Selected articles -- Morning Star,February 14, 2010.

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I believe most of us know for whom we are working: our constituents.

It is us who receive complaints from the taxpayers when they are dissatisfied with service. It is our duty to address their concerns and rectify those concerns. Sometimes they do write to the Editor of this paper but most concerns come directly to us.

The facilitator's first report can be accessed here.

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Water Devolution -- Kate Bouey, SUN FM

The dispute over Greater Vernon Water devolution is back in the hands of the BC government, according to Mayor Wayne Lippert. This comes after an arbitrator's decision against Vernon's partial withdrawal from the system. Lippert says Vernon wanted a full withdrawal in the first place.

He says the city is now looking to Victoria to decide whether Vernon can fully withdrawal from the water management system. Lippert acknowledges this could be a slow process. He also points out that the regional district can now remove a big item $300,000from the 2010 budget.

Coldstream Councillor Pat Cochrane says it's a "victory for Coldstream.'' Cochrane hopes all sides will continue talks to work out their problems. Lippert says no group -- except Vernon -- has brought any solutions to the table.

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Interesting comments by Mayor Lippert. Mayor Garlick presented an excellent proposal on behalf of Coldstream but, I suppose, if one chooses to ignore that proposal than it is only Vernon that "has brought any solutions to the table".

Here is Vernon's proposed solution:

"Director Lippert advised that the City of Vernon had discussed the possibility of weighted participant voting on Greater Vernon Water matters as an alternative to water devolution. He further advised that the City wished to hear from other participants in the service before taking a position on the matter" (Minutes of the September 16th, 2009 NORD Meeting).

In other words, Vernon would have graciously agreed to discontinue the devolution process if they had full control of the utility. Obviously, the proposal was unacceptable to the rest of the participants.

It is my personal opinion that the Minister would not agree to full withdrawal due to the complications involved with such withdrawal.

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Selected articles -- Morning Star,February 10, 2010.

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Pregnant Man Thomas Beatie Expecting THIRD Child

Thomas Beatie, known to the world as the pregnant man, is expecting his third child, according to MomLogic.com.

Beatie, a transgender male, made international headlines when he wrote an article for The Advocate in March 2008, announcing that he was pregnant and legally male. Thomas, formerly known as Tracy, a beauty queen from Hawaii, had kept his female reproductive organs in hopes that he would someday have children. His sexual reassignment surgery was in 2002.

"Hiding a pregnant man is like hiding an 800-pound gorilla," he wrote in The Advocate. "Nancy and I wanted to tell our story from our own mouths before it got out."

A beaming Thomas and his wife Nancy appeared on Oprah in April 2008, where he stated that he and his wife are able to have intercourse. Although he had not had phalloplasty (the creation of an artificial penis), his testosterone treatments had grown his clitoris into a small penis.

The couple used a sperm donor to conceive. Their first child, a girl named Susan, was born by natural childbirth on June 28, 2008.

After baby Susan's birth, Thomas told People "She's so precious, I just can't stop staring at her...Just holding her is the best feeling in the world." He also bragged that he didn't have a single stretch mark.

The pregnancy didn't prevent Thomas from being a model husband. TMZ photographed him whacking weeds in his Oregon lawn weeks before giving birth.

In November 2008, Thomas, , who is now 35 or 36, told Barbara Walters that he and Nancy were expecting their second child. The couple had their second child, a boy, by natural childbirth on June 9, 2009. Nancy breastfed both children.

Thomas and Nancy began dating when Thomas was 24.

MomLogic.com has photos of the happy family.

Last month a California man named Scott Moore announced he was expecting a baby in February

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Antwerp Springs Water Source - BOIL WATER NOTICE downgraded to WATER QUALITY ADVISORY

Antwerp Springs Water Source - BOIL WATER NOTICE downgraded to WATER QUALITY ADVISORY (read more)

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Water Devolution -- Arbitrator renders his decision.

Apparently, some browsers were unable to access the arbitrator's verdict. Thus, here is the scanned product!

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Water Devolution -- Arbitrator renders his decision.

The Arbitrator adjudicating Vernon's request to partially withdraw from the water utility has rendered his decision. You can read the decision by clicking here. Comments later.

