iN DISCUSSION: Forces gathering to recall Kelowna MLA

This is where cold hard facts give way to the hottest of takes, mostly mine I suppose. I’m the editor, Marshall Jones.

Want to include yours? Listen, this isn’t the comment section, this isn’t social media. Discussion and debate requires context and a wee bit of bravery — we need your name and where you’re writing from. Build it in your account or email me any time.

Oct. 31, 2025 newsletter editorial

I don’t care much about policy.

One party wants to cut something, another wants to raise something. Mostly, life remains the same.

As a journalist, what I care about, what I jealously protect, is democracy, justice, fairness, common sense. 

I say this because when we do our best to help ensure Kelowna-Lake Country-Coldstream MLA Tara Armstrong is the first MLA in BC history to be recalled, you need to know why.

I’ll repeat for the folks in the back. Tara Armstrong ran for the BC Conservatives. She refused to speak publicly, refused all candidate forums, refused to speak to the media. She cloaked herself in a popular banner and slipped into the position without anyone knowing her stance on anything.

Then she doffed that cloak within months to reveal she was leaving the Conservatives and when she did speak, showed herself among the most extreme politicians ever sent to the legislature.

She conned everyone. 

This isn’t really about politics, it’s about a coalition of BC Conservatives, liberals, NDPers, LGBTQers, First Nations and just regular folks who won’t stand for this.

It’s about fixing mistakes. We have 170 days left to prepare.

Are you with us? Email me at mjones@infonews.ca

iN RESPONSE

Hi Marshall,
I’ve only got one comment about this. You’ve got to be a total idiot to vote for someone who didn’t speak publicly, didn’t participate in any forums and refused to speak to the media.
— Tamara Clarke, Kamloops, via email

The folks in her constituency must have not known her “platform” prior to her being elected, or if they did know, they presumably agreed with her.

Whatever the case, she needs to be turfed out, and the sooner the better. Keep readers updated as this issue moved forward.

— Bob Mason, Summerland, via email

She didn’t con anyone.  If you were stupid enough to vote for a person like that, then you live with it.  Maybe next time you won’t just vote for the party, you will actually investigate who or what you are voting for.

— Marti Giroux, Kamloops, via email

Absolutely 💯. Sadly not in her riding but I’m so sick of people who can’t be bothered to do their homework and just vote for the party. Maybe there should be a law forcing a bi election in all cases like this.

— Bonnie Derry, Vernon, via email

Business association calls for recovery housing after Kamloops overdose death

While I support the premise of the article the phrase “they are the outcome of decisions…..” speaks volumes. Sometimes people make poor personal choices with negative consequences. Sadly the recidivism rate of both private and public treatment facilities is somewhere in the high 80 percent range. Doing the same crazy thing over and over again expecting different results certainly applies here.

— Robert Mitchell, via iNFOnews.ca

Oct. 29, 2025, newsletter editorial

Measles was considered eradicated in Canada in 1998, 25 years after a vaccine was introduced.

The reaction to the vaccine after years of losing thousands of children every year to the disease was swift. 

How soon we forget. Measles is back on the rise, up to 5,000 cases this year and spreading. 

This isn’t about vaccines, or vaccine-hesitancy, my concern is with how our public health agencies communicate this stuff. As in, not very well. They don’t seem to understand the importance of credibility.

There’s a common understanding in the justice system that we must have confidence in our police and our courts or it can’t exist. Complain about decisions if you want, but at least they are explained in full. I can say that that because we have a right of public access, disclosure and transparency.

These are often missing ingredients from health authorities and organizations across the world. I think that has helped feed this anti-vaccination tendency and distrust in the systems designed to protect us. 

They need to figure out how to regain their credibility with the same vigour with which they attack communicable diseases or we’re all in trouble.

That’s my take anyway. Email me at mjones@infonews.ca.

iN RESPONSE

I have to disagree with you on this.  Although there are government and other companies that are not forthcoming, I  cannot see why it would be the health authorities responsibility to reinvent the wheel and specifically their responsibility to once again explain why a vaccine against measles and other diseases (whopping cough, polio) is good for you.  That is just common sense and a grandparent/parent’s job to educate their children by example.  Besides no amount of charts, explanations, town meetings etc. are going to change their minds.  It will only be on their death bed that they will question whether the vaccine should have been taken or not.  We have to quit finding excuses and blaming others for our own stupidity.  Does that sound harsh, it just reality.  

