Annexations on the agenda

By Richard Rolke - Vernon Morning Star Published: September 26, 2008

B.C.’s community services minister has come face-to-face with the North Okanagan’s political challenges. Blair Lekstrom met with North Okanagan Regional District directors at the Union of B.C. Municipalities conference in Penticton Wednesday, and the topic revolved around governance and annexation of electoral areas. “He’s promising that he’s interested in healing the rural and urban areas,” said Herman Halvorson, rural Enderby director. For the electoral area directors, their specific questions dealt with annexation, and particularly BX-Swan lake and BX-Silver Star into the City of Vernon. “We wanted to see where he stands,” said Halvorson. “He’s stepped back from the issue and it could be part of reviews.” Vernon Mayor Wayne Lippert believes Lekstrom was quite clear about the government’s policy when it comes to lands in electoral areas being annexed into municipalities. “If a group of property owners want to join the city and makes application, they have to respect their wishes,” said Lekstrom. “The electoral areas have a different vision but they seem to understand it now.” While there was some discussion about valley-wide governance, Lippert says the message from Lekstrom was that local governance issues must be addressed first. “He said it’s not just the North Okanagan. There are issues with different regional districts across the province,” said Lippert.

NORD’s five electoral area directors recently decided to send out a survey to their residents asking for input on governance, and specifically whether they want to remain as is, incorporate or join adjacent municipalities. “We want to know what our constituents want,” said Halvorson.