Rural politicians fear their communities are being forgotten by a valley-wide governance review. Electoral area directors from the North
Okanagan and Okanagan-Similkameen claim potential changes in governance could see their jurisdictions disappear. “We’d like to have some input on this thing,” said Herman Halvorson, rural Enderby director. “People want to retain their rural identity.” Four potential governance options have been put forward, and the status quo of three regional districts isn’t one of them. “I always feel like I am being driven down a chute. You shouldn’t give the impression that it’s a done deal,” said Gerri Logan, director for rural Princeton.“If you ram it down people’s throats, I’m sorry but you’re going to have a fight on your hands.”
The models being considered are merging the three regional districts into one, something similar to metro Vancouver where it’s primarily municipalities involved, expanding the Okanagan Basin Water Board concept to include other issues, or following an Ontario model. “The Waterloo agenda is being pushed by the mayor of Vernon,” said Halvorson. In Waterloo and Muskoka, electoral areas are absorbed into existing municipalities to become district municipalities or townships. The new areas would be divided into wards and a director for each ward would be elected to municipal council. Wayne Lippert, Vernon’s mayor, doesn’t deny that he is interested in the Ontario model, partly because he was familiar with it as a councillor in Bracebridge, Ont. “As a rural councillor, I had my say. The structure there is 30 years old and rural interests have been protected.”Lippert denies the Okanagan’s rural areas are being forgotten as part of the governance review.“They are at the table and there’s been a lot of talk to address the concern of the electoral areas,” he said.
According to rural Lumby director Rick Fairbairn, some constituents question the need for a change. “People have been asking what’s the purpose of this review and what does it mean for rural areas?” he said. “What’s it going to mean for taxes and what’s it going to cost us?” Jerry Oglow, North Okanagan Regional District chairman, says there’s a reason why status quo is not being considered as part of the provincially mandated review.“Status quo was right off the table from the community services minister and the premier,” he said. The review committee has until the end of March to present a final report to the provincial government.
With files from Black Press reporter Tracy Clark.
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Politicians abandon valley’s interests Dec 23 Editorial Morningstar
Politicians involved in the valley-wide governance review claim the process is moving ahead well. But it increasingly appears that the final outcome has already been determined. Case in point are comments from Jerry Oglow, North Okanagan Regional District chairman. Oglow says that four potential governance options are being considered, but not one of them would see the three existing regional districts remain as is. “Status quo was right off the table from the community services minister and the premier,” he said.And certainly that may be the view of the provincial government, but it is not Victoria that will have to live with any changes in governance. It will be every resident in the Okanagan Valley. Perhaps the existing system of three regional districts — with some finetuning — is the best form of governance for the Okanagan. While there are occasionally some challenges, the model has served the region relatively well for 40 years. One of the positive aspects of the current model is representing the interests of more rural communities while allowing them to partner with municipalities on various initiatives. The committee of valley-wide politicians looking at governance shouldn’t have been so willing to cast the status quo aside. It was worth seeing if it should remain on the table. But instead of actually considering the interests of the valley and their individual communities, the politicians only appear willing to do the bidding of the provincial government.And that just reinforces the perception that Victoria has already decided what should happen in the Okanagan.
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Don Quixote Note: Mayor Lippert's System can be found at District Municipality of Muskoka Governance System
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