Dear Editor:
I was very pleased to see the McAllister Opinion Poll of 2015 now shows support for the Provincial government to once again resume talks relating to a national park in the South Okanagan-Similkameen.
I was very surprised to hear Greg Norton speaking on Global TV and being very negative about the proposed national park in the South Okanagan, particularly in view of the fact that he is the newly appointed Commissioner of the ALC ( Agriculture Land Commission).
I understand that they are a neutral body and should therefore remain neutral about the park.
Having taken part for many years in the LRMP (Land Resource Management Plan), we should point out that we were restricted by the province to the present provincial park areas in the South Okanagan.
We can all see that there is virtually no oversight of these areas from the provincial park staff due to lack of funds and support.
We can clearly see from the opinion poll that there is a lot of support for a national park in the area.
Even two-thirds of the ATV people say they are in favour and less than one quarter of them are opposed.
Let’s have some democracy on this subject before we lose this unique area which we should be maintaining so we can pass it on to future generations in as good or better condition.
Harry Nielsen
Penticton, B.C.
