I don’t usually get involved in ongoing community issues because I always assume that common sense will prevail. However, we now have ‘for’ and ‘against’ groups sparring for and against the SmartCentre. My question: is it necessary to tell lies and half truths?

For example the back page ad in the Oct. 28 Observer suggests a truck dumping fill right into the lake. Anyone with half a brain knows that would not get past all the regulatory bodies that are involved. It’s amazing that ‘they’ actually believe that we would be influenced by this ad. The picture isn’t even of Salmon Arm. The bottom of the page states the ad is paid for by BAD (Business Owners Against Dumping.) So who’s BAD?

My next point is that the native community is against the project because the base fill will damage the ground, shrubs, trees, waterfowl and wildlife habitats and also influence the integrity of the Salmon River. Did they forget to mention their Phase I and II and West Harbour Village housing project next to the Churches Thrift Store? Did they forget to mention their site is next to the lake? Did they forget to mention that they placed fill on their project and at the west side it’s evident that they placed as much as eight to 12 feet of fill? Then they built roads and sold houses with 99 year leases. Why the double standard? Could it be that they have their own agenda?

Building a SmartCentre is good for the community. There will be local job opportunities during the construction period. How about the creation of part-time jobs for our seniors who need to subsidize their meagre incomes and part-time jobs for our youth and students?

I support development in Salmon Arm. Competition will be good for the Salmon Arm consumer. By the way, next Saturday I’ll be shopping at the Vernon Walmart and I’ll see many of you there.

Ben J. Warnders