One Man's Opinion- January 5, 2009

THE RECENT RASH OF SNOWMOBILE DEATHS, SKIIERS AND SNOWBOARDERS AND ICE FISHERMEN BEING THE SUBJECT OF SEARCHES, HAS AGAIN RAISED THE QUESTION-WHY ARE WE PAYING FOR THE COSTS OF SEARCHING FOR PEOPLE WHO GO MISSING BECAUSE THEY CAN'T OBEY THE RULES? THE SNOWMOBILE DEATHS NEAR FERNIE MIGHT BE THE EXCEPTION TO THE RULE. IT APPEARS THOSE MEN WENT OUT PROPERLY EQUIPPED, OBEYING ALL THE RULES AND GOT CAUGHT IN A TRAGIC EVENT. NOT SO FOR SEVERAL PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN THE SUBJECT OF SEARCHES ON MOUNTAINS, AND WHO BECAME LOST OR TRAPPED BECAUSE THEY SOUGHT SOME EXTREME EXCITEMENT AND STRAYED OUT OF BOUNDS, DELIBERATELY OR ACCIDENTALLY. WHEN PEOPLE HAVE TO PUT THEIR OWN LIVES IN DANGER TO RESCUE SOMEONE WHO DID SOMETHING STUPID, I THINK THE CULPRITS NEED TO BE EITHER CHARGED WITH SOME SORT OF OFFENCE, WHETHER IT BE RECKLESS ENDANGERMENT OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT, OR FINED TO HELP PAY FOR THE COST OF THE RESCUE. IF YOU LIKE THE THRILL, YOU SHOULD HAVE TO PAY THE PRICE IF YOU SCREW UP. I DON'T EVER WANT TO PUT THE CLAMPS ON PEOPLE WHO ENJOY THE EXTREME SPORTS, THE BACKCOUNTRY SNOWMOBILING, THE HELICOPTER SKIING ADVENTURES, BUT IF YOU TAKE THE RISK, YOU HAVE TO BE PREPARED FOR THE DOWNSIDE. I THINK SOME OF THESE PEOPLE GO OUT OF BOUNDARIES TO SKI OR BOARD WITHOUT ANY THOUGHT AT ALL TO WHAT HAPPENS IF THEY GET LOST OR GET HURT. SOMEONE HAS TO PUT THEMSELVES IN DANGER TO RESCUE THEM. AND IN MANY CASES THE RESCUERS DON'T GET ANY COMPENSATION WHATSOEVER FOR DOING THAT. THEIR ORGANIZATIONS OFTEN HAVE TO RAISE THEIR OWN FUNDS FOR SAFETY GEAR AND OTHER EQUIPMENT TO DO THE JOB BECAUSE THE GOVERNMENTS DON'T FUND THESE RESCUE GROUPS PROPERLY. MAYBE SOME OF THESE FINES COULD GO TOWARDS PROPER FUNDING FOR SEARCH AND RESCUE GROUPS. THE POINT IS, PEOPLE WHO CREATE PROBLEMS SHOULD HAVE TO PAY THE PRICE FOR CREATING THOSE PROBLEMS. IF MY TAX DOLLARS ARE PAYING FOR SOMEONE TO BE RESCUED BY HELICOPTER BECAUSE HE CAN'T FOLLOW THE RULES, I WANT THAT PERSON TO HAVE TO PAY SOME OF THE COST TOO. FOR SOME REASON, THAT RARELY HAPPENS. I'M DOUG COLLINS AND THAT'S ONE MAN'S OPINION.