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Council Meeting, February 8, 2010

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Selected articles -- Morning Star,February 7, 2010.

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Saints bring first Super Bowl title to New Orleans

It was over when ...

Drew Brees was the Super Bowl MVP with a 114.5 passer rating.
(Ben Liebenberg /NFL.com)

Saints CB Tracy Porter stepped in front of Reggie Wayne, intercepted Peyton Manning's pass and returned it 74 yards for a touchdown to give New Orleans a 31-17 lead with 3:12 remaining in the game. The Colts were unable to rally in the final minutes, giving the Saints their first Super Bowl championship

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Accepting political freebies? – by Castanet Staff

Kelowna Mayor Sharon Shepherd will not be attending the 2010 Vancouver Olympics on the backs on corporations or anyone else.

Members of the media, including Castanet, have tried to determine whether the mayor has received an invitation from the BC Lottery Corporation to attend events as their guest.

“I have made no plans and will be making no plans to attend the Olympics or Paralympics, except to cheer on our Canadian and Kelowna athletes by watching from home,” Mayor Shepherd says.

Mayor Shepherd says she received an invitation to attend a reception during the Games, but has sent her regrets. She has not received any tickets to Olympic events.

The story came to light over the weekend when Chilliwack mayor Sharon Gaetz announced she had received an invitation from BCLC to be their guest at the Olympic games.

The package included tickets to hockey, figure skating, speed skating and the opening and closing ceremonies.

Gaetz says she refused the offer, saying she believed it to be illegal and unethical.

BCLC has sent invitations to government officials in 20 B.C. communities.

The City of Kelowna was given two pairs of tickets for its participation in the GamesTown2010 online contest and the Olympic Torch Relay, all of which were donated to Kelowna residents who participated in these programs.

“If I was planning on going to the Olympics, I would have requested tickets to purchase,” says Mayor Shepherd, whose policy is to personally pay for tickets or fees unless attending events in an official capacity on behalf of the City of Kelowna.

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Selected articles -- Morning Star,February 5, 2010.

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Don't hurt my guitar!

True Story.

Musician Dave Carroll recently had difficulty with United Airlines. They damaged his treasured Taylor guitar ($3500) during a flight. Dave spent over 9 months trying to get United to pay for damages caused by baggage handlers to his custom Taylor guitar. During his final exchange with the United Customer Relations Manager, he stated that he was left with no choice other than to create a music video for YouTube exposing their lack of cooperation. The Manager responded: "Good luck with that one, pal."

So he posted a retaliatory video on YouTube. The video has since received over 7.5 million hits and been featured on CNN. United Airlines contacted the musician and attempted settlement in exchange for pulling the video. Naturally his response was: "Good luck with that one, pal."

Taylor Guitars sent the musician 2 new custom guitars in appreciation for the product recognition from the video that has lead to a sharp increase in orders.

Here's the video ....

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Why is Saudi Arabia buying up African farmland?

The Christian Science Monitor highlights an April report by the International Food Policy Research Institute entitled "'Land Grabbing' by Foreign Investors in Developing Countries." The report details purchases of farmland in developing countries by China, South Korea, India, and a handful of gulf states.

Saudi Arabia recently purchased 500,000 hectares of land in Tanzania and Indian companies have bought land in Ethiopia, Kenya, Madagascar, Senegal and Mozambique.

Another analysis of the "land-grabbing" trend released in June by the U.N. Food and Agricultural Organization and two other agricultural research groups examines more closely the potential positives and negatives of the purchases.

Increased investment may bring macro-level benefits (such as GDP growth and improved government revenues), and may create opportunities for economic development and livelihood improvement in rural areas.

But as governments or markets make land available to prospecting investors, large-scale land acquisitions may result in local people losing access to the resources on which they depend for their food security – particularly as some key recipient countries are themselves faced with food security challenges.

And, as Devindeer Sharma from India's Forum for Biotechnology and Food Security told the Telegraph on June 28, there is a high chance of a local backlash and investors will have to avoid a neo-colonial image:

"There are 80 Indian companies trying to get land in Ethiopia, and it's all to be imported back to India. The government of India has been encouraging them," he said, and warned of danger if famine returned to Africa.

