Opinion

Normally during the third week of September, all MP’s would be heading back to Ottawa as the House of Commons DAN ALBAS would resume the fall sitting. This year, VIEW FROM THE HILL because of the election called by the Prime Minister, it will be delayed.

Earlier this week Prime Minister Trudeau announced that he expects to announce his cabinet sometime in October.

Potentially this could mean a return in November or even early December.

Typically, the House only sits for the first few weeks of December which creates two challenges.

The first is that this provides a limited opportunity for PM Trudeau to advance any legislation through the House before the end of the year.

Secondly, it also provides little opportunity for all party Parliamentary Committees to properly scrutinize this Government and hold it accountable to Canadians.

The Prime Minister also this week announced his priorities with his new government.

The immediate priority will be establishing mandatory vaccination policies for all federal government employees and similar restrictions for Canadians travelling within Canada on “planes and trains” as PM Trudeau often states.

What is interesting about these priorities is that they did not require an election.

In fact, it could be argued that these measures could have already been implemented had the Prime Minister focussed on these priorities instead of calling an election.

One question already arising is will federal employees who refuse to be vaccinated be terminated from employment?

Once more information is available, I will share it in a future report.

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Thank you for your excellent article on Hwy. 5A truck traffic on Sept. 23.

I’d like to raise a few points I’ve considered over the past 12.5 years. Every chance I get to drive 5A I do. Last time was Sept. 20.

I counted at least 15 semis travelling south to Merritt, fast and on tight curves. My friend commented that she felt unsafe to stop and take photos. We did stop on one of the two beautiful viewpoints above Nicola Lake.

Great shots, and also all of the garbage strewn everywhere as we collected it (except for the dumps, take that whichever way you choose!)

Are you aware that the drive from Spences Bridge to Kamloopsis rated one of the top drives in North America by the Huffington Post. Hello tourism! (Upper Nicola Indian Band) Chief (Harvey) McLeod said, “the land itself is paying the price.” The one hill on 5A near the top approaching Kamloops is dangerous and falling apart again after being worked on in the last six weeks. Also I and others believe the big trucks are using that route because that small, twisty hill is the only one on 5A, unlike the Coquihalla Hwy. 5, which has the long haul hills which of course is more expensive gas-wise.

Let’s be proactive and save this treasured, scenic lake drive through our beautiful Nicola Valley and beyond.

September 30 marks the first National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, a day to honour the survivors of residential schools, the children lost, as well as to commemorate the tragic and longlasting impact these institutions have had on indigenous families and communities.

This day relates to the experience of Phyllis Webstad, a Northern Secwepemc (Shuswap) woman from the Stswecem’c Xgat’tem First Nation. On her first day of school, she arrived dressed in a new orange shirt, which was quickly taken from her. This act was symbolic of the stripping away of culture, freedom and self-esteem experienced by so many Indigenous children over generations, much of which took place in the 140 Indian Residential Schools which operated in Canada, the last of which didn’t close until 1998.

The painful discovery of the remains of 215 children at the Kamloops Indian Residential School site has made this one of the most difficult and heartbreaking years in our country, and amidst COVID and a devastating wildfire season, this has been a year full of many challenges. We must support First Nations as they continue to search the other residential schools across Canada and unearth the sad truth hidden from Canadians for so long.

Our region is blessed to be home to so many incredible First Nations communities. Their traditional and local knowledge has helped us during this wildfire season, and they should be included in the wildfire recovery and future land and fire management. First Nations must also be included as equal partners in our policy and economic development as we work toward meaningful and lasting reconciliation.

So, I encourage you all to wear orange in solidarity on September 30 and remember that we all must make efforts towards reconciliation, not just one day a year, but every day.

JACKIE TEGART

From the Herald archives: October, 1997

Police are still shaking their heads as to the cause behind the worst accident in the history of the Coquihalla.

A few kilometres south of Merritt last Wednesday, a two-vehicle collision caused an almost instantaneous fire, that proved fatal for two seniors from the Bridge Lake area and three residents from Burnaby.

Early investigation indicated that a Dodge Caravan failed to negotiate a curve in the southbound lane and drifted through the median ditch into oncoming traffic.

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