iN DISCUSSION: Many questions surround BC move to permanent daylight saving time

This is where cold hard facts give way to the hottest of takes, mostly mine I suppose. I’m the editor, Marshall Jones.

Want to include yours? Listen, this isn’t the comment section, this isn’t social media. Discussion and debate requires context and a wee bit of bravery — we need your name and where you’re writing from. Include it in your account or email me anytime.

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Does David Eby’s decision on permanent daylight saving time make sense?

I’ll admit, I was one of the people who was delighted about the concept not having to change my clocks twice a year.

Now that BC Premier David Eby is making it so with a wave of his hand, I’m starting to think of the ramifications.

This whole idea, if you recall, started with Eby’s predecessor John Horgan, one of those folksy campaign promises like cheaper beer. I think Horgan did the right thing by taking a sober second look once he had the opportunity.

At that time, it looked like most of the US was headed in that direction as well. We would have been piggy-backing and it made sense. But when the US couldn’t get it together, Horgan pulled back.

Boy does that show the difference between them, doesn’t it? I don’t recall Eby ever mentioning this, it’s been off the radar for most folks for years, so why now? Is it just to thumb noses at Americans? 

The price will be a rough transition and disruption.

You’ll have to change your clocks when you cross the southern border. Not that anyone would do that, right? Except for truckers and lots of other folks who regularly work there. Albertans are pondering the same move but for now, sometimes you’d have to change your clocks going there and other times not.

Are you trusting your alarms and calendars every March and November when the rest of the world changes clocks? What are the chances this won’t disrupt activities at border crossings and supply chains and markets? 

Think of minor things like show times. Is that 6 p.m. our time? Or American time? 

I haven’t even touched the debate on whether we are right to stay on permanent daylight saving time or removing it. 

This winter, you won’t see the sun until 9 a.m.

Just what I needed, more complications in my life. How are you doing with this? Am I missing something? Convince me this is a good idea. Mjones@infonews.ca.

Mj

Marshall Jones

Managing Editor

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Are you getting you’re war news on social media?

I’m still a little stunned with everything going on, particularly in the Middle East. Keeping up with world and local events these days is like a cat chasing a laser pointer: It feels like you got it for just a moment before it’s gone again. 

There’s something very uncanny about flipping through your social media of choice, finding regular folks looking for recipes, your cousin getting engaged and funny memes, interspersed by near-live images and videos taken from the ground of buildings being destroyed, fires in the night and children dying. 

How can that not make us callous to all this suffering? News does not belong on those platforms.

So, I guess, focus on things we can control. The B.C. Conservatives are likely to be the next government in this province but it’s a party in transition.

A leadership race with nine candidates will determine if it’s more ready-fire-aim for this fledgling party. Will it continue to ostracize the centre with a far-right leader and crackpot MLAs? Or will it take up residency where the B.C. Liberals/United left off and find a lane down the middle?

If you wanted to supersize your democratic footprint, this is the time to get involved. Whether it’s the NDP, Conservatives or Greens, getting behind the scenes can do so much more for your causes than simply voting in an election.

Figuring out which way you want to go starts with small steps and small steps beat long paths.

Get involved. It’s better than a Facebook post. Email me at mjones@infonews.ca.

Mj

Marshall Jones

Managing Editor

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iN RESPONSE

iN RESPONSE to Wednesday’s newsletter opinion-editorial on permanent daylight saving time

It is about time the decision was made to no longer change time. Remember there was a referendum on it a number of years ago. Two-thirds of British Columbians voted in favour to stop the nonsense of changing time. I grew up in Saskatchewan. We stopped changing time back in the 70s. Was never a problem and we were analogue then. Now with digital; clocks, computers, smart phones, all automatic, even easier when travelling.
We have a vacation home in Antigua. They don’t change time. No problems, everyone likes it.
Arizona and Hawaii don’t change time. No problems, everyone likes it.
I can hardly wait until the rest of the country, outside of BC and SK, finally get it figured out and catch up to us.

— Elton Ash, Kelowna via email

People have been whining forever for us to not change our clocks anymore. We finally get our wish and everyone still whines!! When on the hell is everyone going to stop complaining and take the win? Nothing can be perfect in this change, just take it and stop the complaining!! All we hear is complaining, complaining!! Enough already!!

— Danielle Bishop via email

When we “fall back” in the fall there are more deer collisions. The deer get used to the idea of when to cross the highway and the we trick them by showing an hour early.
People with small children can attest to the added joy of time changes and sleep routines.
How hard is it to cope with time zones? Not very. Ask the people of the Peace River district. Half the year they are on Alberta time and half the year on BC time.
How will you remember to change time zones when traveling? Our smart phones do our thinking for us.
I guess the only real downside is missing a few phone calls from Americans trying to do business with us.
As for daylight vs standard time, I now have to go rotate my sundial. And when I’m trying to use my watch as a compass, is south at 11am or 1pm? Dagnabit.

— Grant Fraser, Kamloops via email

Time is relative. We already change our clocks when crossing provincial borders and who cares? Businesses adapt to it. Tourists adapt to it. What’s the difference between that and an international border requiring an adjustment on a clock?
With computers now, it’s all just programmed into the matrix. Traveling to Toronto? No problem. Our cell phones automatically adjust the time on the screen. We already have solutions for this. I think that eventually, other regions may adapt this policy. Then, we’ll still have to change our clocks driving into Alberta. Time zones will still exist!

— Nadine Evans via email

I think you may be aware of the research that suggests there are way more heart attacks and motor vehicle accidents on the morning that is suddenly “way earlier” than we are used to. So I guess that’s in the spring. (I forget, to be honest.)
That’s always been the argument. I prefer keeping both, myself.

