The BC government says it got the message from South Okanagan residents about protecting the environment and sensitive areas and is engaged in a process of consultation with local first nations.
* More than 3,400 submissions were received providing feedback on the intentions paper.
* Feedback is being considered as we develop our final recommendations – later this year.
* Through this process, we are ensuring the protection of the South Okanagan’s geographic and cultural values, while providing recreation and tourism opportunities.
* We are also continuing to engage with First Nations to better understand their interests and ensure they are reflected in a final proposal.
Alex Shiff
Executive Assistant to the Hon. Mary Polak
Minister of Environment
MLA Linda Larson says those discussion will be happening this fall. Larson says several areas need to be protected and managed. She says she wants all parties to know that the government is involved in a process of management. The documents have been reviewed, the public has been informed but there is no returning to any plan designed a decade ago. And no information has been suppressed as stated in a news release from the Wilderness Committee.
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Earlier: The Wilderness Committee has recently obtained government information that suggests Victoria is downplaying overwhelming public support for the designation of a large national park reserve in the South Okanagan region of BC.
This directly contradicts the BC government’s Consultation Summary Report that minimized both the level of support and interest in having all of the proposed protected areas within the national park reserve.
In the 5,000-page Freedom of Information (FOI) request, it was revealed that 92 per cent of the submissions to the BC government from individuals and 80.5 per cent of submissions from business, local government and other regional agencies were supportive of the Province’s proposed strategy to protect areas in the South Okanagan. Over 70 per cent of the submissions from local communities also supported the BC government’s strategy for more protection.
The FOI also revealed that majority of submissions recommended that Area 2 including Mount Kobau, which the Province had proposed be aside as a provincial conservancy, be included in the national park reserve.
“Why the BC government has chosen to suppress information that shows that the public overwhelmingly supports all areas, including Area 2 to be in the national park reserve is a mystery to us,” said Joe Foy, National Campaign Director with the Wilderness Committee.
A national park reserve is expected to provide 772 new jobs locally, and $57 million in annual visitor spending in the region.
“In our opinion Victoria and local MLA Linda Larson need to pay more attention to feedback that came right from their own public consultation process – designation of a national park reserve with all the areas protected is good for democracy, for the environment and the economy too. It’s time to make this highly popular dream of a national park reserve, into reality,” said Foy