NORD gives blessing to changes

Richard Rolke - Vernon Morning Star Published: September 17, 2009 6:00 PM

The Sterile Insect Release program can move ahead with structural changes now that the last hold-out is on board. The North Okanagan Regional District has endorsed restructuring of the SIR board, the last of the valley’s four regional districts to do so. “We can’t let an important program like SIR deteriorate. The impact on the environment would be unacceptable,” said director Will Hansma. That’s also the view of director Jack Gilroy.“They have to be able to carry through with this program. We have to step up to the plate,” he said.SIR was launched in 1992 and its mandate is to try and control the codling moth, an invasive pest that damages apple and pear crops. One of the goals is to clean up the environment by reducing the amount of chemicals used to control the insect.

SIR has been wanting to expand its board to eight members. Financial decisions would require the support of three of the five regional district representatives, and any expansion of the program would have to be unanimous among all of the districts.“NORD has been holding up approval of the new structure. I’m not sure why,” said Kevin Flynn, SIR chairman. It appears that approval of restructuring occurred because of concern over some North Okanagan communities contributing more to the function than others. “We are a small tax base and a few percentage points makes a big difference,” said John Trainor, Armstrong’s director.

Similar concerns have come from Vernon. “Things need to be equitable for the people it affects,” said Wayne Lippert, a city director. NORD has also questioned how long it has to be tied to SIR.“The board wants to know if it can withdraw,” said Greg Betts, chief administrative officer.The program is funded by property taxes in all four regional districts in the valley, as well as a parcel tax on orchardists.

Flynn denies that SIR is a taxpayer subsidy for private business. “It’s a contribution to a cleaner environment,” he said.