Regional approach still on table

KERI SCULLAND 2009-08-18 Kelowna Courier:

Discussions of regional governance in the Okanagan are still circulating. Bill Bennett, minister of community and rural development, met with the mayors of Penticton, West Kelowna, Kelowna and Vernon on Monday to discuss hot topics in the municipalities. A few key issues were regional governance and regional transit. “We discussed issues around a Valley-wide governance. There is an interest certainly illustrated by the four municipalities to work together on transit issues and air-quality issues,” Bennett said in Kelowna. He said the meetings were a learning experience for him, figuring out what is important to the municipalities in the Okanagan. “We also discussed issues around the supply of water by irrigation districts, particularly here in Kelowna, and what municipalities would like to see happen there,” said Bennett. Infrastructure was also briefly discussed, Bennett said. Most of the discussions centred around governance rather than funding questions, Bennett said. This has come about because of rapid population growth in the area. “We‘ve got a brand new community with the district of West Kelowna, but Penticton, Kelowna and Vernon have all grown a lot,” he said. He said the mayors are understandably interested in whether the regional governance structure has kept up with the population growth in the various communities. Copious amounts of notes were taken. Bennett said when he and his colleagues go back to Victoria, they will be arranging some follow up meetings with the mayors to discuss the issues raised. “So it was a very interesting discussion for me, and well worth being there,” said Bennett.