The prospect of a single governance structure for the Okanagan is dividing local politicians. Community Services Minister Ida Chong and Premier Gordon Campbell told elected officials last week that they want a working group established to consider folding the valley’s three regional districts into one entity. “They’ve said the status quo is not an option,” said Wayne Lippert, Vernon mayor. The goal is to have the working group established by mid-November, with a draft plan completed in the spring. “They want to have it in place before the next election. They have an agenda,” said Herman Halvorson, rural Enderby director. Jerry Oglow, North Okanagan Regional District chairman and Armstrong mayor, is willing to be part of the process.
“Our fear was if we didn’t take part in the discussion and we put our head in the sand, something would be imposed on us,” he said. Oglow believes there may be a need to restructure how issues, such as water and transit, are pursued. “The issue is delivering services to people and is there a better way to do it?” he said. That view is supported by Rick Fairbairn, rural Lumby director. “Realistically the Okanagan is growing and we need to look at the future,” he said. Lippert admits he has mixed feelings about a single regional district for the entire Okanagan Valley. “If it looks at high-level issues that is OK, but we still want to be able to work on local issues,” he said.
Beyond one regional district for the valley, Lippert says the working group will also look at structural changes of the existing regional districts. “A district municipality (for the electoral areas) is one option and another option floated out there is possible amalgamations,” he said. Halvorson is unwilling to say if he supports a single regional district, pointing out that any change would have to benefit his constituents. “I want to see what the financial numbers are,” he said. Other politicians question how manageable a regional district would be if it covers from Enderby to Princeton. “We can’t get NORD working so how well does it bode for one covering the entire Okanagan?” said Barry Beardsell, a Vernon councillor.
Earl Shipmaker, an Enderby councillor, also questions the practicality of what Chong wants considered. “We have such a convenient geographical unit in the North Okanagan now and we (Enderby) are part of the Shuswap drainage system not the Okanagan,” he said. Shipmaker believes it would be more efficient to allow existing agencies, such as the Okanagan Basin Water Board, to handle valley-wide issues so the three regional districts can deal with community-based matters. Chong could not be reached for comment.
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Sep 30 2007 EDITORIAL
So Community Services Minister Ida Chong and Premier Gordon Campbell want to look at the future governance of the Okanagan Valley as a whole. On first blush, there is nothing wrong with that idea. After all, we all share the same valley and there are some common interests such as water, air quality, economic development and transit. And with unprecedented growth continuing, there is no question that the current system of governance has not kept up with the times. But the notion of a single regional district from Osoyoos to Enderby should also raise some alarm bells. Principally, what about those matters that aren’t the major attention-grabbers like zoning changes and parks and recreation? Those are items that must continue to be decided locally and not at some massive board table. Even when it comes to water and economic development, the needs are going to vary from community to community.
It should also be pointed out that the North Okanagan Regional District has often found itself in conflict despite its compact geographic base. It’s hard to imagine that things will be any better with one jurisdiction spanning from Princeton to Cherryville. And while the Okanagan is growing as a whole, the major population base is Kelowna/Westbank. Will that area want to dominate political decisions or will it be a co-operative partner? In the end, there is nothing wrong with considering possible governance options and perhaps more efficient ways of providing some services can be found. But hopefully all issues will be considered intensely, and the provincial government will allow Okanagan residents to decide their future. Because the last thing that is needed is a shotgun wedding.
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