Once again Stephen Harper has proven that he isn't the great defender of Canadian democracy.

Of course it first started with Harper taking his ball and storming off the field, forcing Parliament to be suspended so he could avoid a vote of non-confidence.

Now he has appointed 18 people as senators, even though Harper has always stated those positions should be elected directly by rank-and-file Canadians.

I don't want to disparage the new appointees as I'm sure they are all fine people and qualified in their own fields. But one has to wonder how Harper came up with the short list.

Certainly Pamela Wallin and Mike Duffy are entertaining enough on TV and have some political knowledge, but should critical affairs of state be left in the hands of talking heads? And if it should be, were Rex Murphy and Lloyd Robertson unavailable? For that matter, if Harper was looking for media types to wade into the trenches, I know of a really handsome, talented guy in Vernon (see photo above) that would have been willing to put life on hold for the good of the country.

And if Nancy Greene Raine is going to be in the Senate, how about other sports figures from days-gone-by? I mean, who wouldn't want to see Dave "Tiger" Williams in the Upper Chamber, or perhaps even Toller Cranston? Wouldn't it be great to see Senator Lui Passaglia going up against Senator Randy Ferbey over the state of agricultural subsidies? Heck, Don Cherry could be chairman of the committee on foreign affairs.

Harper also missed one category completely — '80s rock stars.

Can't you see it now — April Wine, Kim Mitchell, Trooper, Chilliwack? Of course if that were to happen, Funtastic would have a hard time booking acts for the summer festival.

Also on the list of appointees is Nicole Eaton, whose primary reason for becoming a senator is being a member of the prestigious Eaton family. But if there's a need for a retail dynasty inside the Senate, my vote would have been for the Sharma clan at City Furniture.

It should also be pointed out that at least one of the new senators ran unsuccessfully for the Conservatives in the federal election. Which makes me wonder why Harper is so quick to claim that a coalition government would be illegitimate because the Liberals and NDP didn't gain the confidence of electors Oct. 14. This new senator didn't cut the mustard with voters in her own riding, but now she can help run the government. Where I come from, that spells hyp-o-crit-i-cal.

But that appears to be a common theme with Harper.

He argues that he is a strong advocate for democracy but he tries to undermine a legitimate concept within the parliamentary system, primarily a coalition. Despite an elected Senate being a major plank of the Conservative platform, Harper stacked the benches so he can gain political advantage. And that also goes against another long-standing Conservative policy that Parliament should not be corrupted for purely partisan reasons.

Harper also doesn't seem to understand that when he got Gov. Gen. Michaelle Jean to suspend Parliament, it was placed on extended Christmas break. That means all major changes to how Parliament operates, including Senate appointments, should be delayed. And that is especially true when a majority of MPs don't have confidence in Harper.

But the truly sad part is that if Harper is going to make a mockery of our democratic system, he should have done it with complete style.

And that means some potentially great senators have been missed, including Alan Thicke and Ben Mulroney. Of course Bubbles, Ricky and Julian are also soon retiring, and they'll be looking for work.

In case you didn't know, Bubbles Ricky and Julian are the Trailer Park Boys.

-------------------------------------

Comment by Cyberlots

I don't think we need a government at all ... get rid of the suckers. The food bank doesn't need a government to run it, so why do we need one? In fact the people who work at the food bank are volunteers who have passion and a heart. I believe we need people that have knowledge regarding the subject to decide what is best and not just have one Prime Minister decide what is best for everyone. Maybe the Prime Minister could be a manager of the professionals to make sure we have professionals. We don't need people trying to further their political careers at our expense. A round table of professionals would have the best knowledge and would make better decisions based on knowledge and not based on furthering a political career like a Prime Minister.

Dear Editor:

I am amazed at the number of people who still see the Stephen Harper Conservative government as the one of choice. It is obvious from the policies of his government that they are a clone of the George W. Bush government in the United States.

We are well aware of what happens when big business, big money and the wealthy elite are left to influence the operations of government.

The Harper government supports an unregulated free market economy.

They take their guidance from the likes of the Fraser Institute.

