THURSDAY JULY 2, 2015
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Retiring MP reflects on what Canada has become
After three terms in office, Alex Atamanenko offers views on where Canada was and where it’s headed as he leaves the political spotlight BY SHERI REGNIER Times Staff
When Alex Atamanenko first arrived in Ottawa nine years ago, he recalls Canada being a more caring and compassionate country that it is today. The three-term MP for BC Southern Interior is not running in the upcoming election but that didn’t deter Atamanenko from sharing his views of the fate and future of our country for Canada Day. After spending June 18 in Ottawa, quite possibly his last day in Parliament depending when the writ is dropped, he admitted his overview of Canadian politics is somewhat pessimistic at this point. “Others may not agree with me but that's how I perceive it from someone who came out of nowhere when I ran in 2004 and arrived in Parliament in February 2006,” said Atamanenko who turned 70 this year. “I've always believed in the democratic process, that politics is a noble profession, and I believe in my country having always been a Canadian nationalist. “But it's been hard with this majority government because they do what they want and always out-vote you. I always wanted us to charter our own
Windstorm batters Trail area: leaves extensive damage and power outages
TRAIL TIMES FILE PHOTO
MP Alex Atamanenko took part in many Canada Day activities in Greater Trail (pictured above in 2014) and was often on hand to cut the ceremonial Canada Day cake at Kiwanis Park. way and seek peaceful solutions.” Although Canadians were already fighting in Afghanistan when he was first elected in 2006,
Atamanenko says the country was a strong supporter of the United Nations and in theory, still acting as peacekeepers.
BY SHERI REGNIER Times Staff
Areas of Trail looked like they were right off a movie set Monday night after strong winds left a path of destruction and loss of power along seemingly random locations in the city. Uprooted trees and other debris were strewn mostly around Sunningdale and East Trail following what the local forecaster calls a “gust front.” See photos Page 2. Not common but also not unheard of in the region, gust fronts are like miniature windstorms that can be a side effect of a nearby strong thunderstorm. Often sudden and heavy
Instead of remaining a world been a strong opportunity for the leader in peaceful resolution, he country to once again, demonmaintains the majority govern- strate peacekeeping leadership. ment nudged its way into becom“We've closed all doors and ing a proxy of U.S. policies and demonized Putin,” he said. chose a reactionary “boots on “This government takes every ground” approach in resolving opportunity to criticize Russia global conflicts. for its invasion into Ukraine,” “Internationally we've become explained Atamanenko, mena warring nation,” he said in tioning Leona Aglukkaq's, a phone interview Canada's Minister of with the Trail Environment, relat“We are not as Times. “We are not ed comments durrespected in the as respected in the ing the Northern international international comConference. munity for trying “But we never community for to seek peaceful criticized the United trying to seek solutions to very States for invadpeaceful solutions ing Iraq and the complicated conflicts,” Atamanenko one million people to very complicatcontinued. “In my killed as a result of ed conflicts.” opinion there was that invasion.” MP ALEX ATAMANENKO (and is) no reason He said shutfor us to go into tle diplomacy combat.” should have been Canada did not have to send the country's policy instead of its military into Afghanistan the Conservative government's (October 2001 to 2011), he weighted opposition against emphasized, noting the European Russia. presence in Afghanistan that “We have a strong Ukrainian didn't include troops in combat. community here and with our “There was no need to have position in the world, we should this tragic loss of over 150 sol- be trying to broker some kind diers killed, others committing of lasting peace,” Atamanenko suicide, and all the other effects added. “We missed that opporwe are seeing that our military tunity.” has been put through with this The politician says the last horrendous experience – we four years in Parliament have didn't have to do that.” also been “tough slugging” with The Iraq war is another exam- domestic policy beginning with ple where Canada should not be talks, or lack thereof, in the combat ready, he explained, reit- House of Commons. erating there are tactful ways “There's been a real erosion of resolving very complex issues of the democratic process in besides the use of arms. Parliament,” said Atamanenko, Most recently, he said the noting his experience with a Canadian government's stance in majority in power began in 2011. the Ukraine conflict could have See MP, Page 3
downpours follow, though the precipitation pattern and wind speed are largely unpredictable. “The strong winds are in advance of the actual line of thunderstorms,” said Ron Lakeman from the Castlegar weather office. “Then the thunderstorms produce downdraft winds, so depending on where the (storm) cell is in its lifespan as it comes through said location, will determine whether you're going to get wind, rain, hail or all three things.” The maximum wind speed in Trail and Warfield, as recorded at the Warfield station, was 57 kilometres per hour (km/hr) according to Lakeman. “That doesn't typically plow down
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trees but it was highly variable to some small areas such as Trail proper.” City crews worked into the night and were out again Tuesday morning, ensuring streets were safe and no one was injured, said Andrea Jolly, Trail's communications and events coordinator. Wind destroyed a number of large trees in Trail and left many, mostly fir and poplar, damaged but salvageable. Jolly said two trees were downed at Gyro Park, three at the family statue on Victoria Street and two in McBride Street Park. See TRAIL, Page 5
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