iN DISCUSSION: Please don't feed wildlife

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.

To those who feed wildlife, what are you thinking?

If I have had one consistent peeve through my life it’s feeding wildlife.

It betrays thousands of years of developed reason and logic over our human emotions, just gives up and goes home.

You feed the deer or the ducks or the raccoons because they’re just so super-cute. You feel so wonderful these majestic creatures will spend time with you for a moment, you have their attention.

You can’t ignore the fact you’ve just killed it. Maybe not today or tomorrow but for absolute certainty — it will die because of your selfish feels.

This leads, of course, to the feckless halfwit who encouraged a mating pair of Canada geese to nest on his mid-rise patio in downtown Kelowna.

A bunch of people were treated to the aftermath — goslings falling to their death on a busy city street. Everyone’s mad at the guy who pushed them off and I suppose they should be, but that scene was inevitable.

So, to the goose-loving condo owner at the Madison — I hope you got the great educational nature experience you were looking for. You didn’t even need to deduce the consequences, everyone told you.

I’d love to know your thoughts on this or your own pet peeves. Email me at mjones@infonews.ca.

Marshall Jones

Managing Editor

Anyone know the true implications of DRIPA?

I’m in a really uncomfortable spot as a British Columbian.

I have no idea of the true implications of the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act and I don’t know who to believe.

My premier, David Eby, seemed near panic after two court rulings shattered our collective realities. One court interpreted that Act to invalidate the entire mineral claims system in the province because it doesn’t allow consultation with First Nations.

Another ruling, at best, throws doubt on everything we thought we knew about private property by superseding Crown grants with Aboriginal title.

Eby went from calling the impact of the rulings “chaos” and telling homeowners they are “right to be worried” even staking his job and government for a moment on repealing or changing the declaration.

A few weeks later, he backpedalled hard three times, now landing on: he “move(d) off confidently in the wrong direction.”

Um… what? Where does that leave us? He now says he needs to negotiate changes with the province’s 200-some First Nations.

Sounds like that might take some time, which also, might be the real problem. Everyone else should just wait patiently, I guess? It’s becoming the provincial motto: Please Hold.

I don’t know what to believe from Eby. First Nations and their lawyers and proxies are doing their best to assure us all is fine, of course. Meanwhile, Geoffrey Moyse has thoughts.

The implications are potentially seismic. How are you interpreting this? Email me at mjones@infonews.ca.

Marshall Jones

Managing Editor

Fight to live in tiny homes is BC in nutshell

You probably don’t live in an RV or in a tiny home so maybe this thread we keep tugging on doesn’t interest you.

To me, it’s kind of BC in a nutshell.

We insist on being the most expensive province in the country to live in. Our building codes and tax structures all but guarantee it and they’re locking out the alternatives. We have covered many stories of people being denied being able to live in RVs on their own land at the local level.

Now it’s clear they won’t allow tiny homes, either.

You remember those? The ones the BC government insisted were being built to code for homeless people for free?

That appears to be their own secret code because no one else can find it, certainly can’t seem to use it on their own land.

Between municipal and provincial governments, we seem to demand you either rent, pay outrageously for ownership, taxes and fees or live in a tent.

How about you? Email me at mjones@infonews.ca.

Marshall Jones

Managing Editor

iN RESPONSE

iN RESPONSE to Friday’s opinion-editorial on concerns about feeding wildlife

I completely disagree with your notion that feeding the birds or squirrels is a death sentence.
Just because one stupid human being lured the geese to nest on his balcony and then threw the goslings overboard when they became a nuisance does not mean that all wild animals will die if they are fed!
Ridiculous! I have fed the same pairs of mating birds and squirrels in my backyard for years and they are all very much alive and healthy.
They nest close by in their natural habitat every year. In the spring I feed them daily on a diet of wild bird seed, corn and sunflower seeds. Once the babies are hatched out or born then I stop feeding them so their parents can teach them how to survive in the wild.
They come to my patio almost daily and they bring their young to lay out on the grass and sleep or play while they forage near by because they know the babies will be safe here and I watch the adults teach their young how to forage, fly and climb.
These birds and squirrels are all healthy wild animals! They have all been nesting here for years now. There is no death sentence! That is just a foolish and ignorant notion brought on by one stupid human being. You’re angry at him for what he did and rightly so. What he did was inhumane, frightening and disgusting.
But that is one ignorant individual who obviously has no respect or consideration for the life and the beauty of nature around us.
To immediately jump to the conclusion that feeding these animals is an immediate death sentence is just wrong, ludicrous and ignorant in and of itself.
These animals come here every year to nest and give birth. They do so because it is safe, quiet and a natural green space. And yes I feed them in the early spring until things begin to grow and they have plenty of food along and around their natural habitat to forage for themselves and teach their young how to survive in this sometimes cruel world we live in.
They stick around after I stop feeding them because they know this is a safe space for them to raise their young.
I do not make pets out of these animals. I merely help them along the way so they are healthy and strong when their young are born. Then they are on their own. By the time the young are born and out of the nest the parents are back foraging and raising healthy young broods. They don’t die because I feed them! They live! Long and healthy wild natural lives. So you need to rethink your foolish opinions. Not all human beings are so stupid, cruel and ruthless! And just because I feed these animals in the spring so they can stay healthy and strong to raise their young is not a death sentence! That is just crazy!

— Greg Ewanowich via email

I understand not feeding the wildlife but if your feeding them raw carrots and apples I don’t get how that would kill them down the road. As for pet peeves, the people that don’t use their turn signals or do it as they are in the middle of their turn. I am Not a Mind Reader:)

— Denise Nicol via email

Credit union moves to foreclose on cash-strapped Kamloops mayor’s car dealership

“It’s no secret that I’ve been put into a bad financial situation,” said Hamer-Jackson.

