http://www.dailycourier.ca/stories.php?id=48078
The North Okanagan Regional District has approved a motion to seek provincial funding to examine the possibilities of a significant district reorganization. “The electoral areas are going to do a study and see if there is a better form of government that would be more beneficial to them,” said 
Cliff Kanester, who represents Electoral Area B at NORD. Kanester said that all possibilities would be examined for the two electoral districts, including the formation of a district municipality. “We might choose to be with Spallumcheen, Coldstream or Vernon. We may just decide to keep things how they are now,” said Kanester, “We will be looking at how these different decisions could affect us and go from there.” Kanester expressed his displeasure at Vernon for their policy of annexing electoral area properties that applied to join the city. “We have had no problems with Spallumcheen or Coldstream trying to annex; it‘s Vernon we‘ve had problems with,” said Kanester. The district council is not part of any consultations regarding properties wishing to join the city of Vernon, said Kanester. “It goes from the property to the city to the province for approval,” said Kanester, “One municipality cannot amalgamate another with out the people voting.” It is for this reason that Kanester has said that the two electoral areas may look at forming their own district municipality. “You go ask the Okanagan Landing people. They used to be Electoral Area A and now what have they got? They‘ve gotten a lot of promises but there has been no substantial gain for them,” said Kanester.
Cliff Kanester, who represents Electoral Area B at NORD. Kanester said that all possibilities would be examined for the two electoral districts, including the formation of a district municipality. “We might choose to be with Spallumcheen, Coldstream or Vernon. We may just decide to keep things how they are now,” said Kanester, “We will be looking at how these different decisions could affect us and go from there.” Kanester expressed his displeasure at Vernon for their policy of annexing electoral area properties that applied to join the city. “We have had no problems with Spallumcheen or Coldstream trying to annex; it‘s Vernon we‘ve had problems with,” said Kanester. The district council is not part of any consultations regarding properties wishing to join the city of Vernon, said Kanester. “It goes from the property to the city to the province for approval,” said Kanester, “One municipality cannot amalgamate another with out the people voting.” It is for this reason that Kanester has said that the two electoral areas may look at forming their own district municipality. “You go ask the Okanagan Landing people. They used to be Electoral Area A and now what have they got? They‘ve gotten a lot of promises but there has been no substantial gain for them,” said Kanester. The only NORD representatives to vote against the motion to seek funding for the study were Vernon‘s Patrick Nicol and Barry Beardsell. Beardsell said that he feels that it is “premature to be applying for grant money when you don‘t know how the practical aspects of a district municipality of this nature would work.” Kanester said that he believes that Vernon is just hungry for the added tax dollars that annexed properties would bring. He added that there is more at stake than just tax money. “We just think that there is no way we can have a non-urban lifestyle if the city takes us over. With Vernon‘s policy the only way we can ensure that doesn‘t happen is to have some form of rural government.” Kanester was quick to point out that the results of the study would determine the direction that would be taken and that amalgamation of the two electoral areas into Vernon was still a possible option.
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–managing editor Scott Neufeld EDITORIAL June 8
Study could finally end squabbles Once again local politicians are talking about the future of government in our region. In the past 14 months, the electoral areas announced they were launching a study to look at the regional structure and then months later a group of businessmen announced the same. Now the North Okanagan Regional District is jumping on the band wagon and is pushing for a study of their own. To date none of the other studies have delivered an in-depth look at what the future of regional government will look like. What’s occurred in the intervening months is a series of squabbles over the former Greater Vernon Services Commission and how much power it should have. Although it’s unknown what the future structure will look like, the present system clearly doesn’t work. With three levels of local government, any new resident to the area needs a manual to figure out exactly how Greater Vernon governs itself. But what would be the best solution? No one really knows because no one has delivered on their promise of a study. Our neighbours to the south are wrestling with the issue of amalgamation, but joining Coldstream, Electoral Areas B and C into a single entity with Vernon would create the largest city size in area in the province – three times larger than Abbotsford, B.C.’s current biggest municipality. Such a large area seems unwieldy for an area with a population of barely more than 50,000.
What’s at stake for the City of Vernon is its future as a growing metropolis. If Vernon continues to grow at its current pace it will need to look beyond its current borders for flat expanses of developable land. The growing population would also need greater control over its water supply. The city would also love to clean up the north entrance to Vernon. For the areas surrounding Vernon their way of life is threatened. The city is nibbling away at the borders of the electoral areas, annexing land for development. With full amalgamation rural residents would be left with the real fear that their country lifestyle could be destroyed by encroaching development. This study is needed to find the best way to maintain the balance of encouraging economic growth and development while still allowing rural life to continue as it always has. These interests aren’t necessarily mutually exclusive but under the current government system the politicians representing either side are constantly pitted against each other. Only an in-depth look can begin to give residents and politicians the answers they’re looking for. This study is overdue and these issues have gone on for too long without a resolution. The province needs to encourage the idea with the necessary funding and with the right leadership the North Okanagan can become a leader in balancing rural and urban government.
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