— Marti Giroux, via email

Oct. 25, 2025 newsletter editorial

If you’re new to BC this Halloween, you’ll want to be prepared.

Put the dogs downstairs or at least keep an eye on them, don’t let them out. You might want some white noise if you plan to sleep at all.

That’s because British Columbians love their Halloween fireworks. As we pointed out in our story today, nowhere are they legal to use. 

But there are places to procure them and people do. Halloween is on a Friday this year, so you can bet there will be a lot of them.

It’s another controversial wrinkle to this bizarre tradition — my personal favourite on the calendar.

How about you? Are you a fan of fireworks, legal or illegal? Should we make it easier to get and use? Should we hold more official fireworks events to appease the masses? Or are you just happy getting a good night’s sleep and not having to find your scared dog in the morning?

Email me at mjones@infonews.ca and let me know.

iN RESPONSE

As a resident of West Kelowna, I am surprised by the tacit approval of illegal fireworks (set off in violation of bans or prohibitions) your headline suggests. We had at least one wildfire in our community above my home this summer due to the selfish and stupid folks who thumb their noses at public safety directions and set off their fireworks with no regard for community or firefighter safety, not to mention the impact on residents who have gone through a major evacuation due to wildfires in the area, as recent as this summer in Peachland. 

We live in a region with wildfire risks that persist far beyond the traditional wildfire season. We have lived under drought conditions all summer and recently slightly wetter weather is far from resolving the situation. I am pretty confident that fire managers have good reason to take a very pessimistic view of the conditions and potential impacts of fireworks. Perhaps we should focus on the greater good rather than deeply selfish takes on reasonable behavioural limits. 

— Ernie Polsom, via email

I am a huge fan of fireworks – but only the official planned events coordinated by professionals with the fire department involved. They are beautiful, kids and adults both love them, it’s an excuse to go out together, in the fresh air and enjoy something as a community. People with pets that have problems can plan around them because they have a designated start and end time. Most publicly hosted fireworks are far enough from residential properties that the bangs heard inside the house by the animals is no worse than the backfire of a vehicle, or the explosion of a transformer – which are both frequent and unpredictable occurrences (I know this – I live across from the location of the Canada day fireworks).  Not to mention, we are talking about maybe a 30 min window of noise 2 or 3 times a year at most.

Private fireworks on the other hand should be strictly regulated – people don’t notify their neighbors, frequently set them off late at night on week nights, often they have no idea what they are doing, likely they are also drinking, and neighbors find pieces of fireworks on their property which could cause fires if they come down still burning properties (I found a 1 inch butt of a firework on my BBQ last year – that’s a bit concerning given the full propane tank attached to it…).

— Tara Long, via email

The headline implication that banning fireworks is something to oppose is reckless, dangerous and juvenile in the extreme.

Do better.

— Teresa Andrews, via email

We would definitely like to have fireworks banned everywhere.  
With the advance in digital shows, this would be our preference!
Over the years too many people have been injured or killed either using the fireworks or producing them!
And the terror that pet dogs go through as well as the fear created in wildlife too, why would we continue producing and shooting off fireworks.  
Years ago, as a young boy, my husband saw a young pregnant woman die when a firecracker accidentally struck her in the abdomen, killing both her and her unborn child. He has never forgotten that scene. That incident happened in a city park with responsible adults letting off the firecrackers.  

Time to definitely ban all fireworks!

— Eileen Hackett, via email

Ban fireworks everywhere.

It is still sooooo dry, plus the noise is awful.

It is okay to have community planned once a year.

Regular person should not be able to buy them.

— Brent Argue, via email

A big NO to fireworks . 

Proven  be dangerous as unqualified people buy and use them. 

They cause harm such as fires, injury and noise that wild animals and birds do not understand and this can cause death or injury.  

They pollute the environment thru smoke and waste.  

Why in this day and age would we want this?  

— Diane Corneyeur, via email

We humans are so damn selfish! We share our world with an abundance of other creatures, many of whom we’ve abused and killed for centuries. Why do we think we have more rights than any other animal?

I’m 100% against fireworks, not because they’re dangerous and have caused injuries, which is easy to do if you’re consuming alcohol as well, but I adamantly disagree with any human activity that hurts our wildlife, farm animals, and pets. Selfishness allows us to minimize the suffering of others when it’s for “our pleasure”.

Let’s all grow up and do the right thing. Let’s make kindness to all more important than our greed.

— Karen Klein, via iNFOnews.ca

I once was a partaker in Halloween but the last time was as a host and though I once might have used fireworks, I am not a fan of their noise, their effects on animals nor the waste that careless users leave behind them.

