Veteran fights NORD process

Richard Rolke - Vernon Morning Star Published: June 19, 2010 12:00 PM

A Second World War veteran is protesting what he sees as a lack of democracy at the North Okanagan Regional District. Michael Fairbrass, a Spallumcheen resident, told directors Wednesday that the alternate approval process being used to garner public support for borrowing $11 million for a new library is wrong. “I’m beginning to wonder whether the constitutional rights of a Canadian citizen are compromised,” he said. Under the alternate approval process, North Okanagan residents have until July 5 to sign a petition in opposition to borrowing the funds. If 10 per cent of the voters — or 6,355 names — sign the petition, the regional district cannot proceed with its plans. Fairbrass is concerned that not enough has been done to make residents aware of the process. “Tax notices were sent out in late May to each and every property owner, could these bylaw notices have been enclosed to those property owners?” he said. He points out that anniversary of the D-Day invasion was recently celebrated. “Thousands of men and women gave their lives to defend and protect our freedoms, democratic freedoms, so enjoyed today, as well as the future generations,” he said. “I feel our political systems are seriously eroding our democratic rights with such ways that are within this AAP.”

Fairbrass asked that NORD either hold a full referendum on borrowing funds, or extend the petition response date to Aug. 31 so more residents can get involved. NORD officials have indicated that the process must continue as established under legislation, and they defend the use of the petition. “The ORL board has the ability to do this project. It’s in their budget,” said director Patrick Nicol. “The regional district is trying to save money on the borrowing costs. This is a funding mechanism.” NORD has agreed to borrow the $11 million for the new Vernon library through the Municipal Finance Authority because of competitive interest rates (ORL cannot apply to MFA directly). ORL will repay the principal and pay the interest, fees and financing, and cost-sharing will be done by the entire library district, which goes from Golden to Osoyoos and Princeton. “This is support for the funding part,” said Will Hansma, director. The petition is available at the NORD office, all municipal offices and at www.rdno.ca.