His government would have us in the same circumstances as the U.S. had it not been for previous governments working to ensure that our banking, lending institutions, and corporate leaders are more closely controlled and monitored.

Harper wishes to attack violent crime at a time when such crimes are decreasing and the main plank of this platform is to put children in prison.

Harper’s government has done nothing to address the fact that almost one in every four children in Canada live in poverty.

Harper’s states he wants to support families but has done nothing to provide a national day care program so working families have equitable access to affordable day care.

Through his tenure we have seen well paying revenue producing salaries disappear as the manufacturing, forest and service industries have gone into decline. His government has done little to help post secondary students attain education and training without running up huge debts in tuition fees.

It is his government that has supported the continuation of Canadian troops in Afghanistan at a cost of up to $18 billion while at the same time significantly reducing taxes for large corporations, big business, and the wealthy.

He is leaving the middle and lower class families to fund government programs and see what little savings they have being eroded by the economic crisis facing the world; a crisis which his government wishes to ignore.

He has spent away our budget surpluses in tax reductions and has brought us to the brink of deficit budgeting in the short period of time his has been the government.

Harper has allowed private for profit health care agencies to become established in Canada, ignoring the Canada Health Act, and permit the beginning of two-tier heath care in Canada.

It is time for Canadians to recommit themselves to the values of caring, sharing, and equitable treatment for all citizens.

Terry Green
Summerland

To the editor:

There are two takes to the re-election of a Conservative minority government:

1) With the increase in seats, they have a larger mandate (even with the total combined vote for the opposition parties double that of what the Conservatives received); or

2) With the “perfect storm” conditions: economy in crisis, environment off the main table, sympathetic mainstream media, unpopular Liberal leader, centre and left party splits, and low voter turnout, the Conservatives still couldn’t get a majority.

My money is on the second analysis. Conservatives should not be proud of the voter turnout.

Why is it that the more right wing a government and country becomes, the less people vote?

Maybe that’s because those who don’t have the power–women, people of colour, people of lower social classes (the majority of Canadians), Aboriginal Peoples, children and young people– don’t vote. Why would they?

Lower voter turnout is not a reflection of satisfaction with the system as some Conservatives claim.

But when do Conservatives draw upon sound social science research (e.g. getting tough on crime doesn’t work).

In this region, the selfishness of an elderly and wealthy population does continue to both astound and sadden me.

Both of these groups are responsible for the mess we are in economically and environmentally.

And what do they do? They vote for themselves.

So much for caring about the future of their children and grandchildren.

Wilma van der Veen
Kelowna

Local News
One national group is trying to raise awareness about electoral reform.

Fair Vote Canada President Barbara Odenwald says 55% of British Columbians cast ballots that sent no one to Ottawa during the 2006 election.

Odenwald says our first-past-the post system means you only need one more vote than the person below you in your riding to win.

Odenwald says that leaves the majority of British Columbians silenced in our system.

In May 2005 BC had a STV referendum, and Odenwald says Premier Gordon Campbell promised to take the issue to the electorate. But she says the playing field wasn't fair, requiring 60% of voters to choose STV in 60% of the ridings.

According to Fair Vote Canada's assessment of the 2006 results BC voters should have elected 2 MP's from the Green Party, 1 more Liberal MP, and 3 fewer Conservatives.

Charmaine de Silva - Kelowna

If Gordie Campbell has his way, he won’t be elected in the Okanagan-Shuswap riding, and neither will any of the other candidates.

Instead, a majority will have ticked off a box at the bottom of ballot reading: None of the above.

Campbell (who happens to share the premier’s name) has been running in federal and provincial elections since 1993.

But unlike the other candidates who try to draw votes for themselves, Campbell has always strived for a NO vote.

NO, which stands for non-organized, is the movement Campbell represents for the local riding. He doesn’t boast tax cuts or green futures. Instead, Campbell says voters deserve the right to say no, that there be an alternative to the traditional parties on the ballot.

“So at this time, we’re going to try to organize a non-of-the-above on the ballot,” said Campbell, adding that if that doesn’t happen, his name will appear to represent the little man.

Whatever appears on the Oct. 14 ballot, Campbell urges voters to think about where their money is going.

