Governance decisions looming

By Richard Rolke - Vernon Morning Star - March 19, 2008

Okanagan residents may have a better idea today on how governance could change. The task force pursuing valley-wide governance options will review its draft report during a meeting in Penticton at 1 p.m. “We’ve had a lot of input over the last several months and we’ve heard several opinions and concerns,” said Jerry Oglow, a committee member and Armstrong mayor. “Now to collate it all is a bit of a challenge.” The draft report is being compiled by the chief administrative officers of the Okanagan’s three regional districts. The City of Vernon has suggested the report may be biased towards maintaining regional districts as is. “We will need to go through the report and see what effect there will be on the cities,” said Mayor Wayne Lippert, who sits on the task force. Vernon has called on Kelowna, Westside and Penticton to join it in possibly presenting a separate governance report to the provincial government. “The four largest communities have 80 per cent of the population. From a cost perspective, there are implications for the cities,” said Lippert, who has indicated that a single regional district may be the best option for the valley. Task force officials will be in Victoria March 25 to present the final report to Ida Chong, community services minister.

“We will meet the timeline for the final report because we’ve been directed (by Chong) to meet the timeline,” said Herman Halvorson, committee member and rural Enderby director. Despite that, Halvorson believes the process, which began last fall, has been too tight. “It’s being pushed too quickly. Many of my residents say they haven’t been involved,” he said. A common view within the North Okanagan’s five electoral areas is that existing regional districts remain unchanged. “My residents are unanimous against one regional district in the valley,” said Halvorson. Oglow insists that the report being presented to Chong may just be the beginning of the process, not the end. “I want to see a recognition of a phase two. There are several issues that haven’t been addressed such as the costs and benefits of one option over another. We also need to look at how communities would be represented with any change,” he said.