"If food is being shipped out and poor people are dying, what will happen? There would be riots," he said.

Thoughts? Is the investment good or bad for the recipient countries?
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Is Canada vulnerable? According to a recent discussion on CBC's Almanac, Canada has some of the cheapest agricultural land in the world and ripe for similar exploitations.

Think about it!

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Readers write -- ‘Freedom to Read Week’ Celebrates Freedom of Expression

Freedom to Read Used Book Sale
February 3, 2010

Lumby Freedom to Read Week invites Canadians to celebrate freedom of expression February 21-27 this year.

Even though freedom of expression is a Charter right, restrictions are sometimes sought. Under the headline, “To ban a book, to erase history” on October 6, 2009, the National Post newspaper reported on a complaint by a parent against Harper Lee's “To Kill a Mockingbird”. The same article reported that Margaret Atwood's “The Handmaid's Tale” survived a similar request in 2009 to remove it from the Toronto high school curriculum.

Each year Lumby United Church participates in Freedom to Read Week by hosting a used book sale. Any book you find on the sales tables that is on the Challenged Book List at www.freedomtoread.ca is free. As well, bring a book featured on the Challenged Book List to the grand opening at 9am to participate in our display.

The Freedom to Read book sale will be on Saturday, February 27th from 9am to 3pm at Lumby United Church. Everyone is welcome.

Anyone wishing to donate books to the sale may drop them off on Friday, February 26 from 6-8pm.

- 30 -

Contact: Nick Hodge
Phone 250 547-6202
Fax 250 542-1744
Lumby United Church
PO Box 463
Lumby, BC V0E 2G0

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Selected articles -- Morning Star, January, 2010.

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Photo gallery: Odd duck. Courtesy: Debbie Gibson.

It appears that a domestic Pekin duck got mixed in with the flock, but then it flew! Domestic ducks don't do that.

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Paying for police.

Mayor Lippert does not seem to have enough to do in his own job, he seems to want to direct the affairs of Coldstream as well (see Paying for police CHBC News). Yet I did not see his name on the Coldstream ballots during the last civic elections.

Wayne Lippert had an opportunity to run for a seat in the provincial legislation as well. He eventually decided not to pursue the position. Had he done so he could have had the opportunity to change provincial legislation with regards to policing costs.

Mayor Lippert does not seem to understand that most of the businesses to be protected by police are located in the city. All the banks, department stores, financial institutions, jewelery stores and the like are in his jurisdiction. At the same time it is a well known fact that crime rate in Coldstream is among the lowest in the province.

It is Coldstream Council's decision how many police officers they hire as long as the numbers meet provincial guidelines and satisfy the needs of the residents of Coldstream. If our citizens feel the need to hire more officers and they are willing to pay for more Council would definitely entertain the issue.

It is not proper for a Mayor of any jurisdiction to try to dictate to a duly elected Council of another jurisdiction. He has made several comments about possible amalgamation in the future, as did other Vernon Mayors in the past, but amalgamation will also be the decision of the residents of Coldstream if ever they selected that option through a legitimate referendum.

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Mayor Calls Police Funding Unfair – by Peter McIntyre

Vernon's mayor is concerned about what he calls "unfair funding" for local police.

Wayne Lippert says Coldstream pays for seven police officers, while Areas B and C fund ten, which he says doesn't allow for those areas to be policed 24-7.

" I don't believe it's fair for police officers from the city of Vernon to be going out on regular calls in the other jurisdictions where we're not getting paid. I don't have any problem (when it's for) emergencies, but (not when it's) for general policing duties. And from what I understand, from the (RCMP) superintendent, they have to send more than one police officer to a call."

Lippert says Vernon officers pick up the slack on a regular basis which he doesn't think is fair.

The mayor feels the other areas are under funding their police, and he recently discussed the issue with BC Solicitor General Kash Heed.

"Inspector McNamara, who is the second officer in charge, or their staff, should be going to these other jurisdictions and really making them aware they are under funding their policing requirements."

Lippert says its a similar situation with the RCMP's municipal staff.

"Out of the staff we have, we have 30 municipal employees in the detachment. Coldstream only has two."

