With the Keremeos referendum over a proposed reservoir just days away, it appears there are a number of citizens firmly entrenched in the village, waiting for their opportunity to make their feelings known at the ballot box.
At the end of the day, it is taxpayers’ dollars at stake - and since it is their money, no matter which way the vote goes, it will be the right vote.
We just hope that the vote - yes or no - is not for all the wrong reasons.
The reservoir debate reminds us a little of the provincial debate for the elimination of the HST a couple of years ago.
Fueled largely by taxpayer outrage over many other issues, the HST debate was a rallying point for citizens desiring to send politicians a strong message. In spite of all that was bad about the HST, we don’t think the province is better off today without it, once it had been applied. Taxpayers won the battle, but lost the war.
We hope that a similar conclusion does not await Keremeos taxpayers over the reservoir issue. It appears to us that a number of salient facts regarding the issue have been ignored during information sessions about the reservoir - facts that, were they to be fully considered by many “no” proponents, might logically force their opinion in the other direction. However, taxpayer anger and emotional response to an issue dear to many residents’ hearts (water)may be interfering with sound reasoning and judgement on the matter.
Hopefully common sense and sober rationalization will prevail in this vote - as it always should - to produce a true victory for the residents of Keremeos.
Let’s ensure we are finding out the true facts and acting on what we know for sure - rather than taking our frustration for the system out at the ballot box for a victory that turns out to be pyrrhic in nature a few years down the road.