He is specifically referring to the money given to the parties for campaigning based on votes – $1.75 for each vote cast in the previous election.

That little tidbit of information is one that Campbell says too few people are aware about.

When Campbell recently asked 100 random people if they knew about this, they all said no. And they all agreed that a non-of-the-above choice was a good idea.

“There is not one that didn’t support it at all and didn’t give us a high five on it,” said Campbell. “When there’s a dollar value on it, that makes a big difference to people.”

He also points out that $30 million was spent during the last election, but it’s the bigger parties that ended up with the money.

“You have to get a certain percentage of the votes to get the payout,” said Campbell. “It gives the other guys a leg up.”

Instead of the parties receiving that money, Campbell says it should be directed to worthy causes like the women’s centre.

This whole money issue has Campbell resorting to class action against Elections Canada.

There never used to be any money involved in elections, so he questions the need for it now, and the need for the inequity.

He also questions Stephen Harper’s decision to call an election in the first place.

“None of us are organized and that makes it wrong.”

But referring to the $1.75/vote payment involved, he adds: “No wonder they want elections.”

Okanagan-Shuswap voters will have plenty of choices when they head to the polls Oct. 14 2008.

Monday was the final day for prospective federal candidates to file their nomination papers.

Those seeking election as member of Parliament are Huguette Allen with the Greens, Alice Brown with the NDP, independent Gordie Campbell, Liberal Janna Francis, Conservative Colin Mayes and Darren Seymour with the Canadian Action Party.

The Lumby Chamber of Commerce will hold a federal candidates’ forum at the White Valley Community Centre Tuesday at 7 p.m.

Members of the public will also be able to ask the candidates questions.

The Greater Vernon Chamber of Commerce and the Downtown Vernon Association will host the event Oct. 7 at 7 p.m. at the Schubert Centre.

The Armstrong-Spallumcheen Chamber of Commerce will hold an all-candidates forum Oct. 8 at 7 p.m. at Centennial Theatre.

And the Enderby Chamber of Commerce will present a forum at the Enderby Seniors Centre Oct. 9 at 7 p.m.

Stockwell Day is a proud Canadian. He says so on his website.

It’s early days in this election but I expect to hear many many politicians tell me that they are proud Canadians. That’s nothing new. I’m a proud Canadian too. What’s instructive is the words that follow. That’s what illustrates the description of what proud means to the candidate at hand.

In Day’s case, being proud apparently means “keeping our community safe for our kids,” and “lowering taxes for families” and, finally “keeping the government accountable.”

Frankly, I think our kids are safe and I don’t really think we need more prisons or tougher rules to keep them that way. As for lowering taxes for families, I’m curious to know Day’s definition of “family.” I’m not sure I fit his description.

And keeping the government accountable? I’m guessing that would include accountable for what’s taking place in Afghanistan. Or not.

See being a proud Canadian means different things to different people.

In my books, we’ve achieved a lot of things, but we’ve missed the mark on others.

So, in my perfect world, I’ll be a truly proud Canadian when the country looks something like this.

We don’t just talk about equality, we try our best to walk it as well. We’ve done so by standing up for gay marriage. We’ve done so by allowing for multi-culturalism, which while flawed, is still a far cry better than the American ideal where there is a prior assumption that whatever exists in America must be right.

I’m proud of our relative freedom of expression, although it increasingly disheartens me that various corporate agendas can so easily frame the political landscape that we no longer really have a true picture of who’s in charge. Ditto for the various so-called access to information acts, which still seem to be more about bureaucratic control.

When we believe everyone is not only entitled, but is the real beneficiary of a true public health care system, one that ensures everyone receives the care they need from cradle to grave in such a manner that it honours and respects who they are.

What makes me proud is that we provide strong human rights where I don’t have to fear that as a Canadian I could land up in some foreign country and potentially be the victim of torture because some other foreign country believes me to be a terrorist.

I’m proud that we have equal employment opportunities, that our immigrants are treated with respect, that our homeless people can find affordable housing if they choose or mental health, alcohol or drug counselling that can help them get over the challenges they are facing. We all face challenges, and I have faith that our country is there for people when no one else is willing to be any longer.

