By Tracy Clark - Penticton Western News - June 01, 2008
A decision by the province to shelve proposed changes to regional governance is drawing mixed reactions from across the valley. Community Services Minister Ida Chong announced Thursday that, after reading a report from a valley-wide task force, she had decided against making changes to the regional governance structures in the Okanagan Valley. “It was an expensive process that didn’t accomplish anything,” said Herman Halvorson, rural Enderby director and committee member. But Chong said she is not totally abandoning the issue. “Follow-up work is also required by the ministry, as I am still interested in a governance model that works for the Okanagan and Similkameen areas as a whole,” she wrote in her letter to the regional districts. “Therefore, over the next several months, the ministry will be undertaking work to analyze the costs and benefits of alternative governance structures, representation and voting structure, financial authority and authority to make and implement critical decisions.”
She indicated in a letter to the three regional district plans to follow up with and monitor several other issues, including sub-regional governance, First Nations consultation and the outcome of service disputes in the greater Vernon area. As well Chong said she plans to monitor the progress of a collaborative bylaw recently announced by the valleys four largest municipalities — Kelowna, Vernon, Penticton and Westbank. “I am interested to see how this works out, considering that these municipalities represent about 75 per cent of the population in the valley,” she noted in her letter of the bylaw that aims to see the cities work together on issues of common concern, including transportation, air and water quality, land use matters and climate change initiatives.
Regional District chair Dan Ashton praised Chong’s decision. “The minister is giving us an opportunity to show we can work collectively on issues that will benefit both the citizens of municipalities and rural areas and through further collaboration with the First Nations we can make the Okanagan and Similkameen Valleys the ‘best’ in Canada.” Chong’s decision comes almost seven months after she directed the valley’s three regional districts to collectively review the existing regional governance as a way to manage the rapid growth the valley is facing, while providing areawide services and maximizing the valley’s “economic potential.” At the end of March the task force presented a report to Chong that called for the creation of either a single regional district or keeping the three existing districts with special authorities looking over matters like water, air and transportation.
Central Okanagan chair Robert Hobson supported Chong’s choice to delay a decision, and her recognition of the work by the task force, which included representatives from both urban and rural areas. “I also appreciate that the minister recognizes the complexities involved with making changes to the governance structure and that the timing isn’t conducive for change,” he said. In her letter Chong also pointed out that she did not wish to “consume” more time of the task force with the lead up to the civic elections in November.
A North Okanagan mayor was critical of this decision. “The ministry has done a 180-degree turnaround,” said Jerry Oglow, Armstrong mayor and committee member. “They were anxious to look at regional district reform and they haven’t made it a priority today. We are losing sight of why we went on this task — to meet the needs of a growing population.”
...With files from Richard Rolke, Vernon Morning Star
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