iN DISCUSSION: High unemployment hits differently nowadays

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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Unemployment, apparently, is on the rise.

Latest figures show it’s up nationally and continuing to creep up locally in Kamloops and Kelowna.

I say apparently because, anecdotally, for every story I hear about someone unable to find a job, I seem to hear of a business desperate for someone to fill a position.

I can’t put a finger on my skepticism, but something feels different. I’ve been through periods of high unemployment before and this just doesn’t feel the same somehow.

Statistics Canada says most of the recent job losses nationally were in manufacturing and wholesale, but I’m sure that’s not the same on the ground in Kamloops and the Okanagan.

Lend me your eyes and ears, what are you seeing out there? Something seems different, no? Email me at mjones@infonews.ca.

Mj

Marshall Jones

Managing Editor

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This is another sensitive story that will hit differently depending on who you are.

STORY: BC man was defamed but can’t sue women who made unfounded allegation

Two sisters partying at a music festival in Merritt meet a guy who works there. Something happens and they start to wonder if they were sexually assaulted. They report their suspicions to police.

I’m being intentionally vague about details but they are crucial to this story.

What’s important is that the guy they suspected was arrested. He lost work and friends over the allegation. He was never charged and no one seriously makes those accusations anymore. There was no evidence he did anything.

Still, the damage was done. So what can he do about it?

Not much, not through the courts anyway.

I’d be interested in your take. Email me at mjones@infonews.ca.

Mj

Marshall Jones

Managing Editor

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Random thoughts for a scattered Monday…

Reached new dollar heights when I finally admitted defeat and got gas this weekend. Just close your eyes and think of Donald Trump — he did that!

I’m rarely ahead of the curve, but before the pandemic, we bought e-bikes. It won’t happen, but wouldn’t it be kinda hilarious if the US-Iran war accidentally made us less dependent on oil?

Fuel costs, including jet fuel, will likely make this yet another year for the Canadian Staycation. Feels like international forces beyond our control have boxed us in since the pandemic.

Two weeks in a row now, a bear has dragged garbage from the same neighbour into my yard to chow down. I know, because their medicine bottles are in there. Got any advice for how to handle this?

I just have this feeling the Montreal Canadiens are going to win the Stanley Cup this year. I haven’t seen a single game, I’m only sort of paying attention, but longtime National Hockey League fans must see stars aligning to end a national drought in the only really acceptable way.

I told you my random thoughts, tell me yours. Email me at mjones@infonews.ca.

Mj

Marshall Jones

Managing Editor

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iN RESPONSE

iN RESPONSE to Friday’s newsletter editorial on unemployment

I have an international student leasing with us who has three jobs, all while going to college.
The problem appears to be what kind of job people are willing to do, rather than job availability.

— Ted Guthrie via email

iN NUMBERS: Survey says businesses in B.C. don’t like DRIPA

And of those surveyed, what percentage had actually read DRIPA??

— William Mastop via iNFOnews.ca

BC man was defamed but can’t sue women who made unfounded allegation

The story did not just end there. The Defendants who had made the allegations to police sought an order for damages against Blanc for filing the defamation suit. The court refused to grant that order and found that the defamation suit was not initiated for an improper purpose. The defendants also sought an order for full indemnity for all of their legal costs. That order also was not granted. Instead they were awarded their costs on scale C. Scale C is the highest level for costs, but is not at all full indemnity.

— William Mastop via iNFOnews.ca

iN RESPONSE to Monday’s newsletter opinion-editorial on lawns and drought

In general I agree with you regarding lawns. Having relocated to Kamloops to an older neighbourhood, we now have a postage stamp front lawn we appreciate and will keep — but can imagine a xeriscaped future there. There’s gravel along with the landscaping at back.

At our former Shuswap home, there is no question that the front lawn helped save our home. The 2023 fires came to within 200 feet behind us (our neighbours lost their greenhouse). Embers and wind also blew the fire into a small grove of trees on the east side and another across the road from us. A combination of the fire service, Spooner’s people and machines, and the younger men who lived nearby basically patrolling everything and using hoses — all were important to saving our entire block. Eight homes just uphill there burned to the ground. 