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This is like “deja vu” all over again, to quote Yogi Berra. I remember an other Wayne of another time singing the same song. I wonder if the next thing coming is a $300,000 surcharge to our sewer fees! Or will it be a condition of settling the water arbitration?

This is from a Mayor who does not like politics and wants to get along with his neighbours! Give me a break!

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East Hill Resident comments

Blogger EastHillResident said...

I very much share Mr. Gous's concern to "just keep it factual".

Let's see how factual Mr. Gous's numbers are:

I challenge ANYONE, including Mr. Gous, to show ANY FACTUAL numbers with respect to agricultural consumption.

Perhaps Mr. Gous did not receive his latest Waterlines bulletin.

Agricultural metering is to be completed by 2010. In the meantime, NO METERS = NO CONSUMPTION NUMBERS, merely wild guesstimates.

Perhaps Mr. Gous is relying on that report from his "consultant", that uses "infill data", as in, data that is totally made up, fabricated i.e. NOT FACTUAL.

Let's review:
- Fee setting rationale: Utility operating costs are paid for by the users - ie. all water fee revenues collected = yearly utility operating expenses. Those who benefit from the operation of the service, pay for it.
- Every Greater Vernon water user pays the same rates for water.
- No Vernon users are subsidizing any others.
- We all agreed to borrow a horrendous amount of money to improve water quality and quantity for ALL users, not just Vernon's.
- We are all in the same boat, water is a limited SHARED resource and it is up to us ALL to manage it for the betterment of ourselves and future generations.

What would be the fee setting rationale under devolution?

Who decides how much the regional supply utility should charge Vernon, or Coldstream, or B&C?

If the City of Vernon does not find the terms of the GVW operating agreement (STILL OPERATING BUT THE AGREEMENT IS UNSIGNED!) agreeable, then open up discussion at the regional table and tell us what your beef is.

Or how about using your lake outfall, then you might not need TOTAL control over distribution and would be able to dispose of your treated wastewater like every other community in the valley.

Why is it that all of these water problems would go away, simply by giving Vernon total control over decision-making?

I have yet to see anyone make a financial case for devolution. According to Mr. Gous's "consultant's" report, Vernon's water costs would rise while rates would go down, which could lead to a shortfall of as much as $2 million in revenue annually according to my calculations using the same data.

A report with made-up data that shows how a fictional utility might be cheaper than a real one is certainly not FACTUAL.

Until the true cost of water is known, it is not only premature but irresponsible to promote any changes to the current structure.

Something smells.

January 26, 2010 11:29 AM

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Governments of Canada and B.C. and Fraser Basin Council Helping Communities Address Climate Change

Natural Resources Canada
2010/04
January 25, 2010

KELOWNA, B.C. — The Honourable Stockwell Day, President of the Treasury Board and Minister for the Asia-Pacific Gateway, today announced a Regional Adaptation Collaborative led by the Government of Canada, the Government of British Columbia and the Fraser Basin Council.

A series of projects will be undertaken over the next three years to help British Columbians address climate change issues by advancing decision making in the areas of water allocation and use, forest and watershed management, flood protection and floodplain management, and community planning.

The new initiative, entitled Preparing for Climate Change: Securing B.C.’s Water Future, is coordinated by the non-profit Fraser Basin Council and the B.C. Ministry of Environment. Natural Resources Canada is providing $3.3 million of the $6.9 million, which includes contributions from 18 partners in provincial ministries, local governments, First Nations and non-governmental organizations, the private sector and academia.

“We must work together to increase our ability to address climate change impacts and to help our communities adapt,” said Minister Day. “We need to take measures that will generate the knowledge, information, tools and partnerships to ensure that we are well-positioned to make appropriate decisions as our climate changes.”

“The Fraser Basin Council is ready to work with communities and resource managers as they explore the best ways possible to manage water resources in a changing climate,” said David Marshall, Executive Director of the Fraser Basin Council. “We are all now faced with a dual challenge: first, to tackle climate change by moving to low-carbon economy and second, to minimize the adverse impacts that climate change is already having on watersheds. A collaborative approach is key to success, along with a frank acknowledgement that water is precious and can’t be taken for granted.”

