Monday AM News

1) Federal Election Platforms

All of the federal political parties have now released their platforms.  I'll provide the links below so you can judge for yourself which platform has your own support although, for the record, I support a re-elected Federal Conservative Majority Government

Conservative - see here
Liberal - see here (Full Version) or here (Summary Version)
NDP - see here and here (Costing for NDP Platform)
Green - see here

2) New Voter Advocacy Group in Kamloops

CFJC-TV in Kamloops is reporting that a new Citizens' Advocacy Group, called the Kamloops Voters' Society, is being formed to address issues between the general public and large projects unveiled by Kamloops City Hall. 

Question - Could we see such a group formed here?  The answer is maybe...as a similar group was formed to help get former City of WL Mayor Rick Gibson elected in the fall of 2002 in order to oust Ivan Bonnell when he was Mayor of Williams Lake from 1999-2002

See below for the story from CFJC-TV:

A new citizens group has popped up in Kamloops - in an attempt to change the way City Hall operates.

The Kamloops Voters Society has been officially incorporated - and includes former Venture Kamloops President Chris Ortner on its board of directors.

Ortner says this is not about running a slate of candidates.

Ortner says they're not political and won't be running candidates. He says Mayor and Council have a good vision and are doing a great job. He says they're concerned that people not feel left out when the City unveils a major project.

Ortner says the group arose out of objections with the way the vision for Lorne Street and Riverside Park is being implemented.

In addition to addressing time frames and public engagement - Ortner says the society will offer suggestions on keeping the tax load lower.

It's holding a public meeting next Thursday evening to drum up more support.

3) City of Williams Lake calls for nominees for Accessibility Award of Merit

From the City:

The City of Williams Lake believes that public awareness about physical and attitudinal barriers will help improve the quality of life for all disabled persons, giving them the opportunity to participate in all aspects of community life.

The Williams Lake Accessibility Advisory Committee’s Mission is to remove physical and social barriers which impede the full participation of persons with disabilities in all aspects of community life. The committee would like to invite the public to nominate groups or businesses that have made a significant contribution to improve accessibility within the City of Williams Lake.

Award Nomination Guidelines:

The nominee has demonstrated a commitment to increase accessibility above and beyond what is required by law or regulation. The nominee has improved accessibility for persons with one or more of the following types of disability: mobility, agility, hearing, seeing, speaking and mental. The business or group being nominated must be located within the boundaries of the City of Williams Lake and provide a service for the people of William Lake and others. Businesses or groups may be nominated by any citizen or group who should provide strong evidence in support of their nominee’s commitments and contribution to improving accessibility. Any citizen or group wishing to re-submit or re-nominate an individual, group or business who was, or was not, selected for an Award in a
previous year may do so by completing a new nomination form and providing up-to-date information in support of that nomination. Criteria areas include employment of persons with disabilities, parking, site improvements, accessibility enhancements, and Braille lettering.

Nomination forms and a full list of criteria can be found online at www.williamslake.ca or the attached nomination form can be completed and forwarded to the Selection Committee by:

• Email: darnold@williamslake.ca
• Fax: 250-398-7884
• Mail: Williams Lake Accessibility Advisory Committee
c/o Cariboo Memorial Recreation Complex
525 Proctor Street, Williams Lake, BC V2G 4J1

Application deadline is April 29, 2011. Awards will be announced during Access Awareness Day on Saturday June 4, 2011.