When we came home on September 6th, because hydro workers had valiantly got the poles up and running, and our garden sprinklers were on timers….  So we came home and were amazed to find dahlias, roses, zinnias and all in the flower gardens by the house, and cucumbers and radishes in the vegetable gardens. Our entire block was calm and perfect. We were infinitely grateful; I cried.

But to your point, we had a nice front lawn there that we maintained (reduces mosquitoes too), and that lawn had several sizeable burnt embers that had blown there, small branches. We spent the night before we left taking shifts to watch for embers coming from the backburn.
Upon our return, I worked from office files in the back of my Subaru for the rest of September as we were still on alert. Choppers bucketing and dropping water all day long and into the evenings flew over our house at low altitude.

A green well-watered lawn helped save our beautiful home.

PS I promise someday we’ll be fully xeriscaped here in town.

— Linda Rightmire via email

‘Ridiculous’: Penticton city councillor takes stand, denies sexually abusing young boy

It is indicative of some huge ego and entitlement to even think that identifying the “mistakes” you think the prosecutor is making and characterizing their assertions as they put the Crown theory to you as “ridiculous” is a good idea. This man is facing what is probably one of the most significant turning points in his life and he thinks he’s having an argument across the kitchen table. Wow!

— William Mastop via iNFOnews.ca

iN PHOTOS: Towering hoodoos to check out in Thompson-Okanagan

The Mara Canyon with it’s hoodoo formations (goblins), lava pockets and trails leading to exceptional views over Kamloops Lake is held very dearly in the hearts of local hikers and nature enthusiasts. Over the decades, many have respectfully traversed this area while keeping in mind that all natural areas are fragile. Wildlife lives here, even if you don’t see it. I have rambled through this area for 50 years. In that time, nothing has changed….and so it should be. No part of this area would benefit from boardwalks and stairs. No part of this area would benefit if altered in any way to allow greater accessibility. If a curious person has the robust ability to hike these areas, then let them enjoy the adventure as it’s meant to be.

— Darlene Kimp via iNFOnews.ca

iN NUMBERS: Job search is ‘terrible’ for many in B.C.

Sadly I know several small and medium sized businesses that are struggling to find skilled employees.

— Bonnie Derry via iNFOnews.ca

THOMPSON: The things I wonder about in Trump’s America

Yes there truly is a lot to wonder about. But I wonder how so many Canadians can support the leader of the opposition here who spouts the same political drivel and has nothing substantial to offer Canada.

— Bonnie Derry via iNFOnews.ca

B.C. bats ‘do not know the border’ — and Trump funding cuts may put them in peril

Trump is destroying the world, bit by bit. Just insanity and he seems to want to impact everything.

— Bonnie Derry via iNFOnews.ca

iN RESPONSE to the April 27 newsletter opinion-editorial on gender issues faced in transitional housing

I’m writing in regards to the lady in transitional housing who had a man living there as a woman. I to was in a woman’s shelter where a younger guy came in as identifying as a woman (which a couple of us women thought he was just using that to get into the shelter) my friend and I personally don’t care if someone wants to be like that but to us it’s supposed to be a woman’s shelter not any men period. And the staff heard us talking and we were called into the office and called homophobes and had to sign a contract saying if we talked about this again we would be exited. We were told by staff that the guy-woman was checked out before they admitted him we told them we’re not afraid of men it’s the point he’s still a man. Needless to say the guy didn’t stay long and he was a very nice person but a man is a man. All this transgender bullshit is so frustrating and so wrong in how they let men in women’s shelters and men in public washrooms, etc.
I was in a women’s shelter also over 20 years ago and had a son who was about 15 at the time and he wasn’t even allowed on the property to visit me. Go figure.
Thanks for letting us write about this.

— Identity withheld by request

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