Selected Morning Star News Clips - In case you missed them ** 2018 Elections!

   

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Selected Morning Star News Clips - In case you missed them ** 2018 Elections!

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Selected Morning Star News Clips - In case you missed them ** 2018 Elections!

 

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BC MUNICIPAL ELECTION 2018 - Global News

https://globalnews.ca/news/4163072/coldstream-bc-municipal-election-2018/ 

The following Candidates are registered to run in the 2018 Coldstream Election:

Mayor:

Bill Firman

Jim Garlick (incumbent)

Council:

Pat M. Cochrane (incumbent)

Doug Dirk (incumbent)

Richard Enns (incumbent)

Stephanie A. Hoffman

Ruth Hoyte

Gyula Kiss (incumbent)

Glen A. Taylor (incumbent)

There will be a referendum Question regarding the following bylaws

Are you in favour of the Regional District of North Okanagan adopting the following bylaws:

– Greater Vernon Cultural Service Establishment Bylaw No. 2785, 2018; and

– Greater Vernon Multi-Purpose Cultural Facility Loan Authorization Bylaw No. 2786, 2018

District of North Okanagan to establish a cultural service and borrow an amount not to exceed twenty-five million dollars ($25,000,000) for the purpose of financing a portion of the monies required for the acquisition of lands and construction of a new Multi-Purpose Cultural Facility for the Greater Vernon Cultural Service?which authorizes the Regional

You can read the full article here 

You may also like to check all candidates running for office in the North Okanagan here

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Selected Morning Star News Clips - In case you missed them

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The author of the above letter is a retired employee of Greater Vernon Water (GVW) one of the major proponent of using Duteau Creek as a domestic water source. Here are a few items to counter his claims:

The VID system was built for irrigation and it was very efficient for that purpose. It did not need any changes!

The only change needed to be done was the construction of a dedicated domestic main connecting current Duteau domestic customers to Kalamalka Lake water. That would have provided total separation of the water systems.

As it is, there is virtually no separation: the same water is used for irrigation and domestic consumption as before except this water is a lot more expensive. WE DID NOT SOLVE THE SEPARATION PROBLEM! A farmer gets his irrigation water from the same pipe as he does his domestic water except for a huge cost differential. All the money spent and planned to be spent at Duteau could have been used for the separation.

Okanagan Lake was not needed for at least 40 years. However, infrastructure costs were estimated to be $35 million. It is noteworthy that GVW was planning to apply for a 50,000 ML water license for Okanagan Lake. How does that go along with the writers arguments? 

A filtration plant is planned for the Mission Hill Water Treatment Plant (a grant has already been applied for). That would take care of seasonal variations in water quality. 

Surprisingly however, the cost conscientious letter writer promoted the construction of a $2.6 million pipeline from Okanagan Lake to pump water to Goose Lake for irrigation purposes paid for by domestic customers and operated at the cost of domestic customers at an estimated annual cost of $160,000.

Credibility?

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Province introducing tougher rules on payday loans, cheque-cashing fees

New pay-day loan and cheque cashing rules

The Province is starting to tighten the rules to rein in payday-lending practices, and to protect people from excessive fees when cashing BC Employment and Assistance cheques.

For some time, British Columbia’s most financially vulnerable individuals have used non-traditional lenders and credit providers, who often impose high borrowing costs and debt loads on borrowers.

“Today, we’re making changes to better protect British Columbians who use payday loans, and cash social assistance and disability assistance cheques,” said Mike Farnworth, Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General. “We’re also looking to make further changes to protect vulnerable consumers, who use other high-cost financial services in the province.”

Limits on fees for cheque cashing, and high-cost loans, will go into effect on Sept. 1, 2018, as follows:

Strengthen payday-loans protections:

• Lowering the maximum fee to $15 from $17, for every $100 borrowed, matching the lowest rate in Canada.
• Extending the payday-loan agreement cancellation period, so a payday-loan borrower now has two full business days to cancel the loan without penalty.
• Prohibiting payday lenders from requiring, requesting or accepting consent from a borrower, to use or disclose their personal information for anything other than for arranging or providing a payday loan.
• Clarifying payday lenders’ data-reporting timelines. The receipt of more timely data will help Consumer Protection BC to focus its education and compliance efforts, and the data will help to inform government about trends and changes in the industry.

Limit fees for cashing social and disability assistance cheques:

• Capping the fee for cashing a provincial social assistance or disability cheque at $2, plus 1% of the value of the cheque, up to a maximum fee of $10. Note: this change applies to anyone in B.C. who cashes cheques.

Starting June 25, 2018, on the government’s website, the ministry is providing practical advice and information to all British Columbians, to help them make informed choices about borrowing money, and using expensive alternative financial services, like cheque-cashing services.

“Our government is working to provide opportunities to help lift people out of poverty,” said Shane Simpson, Minister of Social Development and Poverty Reduction. “Today’s announcement will ensure people, who are receiving income and disability assistance, and who rely on these services, are protected from unscrupulous practices, and have more money left in their pocket after they cash their cheque.”

These changes are part of government’s overall Consumer Financial Protection Action Plan led by Farnworth. By reducing costs to consumers, and introducing additional consumer protections, the action plan supports the Province’s goal of reducing poverty, and helps make life more affordable.

Although the actions are intended to protect the most-vulnerable consumers, the changes will benefit all British Columbians who use high-cost alternative financial services. Government will continue to consider taking steps to protect vulnerable consumers.

“We’ve been regulating the payday-lending sector for almost a decade, and we have first-hand knowledge of how it works. British Columbians are borrowing an increasing amount of money from payday lenders, and our data shows that number is approaching $400 million a year,” said Rob Gialloreto, president and CEO, Consumer Protection BC. “We support efforts of this nature by the Province, that are designed to protect vulnerable consumers who use the services of any high-cost lender.”

Advances in the protection of consumers, with more to come in the future on other high-cost alternative financial services, will strike a balance between industry and consumer needs as part of a well-regulated industry. Further research and work is underway in this policy area, including looking at other high-cost loans and cheque-cashing services, to determine what needs to be done to further strengthen consumer protections and affordability. 

As part of its public education efforts, the Province has launched a new website called Borrowing Money. This website will provide people with information to consider before taking out a loan of any kind. The content on this website will allow anyone in B.C. to become informed and educated on various credit products and services, what rights borrowers have, and where to go for assistance.

Quick Facts:

• In 2016, more than 160,000 British Columbians used payday lenders (approximately 4% of the population over 18 years of age).
• On Jan. 1, 2017, B.C. reduced the maximum permissible charge for a payday loan to $17 per $100 borrowed, down from $23.
• In 2016, British Columbians borrowed more than $369 million, and took out nearly 805,000 payday loans.
• In 2016, the average payday loan was around $460.
• Consumer Protection BC, a provincial regulator created by government, licenses certain sectors, and enforces the Province’s consumer-protection laws.

Learn More:

New Borrowing Money website: www.gov.bc.ca/borrowing-money

Consumer Protection BC: www.consumerprotectionbc.ca/

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RDNO Media Release - Temporary closing of refuse station

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