The future governance model for the Okanagan is down to two options. Committee chair Robert Hobson says a consensus is forming after a meeting in Kelowna Friday with 70 elected officials from through-out the valley. Hobson says option three is drawing the most support. It would see the three regional districts remain but with the creation of one or more special purpose authorities to manage common issues. Hobson says there's also support for option one, which would see the three regional districts merged into one. Senior administrators from the districts will be preparing a draft report recommending further study of the two options over the next ten days. The committee intends to present a final report to the Minister of Community Services by the end of the month.
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Denise Wong - Astral Media Radio News (Kelowna)
Council of Councils Meeting in Kelowna
Elected officials across the Okanagan were in Kelowna Friday, talking regional governance.The meeting follows a consultant's meeting with all of the municipalities for their individual input. Community Services Minister Ida Chong made the opening remarks. She passed on a question to the group that she says they often ask themselves in the provincial government: "What is currently in place, is that good enough 10 years out? 20 years out? 30 years out?" Chong told the politicians that she knows change can be hard, but it's often more difficult if they don't take action. Allan Neilsen-Welch is the consultant who visited each municipality for their input. He says he heard widespread concern over the province being driven to "download" responsibility for governance and funding. Neilsen-Welch also says there was little support from individual politicians for a single regional district.
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Don Quixote Note: These two reporters appear to have been at two different meetings when you look at the comments by the Chair of the Super Regional Committee Robert Hobson and the Consultant to the Committee Allan Neilsen-Welch with regards to the support level for the single regional district.
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