There has been a great amount of discussion regarding the creation of a national park reserve in the Okanagan Similkameen. A few of the articles about the national park missed a few key facts and this has caused confusion amongst interested residents.
In a 2015 survey by McAllister Opinion Research, 75 per cent of the respondents indicated that the present provincial park status of the Mount Kobau region was insufficient to protect species and habitat presently in the area.
A further verifiable statement from McAllister Opinion Research shows that 23 per cent of those surveyed had not heard of the national park proposal for the Okanagan Similkameen area. Hopefully by this time all residents have heard of the proposal and have at least thought about what a great opportunity is being presented.
At a gathering in August with stakeholders Minister McKenna stated emphatically that there would be no expropriation of land and grazing leases would be honoured. The consultation which will begin in November will only be focussing on soft boundaries.
A further example comes from a September 20, 2018 RDOS board meeting in Penticton where the Parks Canada Project Manager for the Okanagan Similkameen, Sarah Boyle, stated unequivocally that existing cattle leases would be honoured and there will be no expropriation of land involved in the national park.
Consider the events that have occurred over the past 30 years. Habitat has been altered or destroyed and this will continue if there is not environmental protection.
There is now an opportunity to preserve and halt further development and allow protection of this important, rare and unique area for future generations.
Okanagan Similkameen Parks Society
