Library process was flawed

Morning Star Editorial: Published: July 06, 2010 7:00 PM

Everyone at the North Okanagan Regional District will be thrilled they can proceed with borrowing $11 million for a new library, but there is no disputing the fact that they did an end run around democracy. The alternate approval process may be a legal way of seeking public assent under provincial legislation, but that doesn’t mean it was the right way to go. First off, many people aren’t familiar with how the process works, and particularly that 10 per cent of voters in the North Okanagan had to sign a petition to block the borrowing of funds. Secondly, the only way you would have known about the ability to sign the petition is if you had seen the advertisements in the media. No notices were sent out to individual properties, so the lack of public awareness was significant. It should also be pointed out that the alternate approval process was held at a time when many residents are away or are more focused on summer holidays. The excuse for not holding a full referendum is they are expensive, but should the bottom line be the driving force when seeking assent from the public, and particularly when taxpayers’ are involved? At least with a referendum, people understand the process — that they go to a polling station and mark an X. It is more transparent and in keeping with our democratic traditions in Canada. There is no question that Greater Vernon is woefully in need of a new library and that the current facility is inadequate for a growing community. But the process on how to get there — the actual financing of a new branch — was flawed right from the outset, and that is nothing that our elected officials should be bragging about.