Appreciation for Voter’s Guide
Dear Editor:
I wanted to reach out and say thank you for all the work you and your team did in putting together the Chronicle’s Voter’s Guide in the October 2026 printed edition of the Kamloops Chronicle.
What a great resource this has been for me, my colleagues, neighbors, and everyone in Kamloops when trying to learn more about mayoral, city council, and school trustee candidates for this upcoming election.
Thank you for having each candidate comment on the most prevalent issues voters want answers on: AAP past and future, safety in Kamloops, current projects and spending (our current city taxes), and comments on the previous disaster our city council and mayor found themselves in not that long ago.
Well done. Thank you.
Nicole Sanders
Kamloops
Carney government removing oversight and transparency
Dear Editor:
It’s been called reckless, appalling and one of the “largest rollbacks of federal environmental protections in Canadian history.” (www.wcel.org/blog/bill-c-39-reckless-approvals-act). On Sep. 21 the Carney government introduced another undemocratic and dangerous bill, the Building Canada Strong Act or Bill C-39, and most Canadians don’t know anything about it.
Bill C-39 aims to concentrate more power with the Prime Minister and Cabinet for approving projects designated as in the “national interest.” The 243-page omnibus bill weakens environmental protections, undermines labour laws and seems to ignore Canada’s duty to consult Indigenous nations. It is shocking to witness the extent to which the current federal government is advancing a deregulation agenda.
Bill C-39 proposes to weaken several laws which protect natural ecosystems and ultimately human health. Here are a few specific examples of how environmental reviews and approvals would be changed:
1. Whole regions of Canada could be pre-approved as “regions of national interest.” For example, a whole region of BC could be pre-approved so that projects wouldn’t have to get the usual permits to protect fish habitat, species at risk or waterways.
2. Most independent environmental review panels would be eliminated, including those for pipelines, offshore energy and nuclear projects.
3. Cabinet could decide to lower the bar of protection for species at risk if they want a project to go ahead. For example, Cabinet could decide to remove protections for the Southern Resident killer whales so that a new pipeline (with increased tanker traffic) can proceed.
4. Reviews would be shorter and construction could start before the review is finished!
5. The bill seems to ignore the federal government’s responsibility to consult with First Nations in a meaningful way.
The Carney government is attempting to fast track Bill C-39 by rushing it through the Parliamentary process and allowing very little time for careful scrutiny or debate. This push is extremely undemocratic. The bill’s intent to leave decisions regarding complex, risky projects to a handful of Cabinet members removes proper oversight and transparency, which are key to a functioning democracy.
The purpose of Canada’s environmental laws is to protect natural ecosystems because our human health and well-being depends on them. Environmental laws are not red tape!
Please write your MP and federal Cabinet ministers and express your concerns about Bill C-39.
Patricia Spencer
Kamloops