I’m proud that we have the political and economic strength to take firm stands on international issues, even when it looks like we could risk standing alone. Sometimes it is the lone voice that turns the tide.

I’m proud that we treat our aboriginal people with respect, that we honour our commitments to them and ensure they have clean water, strong treaties that provide them with an economic base to grow on their own.

Finally, I’m a proud Canadian when I see that we are reducing the raping and pillaging of our resources without looking at the bigger picture.

That we use our natural resources to their fullest capacity by providing incentives that encourage tertiary industries rather than continually shipping out our goods to our southern neighbours because that’s the cheapest way to earn a buck.

Maybe some of the points on my list are also on yours, maybe none of them. It doesn’t matter. What matters is that we know what’s on our own list and we measure what the candidates say against our own principles.

Each and every one of them is going to tout themselves as speaking for you. They’re really speaking for themselves, and for their party.

Put on your critical thinking caps—my guess is it’s going to be a bumpy ride.

Karin Wilson is a freelance writer living in Westside.

A surge by the NDP to vault ahead of the B.C. Liberals in a political popularity poll came as a shock to many politicians and trend watchers.

The B.C. Liberals have been ahead in the polls for almost a decade. Their popularity surged during the last few years of the former NDP government, and in the 2001 election they ended up with 58 per cent of the popular vote — a modern-day B.C. record.

The NDP bounced back, and prior to the 2005 election came much closer to the Liberals. But when the election was held, the B.C. Liberals ended up with just under 46 per cent of the vote, and the NDP had 41.5 per cent.

Since that time, the B.C. Liberals have consistently outpolled the NDP. Virtually every opinion survey has shown the party in the lead. The NDP comeback in 2005 caused the party to re-evaluate some of its policies, and it has generally been more moderate in tone since that election.

However, two particular issues have hurt the B.C. Liberals. One is the carbon tax, which took effect on July 1. The tax was very poorly explained by its chief proponent, Premier Gordon Campbell, until just a few days before it took effect. There is a wide public perception that the tax is unfair to most people.

Another more recent factor is the very high pay raise (more than 40 per cent) to senior public servants. This comes even though the minimum wage has been left alone throughout the B.C. Liberal reign. The government also went after its own employees — most notably in a rollback of health employees’ wages, which ended up in the Supreme Court of Canada with the province being taken to task for the process it used.

–Langley Times

There is another factor. Campbell is seen by many people as aloof and arrogant and his image is sure to take a beating as the provincial election set for next May draws near.

The trouble with the image factor is that there is no leader waiting in the wings. The Liberals will have to ride it out with Campbell, at least through the next election, for better or worse.

A fresh, new Liberal face believes she can lead her campaign team to victory, one vote at a time.

The Okanagan-Shuswap Liberal Riding Association crowned its leader Saturday – 58-year-old Janna Francis.

Since there were no other names in the running for the federal Liberal nomination, Vernon’s Francis took the crown during candidates election meetings at the Schubert Centre and in Salmon Arm.

A small group of approximately 10 gathered in Salmon Arm and upwards of 35 came out in Vernon.

Francis is a new face to the people of her riding, following candidate Buffy Baumbrough, who announced earlier this year she would not represent the party in the next election.

While Francis may be a stranger to some, she has lived and worked in the community for the past four years, since moving from Kelowna, and says she has loved living here.

“This is an amazing area of Canada,” said Francis, recognizing the population’s desire for healthy living.

Since the central part of the Liberal party’s campaign is the green shift plan, Francis is ready to head her team in that direction.

That will include looking at how the carbon tax will effect areas such as the agricultural community.

As a social worker, Francis is also concerned about the need for childcare and other family issues.

“I care deeply for children and families. I care about people,” said Francis, who has served on Kelowna’s Women’s Liberal Commission, Elizabeth Fry Society, United Way campaign and the Kelowna mayor’s task force on youth issues.

Working with the Liberal party, Francis believes her values will be upheld.

“The Liberal party is my political party. It has the best options for the kind of Canada I want to live in.”

But as she takes the reigns as the local representative, Francis says there is some work to be done in preparation for a possible election.

