Dear Editor:

This is a response to your front page article on the withdrawal of support from the provincial government for the national park in the South Okanagan.
I note that Mr. Norton feels that his issues have been blatantly ignored by Parks Canada.
I am very surprised to read that because I know that parks people have listened very patiently to so many factions. If Mr. Norton had taken part in the Okanagan Shuswap Land Resource Management Plan (LRMP) and had attended countless meetings and phone calls over many years, then I’m sure he would  understand that it takes a lot of time and patience to separate the falsehoods from the facts.
The LRMP process involved years of learning the viewpoint of all factions and not just a few in the group which he represents. Unfortunately, the province has cancelled the LRMP monitoring committee and it is no longer in effect.
The public opinion poll was taken by a professional polling company and it showed that two-thirds of the population are in favour of the park. It was not a petition taken by just someone who also told the public the national park would not allow hiking, biking, birding, etc., and that ranchers would be forced off their land, all of which is untrue.
I note that Mr. Norton is actively supported by the provincial and national hunting and ATV clubs even though he feels pro-park groups should not be allowed to obtain support from provincial and national organizations that support natural areas.
I would feel much safer if search and rescue and firefighting was done by Parks Canada as they have more practice and professionalism than any other group in Canada. This is certainly required as many homes in the area have no protection at all.
Having spent a large portion of my life in rural areas, I am unable to come to the conclusion that all rural doctors, lawyers and other professionals love to hunt.
There will still be a large portion of the Okanagan available for use by all hunters, ATV riders and developers.
I would be very glad to invite Mr. Norton to take a tour of the proposed national park area to show him all the dumped garbage, furniture, introduced weeds, illegal grazing and damage done by ATVs, mud boggers and dirt bikers.
I note that wildlife problems increase where humans are providing fee and protection to deer, bears, elk, etc. I don’t believe the national park has a real problem with this. One need only look at Cranbrook near Kootenay National Park. Cranbrook has lawns and fruit trees which attract deer and also has people who feed them. The nearby park does not have those problems.
Parks provide many good-paying jobs through Parks Canada and many spinoff jobs. Presently, there is very little employment available within the anticipated area.

Harry Neilsen
Osoyoos, B.C.