If you’re a Daily News reader, you will have seen that during the past two days we’ve published stories examining outgoing MP Betty Hinton’s claim to have brought more than $74 million in funding to the Kamloops Thompson Cariboo riding since the Conservatives formed government.
Hinton raised the figure a couple of weeks ago. At first, she declined to release a breakdown of the funding but later provided us with a list. On Wednesday, reporter Michele Young wrote that Hinton’s list included $.6 million for the airport expansion that never materialized, at least in Kamloops.
You will recall, of course, that when Natural Resources Minister Gary Lunn stood with Hinton at the airport a few months ago to announce funding, he stated the number as $6.6 million. That was later changed to $6 million, with the explanation that the other $600,000 was for administrative purposes.
In a story today, Young looks further into the funding claims and writes that the total on Hinton’s list is actually several millions too high when some of the ongoing funding is considered.
Hinton has had her disagreements with local media, not to mention City council. Hinton is quoted today as saying if she walked on water, The Daily News would say she can’t swim. Sure, editorially, though The Daily News has been complimentary on occasion, it’s also offered its share of criticism of Hinton’s performance.
Have local media been too tough on Hinton? I don’t think so, but others may think differently. Has she done a good job as MP? Are we nitpicking? I’d be genuinely interested in what people think. Comments welcome and, please remember to provide your name.