“This partnership will enhance the knowledge and tools for decision-makers across B.C. to prepare for climate change,” said the Honourable John Yap, B.C. Minister of State for Climate Action. “The province will use the new Regional Adaption Collaborative to implement our Living Water Smart commitments and manage water resources and riparian areas with climate change in mind.”

Activities will include risk assessments, economic analysis, knowledge transfer, consultation and the integration of adaptation measures into planning and decision-making processes.

Funded as part of an $85.9-million investment by the Government of Canada, the initiative builds on the scientific findings of the B.C. chapter of the report From Impacts to Adaptation: Canada in a Changing Climate 2007. This extensive national assessment identified current and expected impacts of climate change across Canada and highlighted the need for a regional approach to adaptation.

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Further to "Need a mathematical genius".

I have received the following comments from an “Anonymous reader” (as it turns out he did sign his comments thus he is no longer anonymous) in response to my post entitled: Need a mathematical genius!.

“Anonymous said...

You are excluding over $2 million collected from Vernon residents from the flat rate connection fee (or availability charge). Total revenue collected from Vernon residents for 2009 is $6.7 million. What is needed is factual information not a math genius.
Also the 2008 budget numbers were as follows:

1) Total Revenue collected from Vernon users $5.9 million
2) Total consumption (including Agriculture) $6.8 million cubic meters
3) $ flow into B,C and Coldstream from Vernon users under GVS structure $3.5 million
4) The saving to Vernon users (just comparing total revenue collected from Vernon users) by going to a true user pay structure with sub-regional Bulk utility $2.5 million.

Please just keep it factual

Regards
Leon Gous”

Since the reader challenged me to be “factual” Following is my reply:

Thank you Mr Gous for finally revealing the true identity of the man (a Coldstream resident) who guides Vernon Council.

You were the man who came to a public meeting in Coldstream’s municipal hall in 2004 and extolled the virtues of the Master Water Plan and urged residents to support the referendum for borrowing $35 million.

I vividly remember your heart-wrenching pleas to vote for the referendum or else we would all perish from Cryptosporidiosis and beaver fever (you did not want to have your young children grow up on this awful water). Yet, having spent millions of dollars many residents in Coldstream and B and C are still drinking the same water.

However, Vernon customers are enjoying highly treated water and the new developments, such as The Rise and Turtle Mountain, were able to materialize. No Goose Lake water for them. At the time you never expressed your concerns of the fact that Vernon residents might have to assist water related costs for the other partners. That concern was only expressed by this writer in a 2002 letter to the Editor (see attached). I assumed, the referendum took care of those concerns. Talk about keeping factual.

As for the “availability charge”: let’s not confuse the issues. That charge is the same for each household (presently $116.60 per month) whether they use any water or not. We could actually consider it the cost of financing the $35 million referendum borrowing. The annual financing charge for $35 million is about $2.5 million. Consider that extra charge to be Vernon’s contribution to financing the borrowed funds.

Do you think any of the partners would have agreed to the original deal had they known that the City could arbitrarily pull out of the deal? I don’t think so!

Those are facts the way I see them!

Thank you for being a reader of my blog.

Gyula

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Need a mathematical genius!

Here we go again: Mayor Lippert is repeating his claim that Vernon could save $3 million annually by pulling out of water distribution.

Here are the real facts: City residents consumed 4,731,796 m3 of domestic water for which they paid $3,832,755 in 2007.

At the same time Coldstream used 1,323,382 m3 and paid $1,072,216, while Areas B and C used 540,902 m3 and paid $540,382.

Is there a mathematical genius who could save $3 million of the $3,832,755 for the City of Vernon customers? Not in my mind! Unless, of course, city residents will pay 18 cents per m3 of domestic water and Coldstream and B and C residents fork out $2.42 per m3.

Should Coldstream and NORD agree to this sweet deal? Not a chance!

It is embarrassing to see the Chair of GVAC making outlandish comments such as these. He voted to eliminate GVAC, yet he again let his name stand for election as Chair. How could someone who feels the need to eliminate a committee ask to be elected for its Chair?

GVAC is a committee of Greater Vernon Water which the Chair is also hoping to break up. Can he be an unbiased Chairperson for that committee?

Food for thought.

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