UBCM Report:
The Regional District’s delegation was led by Chair Mark Pendergraft, rural Osoyoos and Vice Chair Manfred Bauer, Keremeos and included directors Allan Patton, Tom Siddon, Karla Kozakevich, Michael Brydon, Angelique Wood and Brad Hope.
“UBCM is a conference that you do not usually get immediate results from, particularly in regard to the meetings with the Provincial ministers,” said Chair Pendergraft. “It normally takes some time for the ministers to go back and make things happen.” “I believe that the Directors who requested meetings with Ministers did a great job in presenting” Pendergraft said. “We had positive feedback from all the Ministers.”
“Director Tom Siddon also got a firm commitment from the Minister of Community, Sports and Cultural Development to send staff to a meeting in Okanagan Falls this October specifically to answer questions from the public about the process for the potential incorporation.”
“The opportunity to speak face to face with a significant number of ministers — particularly Terry Lake from the Ministry of Health — was so valuable,” said Director Judy Sentes. “With a strong representation from both the Regional District and the City of Penticton, I believe we made an impression that garnered results.”
More than 150 resolutions sponsored by local governments throughout British Columbia were reviewed by delegates including three from the RDOS:
A request for the federal and provincial governments to take immediate action to prevent the spread of invasive Zebra and Quagga mussels to British Columbia;
A request the Liquor Control and Licensing Regulation be amended to allow for the sale or service of wine, beer and spirits manufactured and grown in British Columbia in winery lounges as a permitted farm use in the Agricultural Land Reserve;
A request that the Province require the manufacturer be responsible for refrigerants contained within major appliances from manufacture through disposal.
All three resolutions were endorsed by delegates and forwarded to the provincial government for review.
Delegates also participated in the unanimous adoption of a special resolution proclaiming a year of reconciliation with provincial First Nations.
credit file: Osoyoos Daily News