Hansma taps into rhetoric

Nov 24 2006 EDITORIAL Nov 24 2006
Attempts by Spallumcheen Mayor Will Hansma to get a regional feud going don't hold water. In fact, if anyone should understand the Greater Vernon Services Commission's reluctance to provide water outside of its boundaries until it has a handle on its water supply, it should be the township. Among the current projects in Spallumcheen is a review of groundwater to determine the long-term viability of that resource. But instead, Hansma is accusing GVSC politicians of being hypocrites - supporting regional economic development but not willing to provide water to a proposed industrial park in Spallumcheen. The reality, though, is that GVSC politicians do acknowledge the importance of diversifying our economy and providing jobs to our youth. But they want to get their ducks in a row first - namely water. GVSC directors and staff have a responsibility solely to Greater Vernon residents. They elected them to office or pay their wages. It is Greater Vernon residents who pay the steep utility rates and have approved borrowing millions of dollars for improved infrastructure. It hasn't been people outside its boundaries. GVSC's responsibilities are also to ensure Greater Vernon residents have sufficient water for both its current and future needs. With the population growth we're experiencing and the potential impact of climate change, it is only prudent to review water supply before committing it to areas that aren't financially contributing to the utility. Ultimately, the regional interest in an industrial park must continue but it's a separate issue from water, and it shouldn't be muddied by political rhetoric.