“Harper could go to the governor general as early as Sept. 2,” she said, as she works to pull the campaign team together.

“We need to be ready.”

In Okanagan-Shuswap, the federal Liberals have traditionally run third behind the Conservatives and the NDP, but Francis is confident the ranking could change in the next election.

“One vote at a time is how we’re going to win this,” she said.

The OSLRA will also be looking at replacing their president, who is currently Francis.

Along with her election, Francis also celebrated another good news story with an engagement party for her son and his fiancé Saturday.

----------------------

JANNA FRANCIS speaks to fellow Liberals during the party’s Okanagan-Shuswap nomination meeting at the Schubert Centre Saturday. A similar meeting was also held in Salmon Arm, and Francis is preparing to represent the Liberals in the next federal election.

Okanagan-Shuswap Liberals are preparing to select a candidate for the next federal election.

Nomination meetings will be held Saturday in both Vernon and Salmon Arm.

“We want to have a candidate in place so she can start campaigning,” said Lorraine Kastelen, with the riding association.

The only person presently seeking the nomination is Janna Francis, a Vernon social worker.

Buffy Baumbrough had been selected as the candidate in 2007, but she resigned in June after deciding that she would seek another term as a Vernon city councillor this fall.

The current nomination process became embroiled in controversy when Celista resident Jake Ootes claimed a senior party official had told him he couldn’t let his name stand because he is a man.

“The implication was that I couldn’t run because they want a woman candidate,” Ootes told The Morning Star.

Liberal Party leader Stephane Dion wants one-third of candidates in all provinces to be women, but the party insists both men and women can participate in the nomination process.

“We have a lot of respect for Mr. Ootes,” said Bruce Young, the party’s campaign co-chairman in B.C.

Ootes unsuccessfully ran against Baumbrough for the nomination in 2007.

Young supports Dion’s attempt to have more women directly involved in politics, including sitting in Parliament.

“Mr. Dion is a man of enormous integrity and he’s not afraid to put out ideas,” said Young.

Young also pointed out that Okanagan-Shuswap had a woman candidate until Baumbrough resigned.

Kastelen isn’t concerned that the recent controversy will keep some Liberals from attending the nomination meetings.

“It’s not a big thing,” she said of the media attention on Ootes.

The nomination meetings will run Saturday from 9 to 10:30 a.m. at the Schubert Centre in Vernon, and from noon to 1:30 p.m. at the Seniors Resource Centre in Salmon Arm.

A public consultation on the proposed distribution of funding for registered groups who support or oppose the single transferable vote (STV) electoral system is under way.

Government has committed $1 million for groups who support or oppose the STV system. The province will make $500,000 available to each side of the STV debate to provide information and educational material about their positions.

Government will also fund a neutral referendum information office, as it did in 2005.

British Columbians will vote on whether to adopt the STV or keep the current, first-past-the-post system during a referendum to be held in conjunction with the May 12, 2009 general election.

This is the second time British Columbians will have the opportunity to vote on the STV system.

The threshold for success will be the same as it was in 2005 — with at least 60 per cent of the province- wide popular vote needed, along with majority support in at least 60 per cent of the province’s electoral districts.

The consultation is aimed at individuals and organizations on both sides of the debate who may be interested in applying for funding. The consultation paper is available for viewing at: http://www.ag.gov.bc.ca/public/spl/Referendum_Group_Consultation_Paper.pdf

The document includes information on the proposed application and registration process, duties and responsibilities of groups and their financial agents and permitted uses of funds.

Groups and individuals have until Sept. 5 to give their feedback on distribution of the funds. Funding is scheduled to be distributed in January 2009.

The B.C. Liberal government’s latest report card on its operations is the last one the public will see before next spring’s election.

Here’s a further look at some of the toughest political problems, ministry by ministry. Finance: As one would expect, all is sweetness and light in the last report of former finance minister Carole Taylor. Well, almost.

Beyond the big surpluses and even bigger construction bills detailed in the 2007-08 service plan report is a seemingly minor glitch. The ministry’s audited financial statements for the year were delivered two weeks late, a no-no for the wizards of international banking.

