City meeting draws criticism from Kanester

By RICHARD ROLKE Morning Star Staff Jul 08 2007

The City of Vernon is being accused of interfering in rural affairs. Area B director Cliff Kanester questions why the City of Vernon met with Community Services Minister Ida Chong about a proposed rural municipality for the five electoral areas in the North Okanagan Regional District. “They got to her first,” he said of the city’s meeting Thursday morning, which was followed by Chong getting together with the five electoral area directors. Kanester also wonders why Chong went on a helicopter flight of the region with Mayor Wayne Lippert. “It sounds like she wants to make room for Vernon to expand,” he said.

However, Lippert disputes accusations of interference, saying the city, like all local unicipalities, could be impacted by a new governance model for rural areas. “We support the study and any place where a municipality can be involved, a municipality should have input,” he said. As for the helicopter flight, Lippert said it was only a familiarization tour. “We just want them (cabinet ministers) to see what’s here when we are talking to them about various issues.”

Area C director Stan Field didn’t have a problem with city council discussing the matter with Chong. “I believe the sole purpose was for the city to provide input,” he said. During their meeting with Chong, the electoral area directors made the pitch for a governance study. It would look at options such as incorporating all of the areas into a new municipality, only some of them joining together or amalgamating into adjacent municipalities. “We were looking to her for funding for a study,” said Kanester. “She said she supports the idea of a study.” But it’s not known when, or if, provincial funding will proceed. “She will send staff up and we’ll look at boundaries,” said Field. “The province doesn’t object to financing but there is a lot of work to be done first.” Field added that a shift in governance is being investigated as a way of meeting the long-term needs of rural areas. “We will do what’s best for rural residents. They foot the bill and that’s who I am concerned about.”