Rural politicians are stepping up pressure against an Okanagan-wide governance review.
The North Okanagan Regional District’s five electoral areas have written a letter to the media expressing concerns about the government-initiated process and the negative impact they believe it could have on communities.
“We have a responsibility to our residents and to the regional board. We need to advise them of what’s going on,” said Herman Halvorson, rural Enderby director, of the decision to issue a letter to the media and the public.
In the letter the five directors claim that a valley-wide change in governance structure could decrease representation for rural areas.
“Specifically, decisions would be made at a centralized level without the appropriate opportunity to fully consider the needs, goals, services and community values of our rural residents, and representatives of urban areas could control the votes,” states the letter.
“We have grave concerns that the governance review currently underway does not provide, in our opinion, for complete and comprehensive public consultation and also, that the province has imposed a timeline that does not allow for meaningful public consultation.”
The directors are also calling for residents to vote on any potential governance changes.
Cliff Kanester, BX-Swan Lake director, believes all residents should take an interest in the current process.
“If we don’t, this thing will be jammed down our throats,” he said.
The governance options vary, but include having one single regional district in the Okanagan or rural areas being annexed into municipalities. Not on the table is maintaining three regional districts as occurs now.
“The provincial government says status quo is not an option but we believe it is an option,” said Halvorson.
NORD’s chairman is disappointed that the electoral directors have issued a letter to the media.
“It’s premature,” said Jerry Oglow, who sits on the committee looking at governance.
“We are only starting the consultation process with elected officials. They are also losing sight of opportunities to deliver a higher level of service that we’ve yet to discuss.”
Oglow also points out that the electoral directors have suggested their areas should form a single municipality or multiple municipalities.
“This (process) could be an opportunity to put this on the table,” he said.
While no public input meetings will be held, Oglow insists the review committee wants to hear from residents.
“We are receiving letters from interested individuals and we will have a Web site set up,” he said.
Politicians from across the Okanagan will meet at the Best Western Vernon Lodge today at 9 a.m. to discuss the governance review.
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The North Okanagan Regional District’s five electoral areas have written a letter to the media expressing concerns about the government-initiated process and the negative impact they believe it could have on communities.
“We have a responsibility to our residents and to the regional board. We need to advise them of what’s going on,” said Herman Halvorson, rural Enderby director, of the decision to issue a letter to the media and the public.
In the letter the five directors claim that a valley-wide change in governance structure could decrease representation for rural areas.
“Specifically, decisions would be made at a centralized level without the appropriate opportunity to fully consider the needs, goals, services and community values of our rural residents, and representatives of urban areas could control the votes,” states the letter.
“We have grave concerns that the governance review currently underway does not provide, in our opinion, for complete and comprehensive public consultation and also, that the province has imposed a timeline that does not allow for meaningful public consultation.”
The directors are also calling for residents to vote on any potential governance changes.
Cliff Kanester, BX-Swan Lake director, believes all residents should take an interest in the current process.
“If we don’t, this thing will be jammed down our throats,” he said.
The governance options vary, but include having one single regional district in the Okanagan or rural areas being annexed into municipalities. Not on the table is maintaining three regional districts as occurs now.
“The provincial government says status quo is not an option but we believe it is an option,” said Halvorson.
NORD’s chairman is disappointed that the electoral directors have issued a letter to the media.
“It’s premature,” said Jerry Oglow, who sits on the committee looking at governance.
“We are only starting the consultation process with elected officials. They are also losing sight of opportunities to deliver a higher level of service that we’ve yet to discuss.”
Oglow also points out that the electoral directors have suggested their areas should form a single municipality or multiple municipalities.
“This (process) could be an opportunity to put this on the table,” he said.
While no public input meetings will be held, Oglow insists the review committee wants to hear from residents.
“We are receiving letters from interested individuals and we will have a Web site set up,” he said.
Politicians from across the Okanagan will meet at the Best Western Vernon Lodge today at 9 a.m. to discuss the governance review.
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