Dear Editor

An event occurred recently that I feel residents should be aware of. A governance document called a Joint Use Agreement in respect to the Venables Auditorium was presented to RDOS staff by the Town of Oliver staff, with me and Mayor Hovanes in attendance. Town of Oliver staff was quite adamant that the Joint Use Agreement include the three partners: School District 53, The Town of Oliver and the Regional District. On the surface, it seems fine but when you realize Town of Oliver has equal representation with Area C at the Regional District then you cannot include The Town of Oliver as a separate entity.

In this case, it would have meant 2 votes for School District, 3 votes for the Town of Oliver and 1 vote for Area C when the Town of Oliver and Area C are paying equally into the service. Obviously unacceptable, and yes I got angry and I will continue to be angry whenever representation by Area C is reduced while both jurisdictions pay the same. I felt it was disrespect or at least neglect, by whom, I’m not sure. I’m not blaming Council or Oliver staff. I just about missed it and I doubt if Council even knew about it and the same goes for staff. Council expressed to me their offence by my display of frustration. Too bad, so sad; they have to know that this is absolutely unacceptable regardless of how it came about or who was responsible.

There seems to be an ingrained culture of disrespect or neglect, which goes way beyond our two jurisdictions. It occurs even more between the Regional Districts and Provincial Ministries and is even pronounced in legislation. I could go on at length with many examples. Regional Districts are under the Local Government Act while Municipalities are under the Community Charter. Every year Rural Directors from all over the province, at the Union of BC Municipalities Rural Forum get together and commiserate over exactly this topic. What it often translates into for rural residents is wasting their tax dollars and for rural directors a whole lot of frustration. It is in fact, the worst aspect of being a rural director. I see the Province is addressing this issue and considering a change to the local Government Act that could improve the way we conduct business together. Wouldn’t that be a positive move.

Some advice for any future rural directors is to remain diligent in protecting the rights and representation of rural residents in all governance and especially fiscal matters. Also, if there is opportunity to improve things at the provincial level then take it.

Thanks,

Allan Patton
Electoral Area C RDOS Director
apatton@rdos.bc.ca
Cell: 250 485 2288