Narcissists do not take accountability for anything, unless forced to, and even with proof, many will continue to deny.
I lived with this personality type for many years and, trust me, Hammer-Jackson 100% fits the mold. Never wrong, everyone else is to blame for their abusive behaviour. Deep insecurities, combined with a need for total control, result in immature, childish, and competitive behaviour and a variety of abuse, making them unsuitable for leadership roles.
I mean, I’m no psychiatrist, but when the shoe fits…

— Karen Klein via email

iN RESPONSE to an opinion-editorial ‘Why voters need a way to punt mayors, councillors dragging us down’

You are absolutely right to be worried. I believe most citizens of BC are as well. And if they are not? They should be.

As I see this problem, the Federal Government is the main source of this problem and the federal government must be involved. And not because this issue was not dealt with years ago, but because there can not be over 200 different governing municipalities within this province. It has been demonstrated already the future of this nightmare. (When a pipeline is required to cross British Columbia and the resistance comes from the government (elected by the people) and first nations representatives (that is not elected)).

So the future is clear. NO FUTURE DEVELOPMENT OF ANY KIND IN BRITISH COLUMBIA.
As a side note to this point. The federal government, with Ontario and Quebec’s encouragement, would be very happy. All future projects and economy being in their provinces.

I have heard nothing about the vast majority of the natives that live off reserve lands, approximately 1 million people. This group has already rejected the old system in favour of the modern.
It appears to me after consulting the federal website, the current land claims issue is being encouraged by approximately 150,000 individuals out of a population of over 1 million native citizens.
So if most natives live off reserve and are being ignored? How does this fit into this problem?

On top of this there is a separation in how the two communities are being treated. One group with veto powers of their land and the average homeowner that does not? Municipality bylaws?.
Discrimination is the precursor to violence.

My solution. And the only solution that would be acceptable to the majority of BC residents, And maybe all of Canada, Is a payment in land and money. To bring all citizens together with the same laws.
Develop a series of referendums that clarify the objective of normalizing all citizens, notify the citizens of BC of how important this is, and the amount that should be paid to all registered natives affected by these land claims. And to give serious thought to the thinking behind how an elder native interprets the land. Clearly their thought on this matter is different than ours. And maybe bring this idea, process, management?? to all Canadians. All people must be equal. Anything else can be problematic.

This is a federal problem. And they don’t care about the west. (My opinion). I repeat. Discrimination is the precursor to violence.

I wonder if there is anyone with the courage and ability?? to create something like this.

— Gary Warman via email

iN RESPONSE to April 17’s newsletter opinion-editorial on Medical Assistance in Dying

I think that it is morally correct to stand by one’s moral and religious convictions. Anyone desiring MAID services from a physician or hospital can always freely change to a physician or hospital that offers such care.

— Karl R. Janzen via email

I am a lifelong atheist and complete sceptic about the value of organized religion. Note the “organized” However, I have no problem if others find comfort in their religion. As long as they are content to practice and not force their religious strictures and structures on me or general society. And the reverse applies. I should not contravene their private beliefs.
In this case, the beliefs that suicide is evil and abetting suicide is as evil is core to Catholics. Society has no right to force them to endanger what they believe is an immortal soul. There are other avenues and venues to elect MAID for the plaintiffs in the case. It is an inconvenience for the plaintiffs, not a denial of their rights.
As for Catholic hospitals or doctors, we should fund them as we do all others. No one should expect a known religious organization or individual to do other than follow their faith. And on balance, I am sure Catholic health care providers overwhelmingly do more good than harm. Go elsewhere or make other arrangements. And stop being a ninny about this sort of thing.

— Trevor Reeves, Osoyoos via email

Congrats on the person suing for not being granted equal rights to other patients of MAID.
Religion is a big problem, in case no one’s noticed. It’s a feeble house of cards that’s already falling (thank god!)
Religion is a personal thing, and if some people choose to worship a non-existent entity, that’s their right. But if that right interferes with their job – ANY job – they should not be in that profession. Religion is particularly harmful when involved in politics, medical issues, women’s rights, war, and many other areas that have used religion as a weapon or excuse.
If doctors don’t want to perform legal medical procedures, they should be fired, with qualified, unhindered professionals taking their places.

— Karen Klein via email

iN RESPONSE to Wednesday’s newsletter opinion-editorial on the DRIPA controversy

I own my home in Peachland and I am definitely worried. The value of my property has gone down. If not for that, I would sell and leave the province, but I waited too long. It’s a huge concern, and Premier Eby brings nothing but more stress to the table.

— Nicole Rondeau via email

It’s high time we grew up and acknowledged that we are all just people and that no one should have any greater right than any other.
I realize we are not in a true democracy but try hard to make it like one. No group should have any more influence than any other.
There is plenty of proof out there that so called aboriginals have just as much ability in every field and anyone else and it’s high time we quit making any distinction based ancestry. This crap about them being here first bears some scrutiny but regardless history is rife with invading peoples superceding ancestral rights.
I’m 84 years old and have spent my life roaming around a whole lot of this province but am not impertinent enough to claim it as my territory even though my ancestors roamed it before me.

— Brian Porter, Kelowna via email

“Sounds like that might take some time, which also, might be the real problem. Everyone else should just wait patiently, I guess? It’s becoming the provincial motto: Please Hold.” — Marshall Jones

Gosh. How long, now, have Indigenous nations been waiting for justice? It’s been 116 years since the Memorial to Sir Wilfred Laurier was penned by chiefs of the Nlaka’pamux, Secwepemc, and Syilx nations. The Memorial is a clear, historic document that lays out, in simple terms, the expectations of this province’s indigenous people: “…fair and honorable treatment.”

— Linda Jules via email

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