Changes in Osoyoos

Editor:rnWe are East Bench property owners who bought in Osoyoos because it was, and still is, we believe, one of the most beautiful places in B.C.
We are concerned, however, that the present development boom will permanently deprive us, and all residents, of some of the things we most cherish in our wonderful town and region.
Of course property values are soaring, and that is good for many of us. And of course we realize that increased tourism and a higher resident population means increased revenues for local businesses and government. But along with these benefits come some serious costs.
Increased tourism and resident population means increased pressures on police, increased traffic, increased noise and increased pressure on fragile air, water and desert land.
Developers increasingly insist on exemptions from ALR policy, and individual landholders increasingly see their own fortunes in selling out to developers, if they can only make the case that this 10 acre tract is no longer farmable and should be covered with condos instead.
And now the town wants to expand its tax base by annexing large chunks of regional district land, including the East Bench, Lakeshore Drive extension to US border, Lacey Point to Willow Beach along Osoyoos Lake and Haynes Point to US border. For some this will make sense: for example the increased policing costs will be shared by more property owners, real estate prices could rise, new developments will have access to city sewer services and all the other services that belong to the town would allow us.
For others, however, including ourselves, joining the town would provide only extra costs: increased taxes, unwanted street lighting, unneeded sewers, and an inexorable erosion of the rural values that attracted us here in the first place.
We will not be signing the petition for inclusion of the East Bench into the town of Osoyoos. We urge all of those eligible to sign this petition to consider carefully the costs and benefits to themselves and to the entire region in making their own decision on this important issue, as we believe that the costs far outweigh the benefits.
Lawrence and Brigitte Ward

Editor:rnOsoyoos, proud of controlling light pollution, required to ensure fish in the lake retain a livable environment, surprisingly lost in court for trying to control noise in its jurisdiction.
Rattlesnake Canyon, the new and still under development amusement park, believing that it is now on a roll, is erecting additional scream machinery with which to assail their neighbors. The noisy go-carts, without any pollution control, attack residential streets of 40 years standing. A sound shack blasts super-amplified stuff to excite their customers and fires straight across open public ground and within a hundred meters penetrates the homes of a nearby strata. This entire neighborhood is under siege and residents are denied enjoyment of summertime in the manner to which they were accustomed.
The U.S. military employ as a weapon, amplified loudspeakers to lay siege. It was used in Panama to dislodge Noriega and it is used in Iraq along with cruise missiles. It will destroy proper brain functioning and well being of people so exposed.
Osoyoos is a town favored by retirees. It does occur that often a move into an assisted living facility becomes a reality. Through no fault of their own, their property value is rattled downward by $30,000+, which can translate into having to settle for low-end accommodations for their remaining years.
So, in a round about way, the court decided that in Osoyoos it is open season on elder abuse for financial gain by a circus type operation practicing emotional and financial abuse upon others.
One can say that there is in Osoyoos, a crisis in ethics and law. Here exists a compulsory detrimental relationship imposed by one party upon the others, contrary to their wishes and interests. Rattlesnake Canyon does not pay its fines and relies almost totally on usurping public land for parking.
The city of Victoria is developing a nuisance by-law to deal with noise. A police call out is $200 per hour; a by-law officer is $75 per hour and a 15% administration fee as well. Failure to comply cancels the business license. “ Back to civility “ Amen.
Luke KurversrnOsoyoos

Editor:rnIn 2004, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. (nephew of JFK) wrote a book titled, Crimes Against Nature which describes the de-regulation of Environmental Protection laws in the USA, and the resulting devastation of natural resources since 2000.
The same de-regulation is now underway in BC. As of 2003, the 'Health, Safety and Reclamation Code for Mines in BC' is missing 20 pages on uranium, with lists of 'hot' spots, that BC citizens demanded back in 1980 to prohibit uranium mining. One paragraph remains.
Forty-five pages of allowable dust levels in air have vanished, leaving 3 pages. Add to this the huge reduction in Mine Ministry staff, hence their failure to deter mining offenders. Courts have issued tickets of $250 to $579 to convicted miners for destruction of the BC environment (see 'Undermining the Law':www.wcel.org).
A convicted repeat offender was given the permit to mill a 10,000 tonne 'bulk sample' at Rock Creek last June, but was stopped.
Show me a polluter and I'll show you a subsidy, writes Kennedy Jr. in his book. I'll show you a fat cat using political clout to escape the discipline of the free market and load his production costs onto the backs of the public.rnWhy is mining given precedence over the health, heritage and private properties of BC citizens? An antique law from 1859, written to encourage the settling of the BC wilderness, is now subsidizing miners to pollute the air, water and land.
Miners are subsidized when a $25 licence grants them entry on private land. Subsidy allows them to take a 10,000 tonne 'bulk sample' - about 250 truckloads of ore - under the guise of 'exploration', without having to bear the cost of baseline studies to determine environmental impact. By the time a mine is declared, usually a huge multinational has taken over. Citizens will pay the price for hundreds or, in the case of unearthed uranium, hundreds of thousands of years as delayed health and genetic damage manifests.
One solution: Try the so-called 'free market system.' Quit subsidizing miners by giving them lawfully owned lands, and let them pay for environmental impact studies at the exploration stage. Let them report their independent studies to the citizens, who will give the final approval.
J. WalkerrnRock Creek

Editor:rnThe Canadian Cancer Society thanks the canvassers who unselfishly volunteered their time and were out again this year raising funds in our April Door to Door campaign.
We also send a big thank you to the donors of the Osoyoos/Bridesville area who were very generous once again.
Funds raised through our April campaign go towards Prevention programs, Research, Patient Services and Support Programs.
It is only through the support of the volunteer canvassers and donors that we can reach our goals.
We also greatly appreciate the Polka Dot Door and Shoppers Drug Mart for allowing us to use their facilities as pick-up/drop off venues.
A special thank you to Julie Turner of the Osoyoos Times for her excellent coverage of the Cancer Campaign.
Carole BissonnettrnPat LewisrnOsoyoos/Bridesville
Campaign Co-ordinators

Editor:rnRecently I spent a weekend relaxing in your fair town, all the way from Vernon. The thing that impressed me most was your waterfront area across the street from the Holiday Inn. As a landscaper, I noticed the well maintained planted areas, the properly pruned trees & the variety of shrubs. It's a very nicely done area & a prime example of keeping some lakefront area in the public domain.
I was told that this area is maintained by volunteers. An excellent example of community pride & how participation in your community can make a difference.
Marten KoopsrnVernonrn