Put another shrimp on the barbie for John Doyle, B.C.’s new auditor-general. The new Aussie auditor’s recent clash with Forests and Range over the hasty release of private lands from forest licences overshadowed another battle going on with Finance.

Finance Minister Colin Hansen was smooth as ever, distancing himself from Forest Minister Pat Bell’s personal attack on Doyle. But Hansen politely sniffed at some of Doyle’s un-Canadian notions for his ministry, such as that the government should claim revenues it would have collected had it not reduced gas royalties to boost unconventional drilling. That would treat the move as a spending program, suggesting a subsidy for oil and gas companies. Such a silly idea.

Hansen and his boss are seriously annoyed, mostly because the forest report went out without requested edits (unfounded hints of corruption) or a formal government response as per tradition. Oh, and Doyle’s next report is imminent. It’s on Olympic costs.

Health: If there’s a worse statistic than the one that says one in three B.C. adults can’t read, it’s this one. One in three B.C. residents of all ages has a chronic disease, a consequence of aging and sedentary lifestyle. And that’s just the diagnosed cases.

Diabetes alone accounts for around half the coronary bypasses, limb amputations, kidney dialysis and retinal surgeries. This and other chronic conditions consume 80 per cent of the health budget, and rising.

Hip and knee replacement wait times are improving; hospital admission time targets were “not achieved.”

The budget has topped $13 billion, up seven per cent in a year. Minister George Abbott’s “sustainability” legislation makes no effort to cap spending. The government is betting heavily on fitness promotion and running ads begging people to train up for long-term care jobs.

Public Safety: Not too many useful measures are graded here for ministers John Les and John van Dongen. There are more cops, but the shortage of places to put the bad guys is fobbed off to Attorney-General Wally Oppal, who as noted last week is seeing the court time for criminal and other cases grow longer.

New sentencing options to deal with drug addicted and mentally ill chronic offenders are slowly emerging in Vancouver, again under Oppal’s scrutiny.

One of the few areas where Public Safety failed to meet a target was training emergency response teams. Northern training sessions were postponed due to a real emergency, the Prince George ice jam.

Transportation: Minister Kevin Falcon’s huge spending spree is just getting going with the Kicking Horse, Okanagan Lake, Port Mann and Pitt River bridges, and of course the Sea-to-Sky project.

His latest $14 billion plan includes spending $10 billion on finishing Canada Line and building three more SkyTrain extensions to UBC, Coquitlam and Surrey.

The report digs deep to find good news for the hurtlands, noting that its pine beetle program did 51 projects with a whopping $30 million. That includes repaving 30 km of the Nazko Road out of Quesnel. Yippie-kyay.

Tom Fletcher is legislative reporter and columnist for Black Press newspapers. tfletcher "at" blackpress.ca

Okanagan Vernon is out as the name of the provincial political riding for the North Okanagan.

In is Vernon Monashee. And with the name change comes a new border.

Legislation that sets boundaries for the new riding has passed through the provincial House unanimously.

“It becomes official as of the next election,” said incumbent Okanagan Vernon Liberal MLA Tom Christensen, also the Minister of Children and Family Development.

The current riding’s boundaries run from the end of Swan Lake in the north, south to Bailey Road, east to the height of the Monashee Mountains, and west to the height of the hills on the west side of Okanagan Lake.

“My riding hardly changes at all, other than the new name,” said Christensen. “The only real change in the riding is, I believe, the area that’s on the west side of Okanagan Lake now becomes part of the Shuswap riding.”

An independent commission has been going around the province looking at riding boundaries, and how the population has shifted around B.C. The commission makes recommendations to government that takes into account both population and geographic area of representation.

“I don’t envy them that job,” said Christensen. “It’s tough to find the right balance.”

And what does the MLA think of the new name for his riding?

“I kind of like it,” he said. “I like having ‘Okanagan’ in there, but what tends to happen is you think Okanagan Vernon, you don’t think of the eastern part, like Lumby and Cherryville.

“To be perfectly honest, Vernon Monashee better explains the boundaries of the riding and, from my perspective, Lumby and Cherryville are an important part of the riding.”

The next provincial election will be held on Tuesday, May 12, 2009.