MLA Says Governance Issue Likely Done

Written by Glen Morrison 107.5 KISSFM Wednesday, 15 January 2014 14:14
Vernon's MLA says the the local governance issue is likely over for now. Eric Foster says with Coldstream and the electoral areas saying no to a study, it would be highly unlikely to proceed. "We will see what the city council does when they bring the topic up again (Jan 27 at the next council meeting) but I would be surprised if we got a request from them (for a study). It's certainly up to the city to make a request, but what would happen then, I don't know for sure," Foster tells Kiss FM. Foster notes Vernon Mayor Rob Sawatzky was quoted in the Morning Star saying it would be illogical to go ahead if the partners weren't interested. "So from that, I'm going to make an assumption that we're not going to get a request from local government," says Foster. The MLA says from the beginning the province, and even Premier Christy Clark, have been clear that it's a locally driven issue.
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Amalgamation unlikely to move forward: MLA
By Charlotte Helston Info-Tel Multimedia January 15, 2014 - 3:15 PM
VERNON - Efforts to amalgamate the four jurisdictions of Greater Vernon appear to have hit the end of the road. Even supporting a study of unification was unanimously voted down by Coldstream council Monday. There’s similarly no interest from Area B and C directors, and even though the City of Vernon was expected to vote in favour of doing the study in two weeks time, it’s likely not enough for the province to act on. Vernon-Monashee MLA Eric Foster believes the support of at least two municipalities was needed for the province to fund a study on the pros and cons of amalgamation. “As we’ve said from the start—myself, the premier and the minister—this has to be locally driven. We don’t initiate the studies, requests have to come from local government,” Foster says. Without agreement from at least two municipalities, Foster says there’s not much the provincial government can do. “We do not force amalgamation on anyone,” Foster says. “Obviously the other three jurisdictions are not interested. I really don’t see anything moving forward now.” President of the Greater Vernon Governance Society Bruce Shepherd says there’s “frustration and disappointment” among amalgamation proponents, though they’re not calling it quits just yet. “We’ve got our annual meeting in two weeks. At the moment, we’re waiting until we get together and put all our thoughts together and we’ll see what happens,” Shepherd says. The society is currently awaiting clarification from the province on its requirements for funding the study. The group’s original understanding was that strong petition results would be enough to prompt a review on the matter, and with 3,160 names, Shepherd believes they accomplished that. Foster insists the province hasn’t wavered on its original instructions to the society that local government support was a must. He applauds the initiative and says there may be other ways for the 3,160 people who signed the petition to make their voices heard. “I would suggest to those people that there’s a great big referendum next fall and they can have their say at that time,” Foster says. “Whether it will be an issue during the campaign, I don’t know, but it may be part of the conversation.”