry. Civil servants are around regardless of which party is in power.

Toni Boot, the appointed NDP candidate, is only two years into her first four-year term as Mayor of Summerland.

There was another excellent candidate in Summerland, Doug Holmes, who topped the polls in their civic election; but the NDP want special interest groups chosen. To hell with what local constituencies want.

In one fell swoop, Summerland’s democracy fell to the wayside in Toni’s pursuit of better pay and benefits. So why isn’t she fulfilling her responsibilities as mayor? Last I heard from her she was going to scour Summerland free of racism.

Yet soon as the writ is dropped, she is off on this glory hunt. Sounds like opportunism to me. Unfortunately she didn’t even resign to do it. If she doesn’t win, she is willing to return as mayor. If I lived in Summerland I would be saying “Don’t do me any favours, I don’t need to be second-best.”

Toni Boot needs to resign as mayor. She then needs to promise that she will fund a by-election in Summerland to elect a new mayor to replace her.

The Liberals too have appointed candidates; they had little choice when the NDP called a snap election. But they too should have been prepared to field a full slate of locally-elected candidates when a minority government is in power.

COVID has slowed down the selection of candidates in many ridings not only for the Liberals but for all parties. That is just another reason to ensure we adhere to fixed elections.

Government has a responsibility to preserve our democratic rights. The NDP has failed dismally to do that. Instead they have shown the emperor has no clothes. ElvenaSlump

Penticton