By Dale Boyd

Osoyoos Times

Parks Canada is meeting with stakeholders to discuss water rights moving forward in the proposed national park reserve in the South Okanagan.

Water license holders and local politicians met with Parks Canada officials on May 29 in Penticton to hear their concerns and field questions.

Bill Eggert, owner of Fairview Cellars, was left with concerns about “who ultimately will have jurisdiction,” over his water license and whether or not he will lose the rights he has now. The intake of his provincial water license currently falls within the boundary of the proposed national park reserve.

The water in B.C. is technically owned by the Crown on behalf of the residents, with landowners like Eggert applying to the province for the right to use surface or groundwater and paying an annual rental fee.

• Read more: Parks Canada looking to sign tentative agreement this summer

What impact the proposed park boundaries will have on water rights is still unclear and subject to negotiation according to Parks Canada.

“Parks Canada recognizes that sustainable water use is a priority for everyone in the region,” the organization stated in an emailed response to inquiries by the Osoyoos Times.

Should a memorandum of understanding be signed between the federal government, the Syilx/Okanagan Nation and the province, the next step would be detailed negotiation, however Parks Canada would use the current B.C. Water Sustainability Act as a foundation.

“The negotiation stage is where specifics, including the overall management of water within the proposed national park reserve would be examined in detail. Water rights and water health remain a top priority and will be one of the focal points during future negotiations,” the email states.

Park Steering Committee

Eggert said many of his concerns and questions to Parks Canada project manager for the South Okanagan Sarah Boyle were forwarded to the park steering committee.

“I was totally surprised that whenever I asked (Boyle) a question she would deflect it off to who she called the steering committee,” Eggert said. “Obviously these people are making the decisions and not (Boyle).”

The steering committee is comprised of members of the province, Parks Canada and the Okanagan Nation Alliance. Eggert said if these are the people making the decisions their names should be public.

“If they are the ones making the decisions, why aren’t they at the meetings?” Eggert said. “We need a history on all these people who are making huge decisions for our area.”

Parks Canada has told the Osoyoos Times they are able to share the names of the Parks Canada employees on the committee, though they were unable to compile the names prior to the publication deadline and are currently seeking approval to release the names of non-Parks Canada members.

• Read more: Parks Canada report: 40 per cent have park concerns

Eggert also criticized Parks Canada for showing a 35-minute slideshow presentation on current provincial water rights policies during the meeting.

“It was rather upsetting, I mean it was informative, but that could have been sent to us before the meeting,” Eggert said. “But to spend 35 minutes of my time and whole bunch of other people’s time. I wanted to be at the South Okanagan General Hospital meeting, but because we ran late I didn’t get to go to that.” 

Helena Konanz, candidate for the Conservative Party of Canada in the upcoming federal election, also attended the water rights management meeting. She said there was no certainty on how water rights management would work in the proposed park as of yet.

“I think that’s what has made people a little uncomfortable about this situation. Especially people who own businesses, people who live there, they want assurances there won’t be drastic changes in that licensing,” Konanz said.

Water rights management is just one example of the uncertain territory property owners and residents are worried about, Konanz said.

“I think there just has not been enough information and the process has had some flaws in that there are people who still have a lot of questions that haven’t been answered and they’re worried,” Konanz said.