National park idea suffers another blow
Monday, 13 February 2012 00:00
Vaseux Lake was to be included in the national park boundaries, but Parks Canada has halted public consultation on the plan
because it’s not being supported by the provincial government at this time.
by Lyonel Doherty
The proposed national park for the South Okanagan-Similkameen has taken another hit – this time from Parks Canada.
The federal agency recently stated that it cannot proceed with the concept without the support of the provincial government. The Ministry of Environment previously stated it could not lend its support because of the number of people opposed to the park.
“If the province changes its position and indicates it is prepared to proceed, Parks Canada would resume its work in this area,” the agency stated. “In order to respect the province’s perspective, Parks Canada will not publicly engage stakeholders on the proposal at this time.”
Park supporter and naturalist Dick Cannings said it would be pointless for Parks Canada to continue with public consultation if the province has withdrawn its support. He noted the lands involved are provincially owned and would require a transfer from the province to Parks Canada.
But Cannings in still optimistic.
“I don’t consider the concept dead; there’s too much public support for the park, it’s too good an idea and too important an initiative to let it go so easily.”
Cannings said he’s hoping the province will reconsider its decision when it realizes how important the park is to the people. “Parks Canada has stated they would happily begin talks with the province should the decision be reversed.”
But Greg Norton from Oliver, a spokesman for the Grasslands Park Review Coalition, said democracy has spoken and he’s grateful that the BC government has listened to the concerns relating to the park.
“It needs to be a dead issue,” he told the media.
Doreen Olson from the South Okanagan Similkameen National Park Network expressed her disappointment with the decision by Parks Canada.
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