— Linda Rightmire via email

Decreased death rates? Statistically speaking this could decrease heart attacks, strokes and car accidents that are associated with time change.
You’re worried about your TV show being at different times? You know we already have time zones right?
Time change is not natural. It is a made up “thing” that had its purposes in the beginning. Farming and the rail road construction. I’m not an expert on such things but the idea that you think this will affect cross border traffic and shipping seems a smidge narrow considering the global community we currently live in.
And, as a nurse, I bet you have never had to work a 13 hour shift to cover the time change on a midnight shift. Which can also lead to medical errors because did something happen at the first 2 a.m. or the second 2 a.m.?
There is a lot more to think about than what time a TV show is.

— Lynn Knowles via email

My very unimportant take on daylight saving time being permanent (and every person I know) is the extra hour of evening daylight is worth gold. People are either going to work, at work or in bed in the morning, not an overly useful time. But extended daylight in the evening is full of promise, BBQ’s, deck time, fishing time, baseball games time, family outside time, baby’s sleeping routine and on and on. That’s our neighbourhood’s take on it. We really couldn’t give a hoot what they do anywhere in the rest of the world. Thats a little price for being the leader, not the follower!

— Helen Price via email

Pierre Poilievre set to give speech in London during first official trip overseas

Meanwhile, Mark Carney is in Australia doing real work engaging in talks with their government instead of playing at being a politician.

— Bonnie Derry via iNFOnews.ca

Kamloops mayor has a budget cut wish list he won’t bring to council

He makes me think of Trump.

— Bonnie Derry via iNFOnews.ca

iN PHOTOS: Rescued animals living their best lives in BC

Dogs and cats you meant to type.
The word animals would mean different types.
I have 6 pets and none of them are a cat or a dog and all were rescued.
Why not give some attention to all the other animals that are abandoned and rescued?
There is actually more of them than cats/dogs.

— Carol Greene via iNFOnews.ca

Kelowna launches overnight security patrol in response to crime complaints

I’m sure someone has pointed it out already but just to be sure. All you’ve done by spending money on patrolling downtown, grants for security etc. is move the problem into residential neighbourhoods. Thus the increase in crime in other areas of the city.
The unhoused and criminal who were/are downtown are now defecating and vomiting in the neighbourhood communities of Kelowna. Pouring money into band aide solutions for one part of the city only moves the problem to another. We need to redirect that money into more permanent housing and legal systems that help the unhoused and lock up the criminals. I realize it’s a complicated issue but what we’re doing is not working and pushing the problem around the city isn’t a solution. What if we moved the problem to the suburbs? I’ll bet if the situation was in your front yard things would be different.
We keep our laneway clean, well lit, security cams in place etc. Since the downtown patrols we are seeing more of this and crimes increase in other parts of the city.

— Gordon Palmer via email

iN RESPONSE to Feb. 25 newsletter opinion-editorial on BC Human Rights Tribunal

I just wanted to give a quick shout out regarding your iN DISCUSSION piece. I follow and read a lot of your comments and find them very well balanced.

Regard the BC Human Rights decision and Barry Neufeld, your column hit the subject right on the nose. When reading your thoughts it is actually exactly how I felt about the decision. Sadly it seems it is getting harder to discuss issues without fearing repercussions or penalty for just sharing your own ideas or thoughts.

Just wanted to say I agree with the piece 100% and hope more reporters continue to ask the same questions, and I also hope the ruling from BC human Rights is overturned not because of Mr. Neufeld but because of all the items you brought up.

Thanks and will continue reading.

— Willard (Bill) Taylor via email

iN RESPONSE to Feb. 27 newsletter opinion-editorial on e-scooter safety

Where do I start, Marshall?

Scooters are visible because they’re new. Cars are normalized because they’re dominant.

Emergency rooms see injuries from bicycles, cars, hockey, and ladders too. We don’t ban those; we regulate and educate. Progress isn’t risk-free. It’s risk-managed.

Scooters may look inconvenient if you don’t need them. For many residents, they’re affordable mobility, as not everyone can own 1 or 3 cars, not everyone drives or can afford parking downtown.

Clutter and safety concerns are valid — but manageable. Scooters are hardly the most significant “eyesore” in the public realm. The bigger question is whether public space is only for cars, or for everyone.

— Glen Cheetham via email

‘It wrecks a person’: Former Vernon man sexually abused in care settles with province

Canadian laws for incestuous, marital, and known and unknown sexual abusers are far too lax, and the absolute lack of adequate consequences serves as neither a punishment nor a distraction. It also desecrates the value of women and children in society and leaves them at great risk.

As this brave man explains how the sexual abuse he experienced as a child has controlled/destroyed his entire life, it quickly becomes clear that rape is murder. The person you were before the attack(s) is completely obliterated.

The person one becomes after the attack(s) experiences residual pain and suffering that lasts a lifetime.

— Karen Klein via email

Tara Armstrong Recall Countdown

Tara Armstrong is currently the MLA for Kelowna-Lake Country-Coldstream. She rode the coattails of the BC Conservative Party, got elected, then rejected and left the party to serve as an Independent within weeks because the Conservatives were too left wing. Now she gets to spout moronic, hateful rhetoric and claim that her riding supports her.

Elections BC says you can recall an MLA if 40% of eligible voters in the riding sign a recall petition — but not for the first 18 months after an election. Some people started an online petition calling for a byelection once she made a shift to independent, then got herself a raise by forming her own party, but it won’t mean anything until the countdown clock hits zero.

So let the countdown begin!

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