By Wolf Depner Western News Staff Oct 03 2007
The chair of the local regional district is reminding the provincial government about the importance of rural regions amid discussions about merging regional districts. Regional District of Okanagan Similkameen chair Dan Ashton said regional districts exist to govern and serve residents living in rural areas outside of town and city boundaries. “And the province cannot forget that the rural areas are important to the this province as the municipalities,” he said. “Because of the (natural) resources, they are an integral part of what this province is all about.” Ashton made this statement as the local regional district board prepares to appoint three members to a working group tasked with exploring a “more efficient and co-operative way to deliver governance.”
The provincial government asked for the review during a meeting between Revenue Minister and local MLA Rick Thorpe and Community Services Minister Ida Chong last month. The province is concerned about “growth management and governance challenges” in the Okanagan Valley, whose population is expected to surpass the population of the Victoria Capital Region within the 20 to 25 years. Other reasons driving the review include the recent incorporation of Westside — once the largest non-incorporated area in the Central Okanagan Regional District — and the emergence of valley-wide issues such as water, air and transportation management.
This provincial push for regional governance reform has not received a positive reception in rural parts of the valley. Keremeos Mayor Walter Despot said his community could be left fighting for the “crumbs” if a single regional district would assume governance. “I don’t think it would do any good to the Similkameen (Valley),” he said, noting its small population could be overlooked by the urban parts of the Okanagan Valley.
He also raised questions about the provincial government’s apparent rush. The provincial government wants to see a working plan by Nov. 30 with the process concluded by March 31, 2008. “I would say I’m not happy and no further comment,” he said. Ashton praised the provincial government for “not dictating” a new structure. “(But) you cannot compromise governance and service levels to the rural areas, just because growth is taking place,” he said. “What I do not want see is centralization of governance and services to Kelowna, because that is not what regional government is about.” It is not clear who will represent the region in the proposed working group. Each district will choose one representative representing one large sized community, one medium-sized community and one rural community. Despot said he is comfortable with this set-up, adding that he will keep an open mind as the process moves forward. Ashton said amalgamating all three regional district into a single one is only one option. The working group will explore will all options.
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