A proposal to create a single valley-wide government is worth debating, says a senior local politician. On Monday, Armstrong council received a copy of a letter Peachland sent to provincial Community Services Minister Ida Chong asking the province to consider creating a single regional government for the entire Okanagan Valley. “I personally feel that this is something that is worthy of more discussion,” said Jerry Oglow, Armstrong mayor and chairman of the North Okanagan Regional District. He added that a single regional body to replace what are now three regional districts could be beneficial. “Maybe bigger is not better, but maybe it is.” Oglow pointed to inter-regional initiatives that have been effective, including 911 and the Sterile Insect Release program as examples of instances where the three regional districts have worked well together. “I think there is room for other inter-regional functions to be managed out of a one-region concept,” he said.
Other local politicians agree there is a need to look at how NORD operates. “It’s not working very well now and I do believe that we need to come up with a model that works better,” said Lumby Mayor Eric Foster. But Foster thinks creating a single governing body for the whole valley is misguided and would only result in more divisions between communities. “I think it’s too big an area to have one government,” said Foster, pointing to conflicts that geography creates even within the North Okanagan. However, Foster says the valley could benefit from more co-operation between regions, particularly on issues such as transit. Rural Lumby director Rick Fairbairn also agreed that change is needed, whatever form it will take. Creating a single regional body, said Fairbairn, “is probably on one end of the scale but I think that we’re going to be looking at the various options in the next few months.” And while he thinks change is needed, he said any governing body should continue to represent the needs of rural residents. “I think it’s critical that the electoral areas have a form of governance that represents our community and the rural community,” he said. “That’s something that is there now and that needs to be reinforced.”
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Aug 01 2007 EDITORIAL Oglow must remain focused
Perhaps it’s time for North Okanagan Regional District chairman Jerry Oglow to focus on his own backyard instead of casting his eyes further afield. Oglow
believes there is merit to a proposal to amalgamate all three regional districts in the Okanagan and have a single governing body for them. And while that’s possible, it could also be a recipe for disaster. On the local front, divisions flare up frequently within NORD. What would the situation be like if far-flung Princeton, Osoyoos and Oliver were added to the mix? Not only would governing such a vast jurisdiction be extremely challenging, it wouldn’t take into account the distinct differences between the three parts of the Okanagan. Certainly Oglow is correct when he says some inter-regional initiatives have been effective such as 911 and the Sterile Insect Release program. But the scope of those programs are broad. It is highly doubtful that traditional regional district activities such as planning and operating water systems would benefit. And it’s entirely likely that a single valley-wide government would be dominated by the significant population base in Kelowna/Westbank? Would their interests trump those of Vernon, Coldstream, Enderby, Lumby, Armstrong and Spallumcheen? Would our five rural electoral areas be forgotten? With the five electoral areas considering forming a district municipality and Greater Vernon services under review, Oglow needs to focus on the duties for which he was appointed to look after. Greater co-operation with the Central and South Okanagan regional districts should always be a goal, but preserving the North Okanagan’s interests and identity should be the priority.
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