GENUINE OPENNESS NEEDED IN REMAINING NATIONAL PARK DEBATE
(OSOYOOS TIMES — Jan. 17, 2007) —
As we report in this edition, Parks Canada has released the latest update on its process of developing a plan for a national park in the South Okanagan-Lower Similkameen valleys.
There are at least a couple of observations to make when a report like this is issued.
First, it appears that Parks Canada is to be commended for hearing, recording and, to some degree, listening and responding to the concerns that many people have expressed about the proposed new park.
People who own land in the proposed park area or who use it either for recreation or for their livelihood, are very concerned about the restrictions that a national park would place on their activities. They fear either banning of their activities, or steep user-fees.
Parks Canada is going a long way in trying to reassure people that most current users will be accommodated somehow.
But that leads to the second observation.
Despite the accommodations, in all the literature it appears that the park proposal is an inexorable juggernaut “ that 'the feds' have a park in mind and no amount of objections will stop it from being created.
There is much to recommend a new park “ for environmental conservation, tourism promotion and other developments.
But Parks Canada needs to maintain genuine openness.
