[LookOutSugarLake] Act to protect Regional Governance

[Huguette - Green Party]

Hi and Happy New Year to everyone!

In case you haven't seen the letter written by NORD directors that was  
published in last week's Morning Star, you can read it below.

Once you read the letter, you will probably agree that we must do all  
we can to make sure we continue on having a Regional District that is  
capable of making decisions. Remember that the Sugar Lake issue would  
not have had the same results had we been dealing with a centralized  
regional district serving the entire Okanagan Valley. It took a strong  
regional government, with the guts, intelligence and foresight to  
defend our region, to prohibit direct discharge to water.

You may wish to write your own letter. In case you don't have time,  
feel free to copy the attached.

Please print this letter and pass it around to your neighbours so that  
government receives as many letters as there are citizens,

Huguette Allen

Directors express concerns
January 11, 2008

NORD_office_080111.jpg
This letter is directed to all residents of the electoral areas in the  
Regional District of North Okanagan.
Since November 2007, the three regional districts in the Okanagan and  
Similkameen have been taking part in a governance review initiated by  
the provincial government.
The rural directors from the Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen  
have indicated their concerns in a letter to the editor on the impact  
to the rural lifestyles of their residents if the end result is a  
single regional district serving the entire Okanagan Valley.
We agree with their concerns that such a change in governance  
structure could result in a reduction in the voice and representation  
for rural residents as their electoral area director is their only  
directly elected representative. 
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.
This would not reflect the best interests of rural residents.
There will always be a need to review governance and how services are  
delivered, and we are always open to this type of discussion.
We further recognize that the current structure is not perfect and we  
are not opposed to considering other alternatives, however, all  
options should remain on the table. 
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. 
Our further concern is that to date, there is no initiative underway  
to gather and analyze the costs and benefits of possible changes to  
rural or urban areas.
It is our view that, prior to any change, a comprehensive study of all  
potential options should be undertaken and complete information be  
provided to the affected residents for their consideration and also,  
that residents be given the opportunity to vote or voice their  
opinions in a timely manner. 
We will do our utmost to represent you as equal shareholders in this  
governance review and we will strive to have our voices heard.
However, all rural residents are important stakeholders in this  
process, and we urge you to let your provincial MLAs Tom Christensen (Tom.Christensen.MLA at leg.bc.ca 
) and MLA George Abbott (George.Abbott.MLA at leg.bc.ca), as well as  
Community Services Minister Ida Chong (CS.minister at gov.bc.ca ) and  
Premier Gordon Campbell (premier at gov.bc.ca) know directly how you feel.

Cliff Kanester, Area B,

Stan Field, Area C,

Rick Fairbairn, Area D,

Eugene Foisy, Area E

Herman Halvorson, Area F

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