A8
TUESDAY, January 10, 2017
www.kamloopsthisweek.com
VIEWPOINT
KAMLOOPS THIS WEEK is a politically independent newspaper, published Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays at 1365B Dalhousie Dr. in Kamloops, B.C. V2C 5P6 Ph: 250-374-7467 | Fax: 250-374-1033 e-mail: editor@kamloopsthisweek.com
Kamloops This Week is owned by Thompson River Publications Partnership Limited
DOMINANT STORIES FOR 2017
W
hat regional, provincial, national and international news stories will capture the attention of, and spur discussion from, residents in 2017? In the first weeks of January, it’s all about unanswered questions. Will the Kinder Morgan pipeline expansion actually move forward this year? The answer, how this plays out, will be much more interesting than the question. The fact the federal government has given its stamp of approval for this pipeline expansion seems to be more of a starting point for this story, rather than a conclusion. There is no shortage of people who are unhappy with the federal government over this decision. And they plan to do more than verbalize their displeasure. There has been talk of a 2017 version of the War in the Woods — remember Clayoquot Sound in 1993? How this issue will play out in another big 2017 regional and provincial story, the B.C. election in May, remains to be seen. That reshuffling of seats in Victoria’s Legislature will dominate the headlines for a couple of months in B.C. It will be interesting to see how many local issues emerge during the campaign. Perhaps you believe the big picture of province-wide political party platforms should be the focus. It’s difficult to deny health care and education their due. They are the Big Two of provincial responsibilities and they require a B.C.-wide vision, which plays into the party system. Thing is, we can get that vision from party leaders every day during the campaign. These people want to be premier, a job defined by bigpicture thinking. We urge local candidates, to talk about those communities and their issues, and leave most of the big-picture stuff for their party leaders. — Parksville Qualicum Beach News
GUEST VIEW
KAMLOOPS THIS WEEK
Publisher: Kelly Hall
Editor: Christopher Foulds
EDITORIAL Associate editor: Dale Bass Dave Eagles Tim Petruk Marty Hastings Andrea Klassen Cam Fortems Adam Williams Jessica Wallace Jessica Klymchuk ADVERTISING Marketing co-ordinator: Cindi Hamoline Ray Jolicoeur Don Levasseur Randy Schroeder Linda Skelly Tara Holmes Neil Rachynski Roger Heer Jordane Joneson
Robert W. Doull President Aberdeen Publishing Inc. CIRCULATION Manager: Anne-Marie John Serena Platzer FRONT OFFICE Manager: Sherrie Manholt Nancy Graham Lorraine Dickinson Angela Wilson Marilyn Emery PRODUCTION Manager: Lee Malbeuf Fernanda Fisher Mike Eng Sean Graham Jackson Vander Wal Dayana Rescigno Kaitlin Moore
CONTACT US SWITCHBOARD 250-374-7467 CLASSIFIEDS 250-371-4949 Classifieds Fax 250-374-1033 classifieds@kamloopsthisweek.com CIRCULATION 250-374-0462 All material contained in this publication is protected by copyright. Reproduction is expressly prohibited by the rightsholder.
Winds of political change blow
I
n 10 days, Donald Trump will be inaugurated as president of the United States of America. To many, myself included, this is still surreal. Five thousand kilometres away, following a successful campaign by Brexit-ers, Great Britain is in a protracted withdrawal from the European Union. In 2015, the Alberta election widened many eyes when Rachel Notley ended nearly 44 years of Progressive Conservative Party rule by leading the Alberta NDP from four seats to 54 seats. Just over a year ago, the Liberal Party of Canada won the federal election, moving from 36 seats in Parliament to 184 seats. Only two months ago, the Yukon Liberal Party went from only one seat to forming a majority government in that province. And I can’t leave off this list the surge which nearly resulted in a Bernie Sanders victory during the Democratic presidential primaries. Political upsets are becoming the rule rather than the exception. In all of the Canadian examples listed above, third-ranked parties catapulted to majority government standing. A remarkable thing has been happening: the status quo in politics is all but gone. Long established norms are being challenged and often tossed aside. Complacent, entrenched governments are being rattled by voters who are sick and tired of being taken for granted time and time again. All politicians should heed
DONOVAN CAVERS
View from
CITY HALL this warning. Politically turbulent times like these come with opportunities for positive change but also have potentially disastrous consequences when the public is led to vote out of anger. Turning my gaze towards the upcoming provincial election, I see warning signs on the horizon for the political establishment. As retiring MLA Terry Lake noted during recent interviews, winds of political change are strong and the B.C. government is certainly not immune after 15 years in power. And these winds are blowing harder and harder and gusting throughout B.C. Yet, rather than reaching out and reconnecting with voters, the political establishment is insulating itself more and more. The walls of the echo chambers in which they operate are becoming ever thicker. As a result, civilized discourse crumbles and political polarization sets up like concrete. In response to the political sea change, which even the most stubborn among politicians sense, we find ourselves
bombarded with taxpayerfunded advertisements telling us how well the provincial economy is doing. But when we talk to our neighbours, a different story emerges. We hear how wages are stagnant and part-time work is becoming normalized while the richest in society grow even richer. We hear about being squeezed by huge increases to ICBC rates, surges on our BC Hydro bills and hikes to most of our MSP premiums. And while the rates go through the roof, service and quality seem to be continually slipping. So what can you do about it? Well, as a basic first step, we need a voting system that represents all perspectives. A system which doesn’t place 100 per cent of the power in the hands of few with a narrow agenda. You can help push for a federal voting system that makes everyone’s voice count by visiting FairVote.ca the organization leading the campaign to do away with our archaic voting system. You can also get involved in the political process and demand change from within. It’s as simple picking up the phone or sending an email to the party of your choice. All are desperate for assistance from people like you. As always, if you have any ideas about how to make our community a better place please don’t hesitate to contact me. Donovan Cavers is a Kamloops councillor. Council columns appear monthly in KTW and online at kamloopsthisweek. com. Contact Cavers by email at dcavers@kamloops.ca.