An increase in rules and regulations in Electoral Area C has election candidate Rick Knodel speaking out.
“Since the mid 2000s there has been an increase in rules and regulations that are promoting a more urbanized setting. This as a result is increasing costs and lost time for those who own and are managing farms or small businesses in the area.”
Knodel said these rules are not only being introduced by the regional district but by other levels of government.
He stated the regional district should be a more unified body lobbying to mitigate these concerns.
“If we don’t address this, diminishing returns will push us away from the family farm and more toward the corporate farm model, with legal departments dedicated to the purpose of navigating through the ever increasing quagmire of regulations.”
Knodel was born in Oliver and raised on an orchard in the Tucelnuit area.
He left Oliver in 1970 to attend Burnaby Vocational School and graduated from there in 1971 as a welder. In 1978 he was accepted into the international boilermakers and attained his papers as a journeyman boilermaker in 1981, working up through the ranks as foreman and superintendent.
Knodel purchased an acreage in the Willowbrook area in 1988 and married Carol in 1989. He has one daughter (Siiri) attending UBC in Vancouver.
Since retiring from the boilermakers, he ran a small mobile welding business and has become familiar with some of the issues pertaining to local farmers as well as residents.
Knodel said the supply of water is becoming a major concern regarding cost and availability.
“In some areas farms are finding the cost crippling while other areas appear to be quite lavish with water.”
He noted that potable water and irrigation will be a defining problem in the near future.
Knodel said a golden opportunity is arising with the current water crises in the US.
“Whether you believe climate change is human or nature caused, it is to our advantage to see what we can capitalize on as other crops may well become possible in this area.”
He said hops are likely to be the next commercial crop and he believes there are other exciting possibilities on the horizon.
“We need only to keep an open mind and not regulate away the chance for our farmers to realize the profits they deserve for their hard work and huge investments.”
Knodel said vineyards have become the foundation in the area followed by orchards, ground crop and livestock. All of these bring support industries, such as wineries, barrel making, fruit and produce packinghouses and distilleries.
“All that I have spoken with have come up against a bureaucracy that seems to excel at delaying and telling them why things can’t be done as opposed to helping get things done.”
Knodel admitted that he isn’t a big fan of the new correctional centre in Senkulmen Business Park, but acknowledged there appears to be strong support for the project. “Recently Mayor Hovanes has brought forth some concerns that, combined with mine, may see the Town of Oliver and Area C paying for the “sins of the rest of the province.” Knodel said this cannot be allowed and he would be happy to work with Hovanes to see to it that the community will not bare this burden unfairly.
Knodel said the property tax rate in Area C should be reviewed from a “services provided” point of view to ensure equity.
“Some areas have virtually no services provided but seem to be paying taxes close to an urban rate. This will have to be looked at through the “fiscal equivalence legislation,” he pointed out.
During his career, Knodel demonstrated organizational and innovative problem-solving skills in order to complete projects that were both technical and large in scope.
“I feel that the position of director will be both challenging and rewarding and I hope to represent the people of Area C in the future.
Lyonel Doherty
Oliver Chronicle
