It’s “back to the drawing board” for the RDOS after Oliver council on Monday rejected a request for approval of a regional economic development service.

The Regional District of Okanagan Similkameen has been asking all local jurisdictions to approve the establishment of the Regional District Economic Development Service, which would “operate the promotion of economic development.” The total potential cost of the project is pegged at $100,000. Oliver’s share, if the maximum were spent, would be about $4,800. Money was not the key factor motivating

Councillors Jack Bennest, Mo Doerr and Larry Schwartzenberger to defeat the proposal. Rather, they objected to the growth of the regional district’s reach into economic development.
“I am not in favour of an economic development office at the regional level,” said Bennest. “Economic development should be left to the municipalities”

Schwartzenberger said: ”I agree with Jack. … (I can see) a crack opening to another money pot.”

In an interview Tuesday morning, RDOS Chair Mark Pendergraft said: “My understanding is that we need all the municipalities to approve (the bylaw). … We will have to go back to the drawing board” to find some other way forward.

The service would have replaced the previous ad hoc system of economic development grants from the RDOS grant-in-aid program. The only project currently being considered as part of the service is the Okanagan Film Commission, which received about $30,000 for its work as facilitator for film production companies interested in using Okanagan locations. At its meeting last week, Osoyoos council approved the bylaw.

By Roy Wood