ROTHENBURGER: Free parking at TRU for indigenous students a worthy idea

According to Peters in various media interviews, the reaction has been, in large part, one of indignation and outrage — “awful” as she puts it.

Parking is an amazingly emotional thing, never failing to generate lively discussion. Things can sometimes get carried away.

There’s plenty of room for outrage in a suggestion that some people should get free parking while everybody else has to pay. But, Peters has a legitimate point.

When we stand and acknowledge that we’re on somebody else’s land, is it merely a polite formality, or does it mean something? Free parking for university students would be a small but appreciated gesture.

The University of Northern B.C. in Prince George announced recently that indigenous students will receive full tuition for undergraduate degrees. That’s a serious acknowledgement.

You might say, of course, well, what next — free parking for indigenous folks all over the city? After all, the same acknowledgement about living on unceded territory is offered at pretty much every public event.

I leave that to City council, but Peters raises some valid logic that’s worthy of respectful discussion.

I’m Mel Rothenburger, the Armchair Mayor.

Mel Rothenburger is a former mayor of Kamloops and a retired newspaper editor. He is a regular contributor to CFJC, publishes the ArmchairMayor.ca opinion website, and is a director on the Thompson-Nicola Regional District board. He can be reached at mrothenburger@armchairmayor.ca.

Editor’s Note: This opinion piece reflects the views of its author, and does not necessarily represent the views of CFJC Today or the Jim Pattison Broadcast Group.

by Mel Rothenburger

ROTHENBURGER: Free parking at TRU for indigenous students a worthy idea

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