To the Editor:

I watch amazed as the government fiddles while Rome burns.

Even if it does not qualify under the emergency measures act this definitely is an emergency situation demanding immediate actions.

If ever there was a time for a government to exercise extraordinary actions this is the time.

The problem with extraordinary action such actions often brush up against the principals of democracy but they do exist and can be invoked in many manners.

I am sure that I am not the only person who wonders if the three main political entities could possibly get off their 鈥淲e are better than the other guy鈥� seat long enough to do what is immediately needed to deal with this year鈥檚 fruit crops. Prunes, pears and apples being the mainstays of many farms.

I for one would hold any political entity that, in this case, would act for the public good, in the highest respect.

The B.C. Tree Fruits facilities are the only facilities capable of handling the enormous volume of product.

In order to do this a government would have to immediately enact legislations that imposes on the operation and management of a private corporation. This may not be as daunting as thought for a number of reasons.

First off the B.C. Tree Fruits board took an action that invokes insolvency without outright knowledge and ascent of the growers who are the shareholders and in essence the owners of B.C. Tree Fruits. While this may technically be allowed it may also provide the latitude to take temporarily restorative actions.

Secondly I believe that a quick meeting with the shareholder/owners would indicate the needed majority support to give these temporary measures an opportunity for success. As an added bonus it would allow the new apple line to be commissioned, greatly increasing its value.

Looking forward from here the government of the day would have to determine if a reputable purchaser can be found or if a Crown corporation could be created.

Either way there would be major discussions with the shareholder/owners.

To make a solution happen it would take many of the dismissed employees to come back to the operation, both union and salaried staff. This would possibly be the most difficult component as these employees were not treated well. They were immediately dismissed without warning and most were never paid to a comparable industry standard. Much consideration would have to be given here and conditions for the future defined.

Difficult discussions indeed.

It will take more courage for the governments of the day to take action toward a solution than to keep repeating, 鈥淭his is a private co-op. There is nothing we can do.鈥�

It would also take a tremendous leap of faith for the opposition parties to stand to the good of the province and not make 鈥榩olitical hay鈥� of this until a solution is in place.

I guess we are going to see what all our politicians are made of.

An interesting place just before an election.

Rick Knodel 
RDOS Area "C" Director