Welcome to Your Kamloops!

Audio of BC Finance Minister Colin Hansen's Speech to the Kamloops Chamber...2009 BC Budget and the HST.

Full audio of Colin Hansen's speech today with all questions and answers (48 minutes):

A Summer of Dueling Experts...a good thing on balance.

I've been thinking a lot about the experts we look to when making community decisions. When I served on Council, I would read a consultant's report or a staff report and often wonder about the particular point of view of the person who wrote the report.

In my experience, there are always different points of views. Sometimes, in big decisions, reports would include second opinions but my recollection is that they would almost always confirm the first opinion.

This summer, when experts were brought out to support various proposals, people opposing those proposals brought out other experts who gave some scientific legitimacy to the opposition. Look at the creosote gasification project with Dr Paul Connett. I also understand the people out in Westwold who opposed the slaughterhouse waste compost facility also engaged the services of an engineer.

It does serve the public well when we can hear different experts who have differing opinions. It's then up to us to the hard work of really examining those opinions respectfully, and formulate our own thoughts.

Playing around with Video Podcast Idea...

I've been playing around with the idea of doing a one minute video summary of what seems to me to be the most important news in Kamloops any given day. I've never really liked the idea of news "snacking", but maybe this will be a way for folks to get a quick sense of the news of the day, and will perhaps even motivate people to seek out more.

I'd be interested in feedback on this broad idea. Here is a sample of what I am thinking:

A Kamloops Nudist in the News...

I guess this is technically illegal, as the RCMP has weighed in, but I can se many relatively benign reasons. Here is the Kamloops This Week story...

Still Waiting For Federal Government Decision About Water Meters...

No news yet on whether Kamloops will get federal funding assistance for a universal water metering program. It was initally expected this summer.

If this funding comes through, then a universal metering program is a done deal. If not, then as Mayor Peter Milobar has said, "its back to the drawing board".

Have heard that some senior city staff think their might be an announcement at the Annual BC Municipal (UBCM) convention at the end of this month. The possibility of a fall federal election might also see a campaign style announcement photo op somewhere in town. But, then again, maybe not - given how polarizing the water meter issue is.

Colin Hansen speaking to Kamloops Chamber Lunch - Sept 10th

I am hoping to get tickets to this one, think it might be difficult with the HST controversy boiling, should be lots of interest:

From the Kamloops Chamber Events Page:

How will Government Manage the Economy?

The Throne Speech has indicated the provincial government will stay the course of curtailed spending and budget restraint.  The HST will be implemented as a long term strategy to improve the economy of British Columbia.  How will these moves effect the Kamloops economy?  

Join us to hear directly from the Minister and ask your questions during the Q&A session.

Thursday September 10, 2009

Kamloops Convention Centre | 1250 Rogers Way

11:30am-1:30pm

$35 Members | $45 Non-members (includes buffet lunch)

To Register:  Phone 250-372-7722 ext.202 or Email: [email protected]

Planning to End Homelessness in Kamloops....Update

This is still in its early stages, but it is enormously encouraging. A group of very dedicated, experienced Kamloopsians will be meeting over September and October to formulate recommendations towards ending homelessness in Kamloops. Their recommendations are currently slated to be presented to a community forum, and hopefully in other venues, towards the end of the year.

From my experience and learning about homelessness, we can end it. The goal may sound utopian, but it seems to me that there are good solid methodologies out there that can achieve that goal.

This applies, of course, to people who don't choose homelessness as a way of life. Although, I often think when people say "I choose to be homeless", they are actually saying "I don't trust society enough to help me get housed".

This work is being coordinated through the Changing the Face of Poverty group which is facilated by the Kamloops Elizabeth Fry Society. The United Way also taking a lead role in facilitating the actual end homelessness planning work. Kudos to these wonderful organizations and the many others involved!

I will be writing more about this tremendous project regularly.

Most Understandable Quote of the Week...already

The BC Liberals are really hurting themselves with their lack of process. The HST, cuts to arts groups, and now cuts to boards of education. I've seen this before when how the province handled the implementation of the Trade, Investment, and Labour Mobility Agreement (TILMA) with Alberta - put a measure into place with little or no consultation, and then either defend or consult after the fact. 

This really puts people backs up. I spent 15 minutes chatting with one of the most right wing people I know and she was livid - LIVID - about the HST. She is a pretty well connected person in the BC Liberal world.

From the Board of Education meeting last night, here is the Kamloops Daily News quoting a very understandable sentiment from Trustee Gerry Watson (full disclosure: Gerry often acts as my business lawyer and sponsored me into Rotary in 2000). He is spot on with this comment:

Gerald Watson said requiring school districts to have balanced budgets and then pulling funds so they run a deficit shows “a disregard for the process.”

Podcast - Rediscovering Sahali Centre Mall

A conversation with the manager of Sahali Centre Mall, Sara Reynolds. Learn more about  Sahali Mall's advantages for shoppers, tenants, and the community at large.

01:01 - how Sara became manager of the mall
01:59 - Sara's responsibilities at the mall
02:28 - spaces for lease at the mall
03:18 - new owners committment
03:52 - dispelling rumour that mall will be torn down
04:38 - advantages to locating store in Sahali Mall
05:56 - new  mall web site, www.sahalimall.ca
07:29 - use of twitter and facebook
08:45 - free non profit display space
09:50 - artist collective in mall
10:54 - mall tenant mix and general mall ambience