Input sought on government reform

By Roger Knox - Vernon Morning Star Published: September 04, 2008

Join the City of Vernon? Form one district municipality? Seek other options? Those are some of the questions that will be put to electoral area residents after North Okanagan Regional District directors approved a motion to seek provincial government support for developing terms of reference for a governance study in the region. “I am a huge believer of looking at government reform,” said NORD chairman Jerry Oglow, the Mayor of Armstrong. “I think it’s a good step that if the province supports in this initiative, we’ll finally be able to get some facts out to the residents of the affected areas. “At some point in time, the residents will have to be the ones to decide whether they like what they see, what they hear or if it’s a benefit to them or not.”

Electoral area directors had originally petitioned the province to provide funding for a study of the electoral areas as to how they could proceed from a governance standpoint. But that got put on hold when the province announced plans for an Okanagan Valley-wide governance study. After that fell through, directors brought the proposed area study back to the NORD table. “The first step is to petition the province to see if funding is available to complete our study,” said Rick Fairbairn, director for Electoral Area D, rural Lumby. “We anticipate we’ll be successful. If we’re not, I would think the electoral areas would fund the study on our own.” The questionnaires, which will be distributed through the mail, and likely prior to the November municipal elections, will include different questions for different areas.

Area B (western part of the region) and C (Silver Star Mountain and the BX) residents will be asked two questions: Do you want to join the City of Vernon (yes/no)? If no, would you prefer to: A) Remain as part of the regional district, or B) Incorporate as a separate municipality?

Those that live in area D, E (Cherryville and parts of Creighton Valley) and F (rural Enderby, including Grindrod, Grandview Bench, Ashton Creek, Kingfisher and the south end of Mara Lake) will also be asked two questions: Do you want to change the way your electoral area is governed, either by joining a municipality or becoming a separate municipality (yes/no)?; If change happens, which option would you prefer: A) Create a new district municipality, or B) Join an existing municipality?

“There is some initiative to maybe go or not go ahead with forming a district municipality, but it seems to me the status quo from all those areas are in place,” said Fairbairn, referring to areas D, E and F. “However, we want some re-affirmation that we are getting the correct information from our constituents.” The wording of the questions bothered several directors, including Earl Shipmaker from the City of Enderby. “There should be some background given to the people,” said Shipmaker. “There should be a page on each option. This doesn’t make sense to me.”

Oglow hopes the terms of reference will come up with definitive questions for people to reply. “We will be looking at governance options, a district municipality is one option, but maybe some hybrid of that could be presented,” he said. “At the end of the day, it’s up to the people to decide whether it’s of benefit to them to change from what they currently have to something new.” Oglow said any change would not happen overnight. “It’s for the next board and next councils to debate and deliberate,” he said.