Editor:
Councillor Bloomfield thinks Pentictonites should support Pathways with their tax dollars to replace funding previously supplied by Interior Health. Interior Health has put the taxpayers of Penticton in an untenable position by their failure to continue funding this group.
The new Interior Health solve-all building has proven to be a poor substitute for the programming Pathways provides to the people in this area.
Bloomfield’s motion wants the City to explore a shared funding model. Now if that model includes the RDOS taxpayers on a cost by population basis the motion would become acceptable. While Bloomfield sees the need as I am sure we do; Pentictonites must not be expected to pick up the costs.
Surely Pathways provides services to the entire community in the area. As such it would seem to me that it is the responsibility of Council to ensure that the operating costs of Pathways is spread throughout the community on a population basis. People are drawn to a community that provides the services they need so area residents will come here for service.
Another project is the major review of public assets in Penticton; the destruction of Memorial Arena strikes at the heart of Penticton; the building of twin rinks to increase sports facilities. Again these sports facilities are used by people living in the area. They are not for the exclusive use of Pentictonites. The twin rinks facility will also accommodate off-rink sport activities during the summer season. The building of any new amenities in Penticton should include RDOS taxpayers. It is not acceptable for the people of Penticton to subsidize the taxpayers of the RDOS.
Get involved. This is your city and your taxes.
Elvena Slump
Penticton