Opinion

STUDENT ART

Rayna Fountain-Hall Mya Hall

Students, parents, and teachers: submit your art to newsroom@merrittherald.com for a chance to be featured each week! Submissions are printed on a first come, first serve basis.

Publisher Theresa Arnold publisher@merrittherald.com 250-378-4241 MERRITT HERALD

Editor Jake Courtepatte newsroom@merrittherald.com 250-378-4241 Reporter Morgan Hampton reporter@merrittherald.com 250-378-4241 Sales Representative Office Administrator Ken Couture kcouture@aberdeenpublishing.com 250-378-4241 Making Advertising Work For You.

OPINION

LETTERS to the editor Hard cap on emissions an overstep for Trudeau and Canada

Editor,

Our Prime Minister confirming a hard cap at the Conference on emission control is all about his political posturing on the world stage with total disregard for the best interests of our country that he was elected to serve. Canada’s emissions are minuscule in comparison to the world’s major polluters who refuse to set caps. It is totally inconceivable and unfair to commit us to take a leadership role on this issue. Although I am still not convinced that emissions are a major contributor to global warming - there are opinions on both sides - I believe that we should act responsibly. And do our part at least to protect our air quality. The Oil and Gas sectors should be given realistic targets to achieve that. Do not cripple them and our failing economy, especially in the west. To compound our economic challenges our forest industry just sustained two major blows - legislation and fire damage. the combination of the two will impact Merritt as well as the rest of our province.

In addition, unprecedented flooding has devastated properties and infrastructure, which will take months to rebuild plus more lost revenue for the business community that cannot be recovered. To respond to our M.P.’s question in the Nov 10 :View from the Hill:

As we are importing oil and gas, primarily for consumers in eastern Canada from countries who refuse to invest in anti pollution, those imports should be taxed as well and preferably at a higher rate.

From a moral and business perspective there is no valid reason not to take this action.

Ross Olive

Councillor “shocked” after watching flood documentary

Editor,

I recently watched the Fifth Estate coverage of the BC floods, “Come Hell or BC Under Water”. As you, I too was shocked to hear Mayor Brown suggest she knew something catastrophic was going to happen, prior to the devastating flood Merritt experienced. Mayor Brown did not share what she knew with me and others.

I’m sorry Merritt, the Mayor should’ve issued a warning immediately after learning and experiencing what she did.

Mike Bhangu, City Councillor

Editor’s note: the Fifth Estate documentary can be found by searching “Come Hell...BC Under Water” on YouTube.

A tough few years of COVID, fire, and floods

Editor,

Over the last two years, a lot of stuff has happened. So… Two years ago a virus hit the world, called Covid19. It closed schools, restaurants, and businesses like my family’s sports store. Many weeks later the stores opened but you had to wear masks which are so annoying. They itch your face and you can’t really breathe, especially when you play sports. The worst thing of all was that hockey stopped for about a month and there was no end-of-season. I was very sad because I’ve played hockey my whole life and it is a part of me. I love it and I felt frustrated, angry even. The year continued, and so did Covid. The restrictions became less, then more, then less, then more again. I couldn’t finish my school year with my favourite teacher or my friends. After summer break, I returned to school with my friends but I could not see them because of cohorts. Hockey was weird too. We only played two games. I was captain but couldn’t lead my team, except during practices. I’m grateful for the private ice sessions with coach Ryan. My team hockey coaches tried their best but they were restricted by social distancing rules.

We lived on a farm with many animals but decided to move into town. Four months after the move, Covid was still going on and big fires started to burn in BC. The new owners at the farm had to evacuate because the fires were close. A lot burnt down and it seemed like it was never going to end. They tried to do a backburn but that made it worse. There were fires in many places. Logan Lake and Lower Nicola had to evacuate but in Merritt, we were only on an alert. We helped some evacuees on their way out of town. They were sad and very upset. This made me sad. Months later, and Covid was still going on. There were mudslides and a lot of rain, and then the water reached Merritt. The water broke the banks and it kept raining heavily and Merritt was evacuated. A lot of people did not leave, but more did. We stayed. We had enough food and bottled water but we could not drink tap water or flush toilets. We were told that if we flushed the toilet all the gross stuff would come back up and flood the house. It sucked, but not nearly as much as the people who had basements full of water or worse. Some gas stations were open, so we could buy water, food, and milk if they had, but we could only buy 1 bottle of water at a time. We ate a lot of chips!

Everyone who stayed behind to look after their homes and businesses were punished. Food was sent out of town by the food bank even though those people could reach food stores. We weren’t allowed out after dark and the police who came to help from a different city weren’t as kind or helpful like the Merritt police. The firefighters, rescuers, and city workers were busy. The people who stayed behind supported one another and looked after one another. They shared food, water. Some people snuck food past the barricades but most were too scared. People were judging you for doing what you felt was best.

After all the fires and floods, good deeds, and people who easily helped one another, Covid is still around, and those who are against vaccines are also judged and punished. Many of the good deeds are forgotten now that the water has gone down. Everything is so messy, not just the mud from the floods. If someone who has judged me and turned against me for my choices, would call for help, I would help them every time.

Aiden van Rensburg

John Isaac 250-378-1586

Johnisaac@telus.net www.realestatemerritt.com

Ph: 250-378-6181

Heartfelt Thanks

To all the contractors and volunteers local and otherwise working as hard as they can, to help our residents affected by the flood. Pitching in, or out, wherever possible!