— Patrick Longworth, via email

READER COMMENTS

On your article about the poll which asked questions on UNDRIP to British Columbians: Polls show how people answer questions that is all. Polls do not show what people think.

If you talk to real people you almost always find them saying yes, but on the other hand, or no, but on the other hand….

Reading numbers then saying “People think this” is extrapolating [pun not intended but hey…”extra, poll”?]

So please, let’s learn to distinguish between these things. 

It may get more clicks to say “Poll shows people think”, but it really harms serious public discourse, in my opinion.

Thanks for your work,

— Jane Duber, via email

LETTER TO THE EDITOR: Kelowna should buy Kelowna Springs golf course

The city of Kelowna is becoming a powerhouse. The city just announced a $2.82 billion 10-year capital plan to power roads, rec centres, and airport growth (we hope not onto the agricultural land to the east), to name a few things.  This works out to $319 million this year. The city just purchased 3 properties downtown for $27.8 million, one site planned for a hotel near the lake. This will be great for tourists and businesses. The city purchased the Michaelbrook golf course last year for baseball diamonds so that should bring in more tournaments, and the city has just finished a dog run downtown for over $1 million which is rather unique to meet the needs of the dog owners in the area. 

This shows that the city cares about the future of Kelowna and with tourism comes growth and prosperity. The development of the Parkinson Rec Centre is a big-ticket item with a project price in the order of $242 million. That should also serve more tournaments, as well as the public. With this vision, it would be great if the city also purchased the Kelowna Springs Golf Course as a municipal golf course. Municipal golf courses (golf courses owned and operated by the city) are great profit makers. These provide reasonably priced golf and Kelowna Springs is totally walkable and doesn’t use city water for irrigation. This would be a great tourist attraction as the Okanagan is a golf mecca and the tourists would find some affordable golf and it would be good for the Kelowna citizens, too.  After all, Kelowna Springs Golf Course was designed by renowned Canadian golf course architect Les Furber and the course has garnered accolades over the last 30 years. It has been recognized as the second best Readers’ Choice golf courses in Kelowna by Okanagan Life Magazine, for example. Kelowna is known for this course. 

However, a developer has an application to convert half of the golf course to industrial which seems so unnecessary for this gem especially when the recent reports indicate that the city already has 1290 acres (522 ha) of vacant industrial land which represents 36 to 56 years supply so we don’t need to add more. Mayor Dyas said he would fight to save Kelowna Springs Golf Course from warehouses and the council has already rejected industrial use on this property. This is an opportunity to add to the pool of city assets for tourism and the residents.  The city does recognize the value of outdoor space as stated by Keith Pinkoski, Senior Project Landscape Architect who referred to “Kelowna ‘s commitment to providing high-quality outdoor environments that support residents’ physical and mental health and nurture a sense of belonging for everyone in the city.” Mayor Dyas said: “As Kelowna continues to grow, our priority is creating public spaces that make daily life better for residents”.

It is great the city recognizes that such a growing city as Kelowna, needs more recreational spaces. Let the mayor and council know that saving such a golf course to become a municipal course will be a long-term, valuable asset providing affordability that is good for tourism, for business, and for residents now and in the future. Who knows, affordable golf for families could produce Canada’s next professional golfer. Why not? Let’s give everyone a chance and opportunity. Let’s attract more tourists! Such a growing and attractive city needs at least one municipal golf course and this is the last opportunity to achieve this. Go! Kelowna! Go!

— Susan Ames, Kelowna, via email

Tara Armstrong Recall Countdown

Tara Armstrong Recall Countdown

Tara Armstrong is currently the MLA for Kelowna-Lake Country-Coldstream. She rode the coattails of the BC Conservative Party, got elected, then rejected and left the party to serve as an Independent within weeks because the Conservatives were too left wing. Now she gets to spout moronic, hateful rhetoric and claim that her riding supports her.

Elections BC says you can recall an MLA if 40% of eligible voters in the riding sign a recall petition — but not for the first 18 months after an election. Some people started an online petition calling for a byelection once she made a shift to independent, then got herself a raise by forming her own party, but it won’t mean anything until the countdown clock hits zero.

So let the countdown begin!

---

Disclaimer: Any views, thoughts, and opinions expressed on this page are solely those of the writer and does not necessarily reflect the views, opinions, policies, or position of the editor, iNFOnews.ca, iNFOTEL MULTIMEDIA, its partners, principals or advertisers.