Town of Osoyoos councillor C. J. Rhodes voiced his strong support for a national park for the South Okanagan during a presentation to the Osoyoos Rotary Club last week. Rhodes is seen following his presentation with current club president Judy Miller-Bennett. (Keith Lacey photo)
Canada’s national park system is admired around the world and would attract tourists from across the globe and all of Canada, says Town of Osoyoos councillor C. J. Rhodes.
During an impassioned speech to the Osoyoos Rotary Club last Thursday, Rhodes said he’s remained silent for too long about his overwhelming support for a proposed national park for the Okanagan and Similkameen valleys.
During a presentation to Rotary, Rhodes said he is no longer willing to keep quiet about his support for a national park.
He also told the Rotarians he doesn’t care if his support is controversial, because this is a project he strongly believes should happen and he is willing to do whatever he can to force the provincial Liberal government to reopen talks relating to a national park for this region.
Rhodes, who has just started his third-consecutive term on town council, said Canada’s national park system is among the finest on the planet.
“People from every country in the world come here and (visiting a national park) it’s one of the first things they do,” he said. “I hope my comments cause controversy because I’m more than willing to discuss this issue with anyone.”
Before last fall’s municipal election, the former Town of Osoyoos council, which Rhodes was a member of, had endorsed a motion detailing their strong support for a national park for the South Okanagan. Former mayor Stu Wells has spoken about his personal support for the proposed park on numerous occasions.
Rhodes voiced the same level of vocal support during last week’s presentation to the Rotary Club.
“Canada’s national parks are admired by people all over the world and are envied by nation’s everywhere,” he said. “They are a source of pride for all Canadians and form a large part of our identity here in Canada and around the world.”
There is no doubt in his mind the vast majority of residents across the region are strongly in favour of a national park coming to this area, said Rhodes.
The only reason the provincial government under Premier Christy Clark broke off talks after 10 years of negotiations between the federal government and Parks Canada was because a few influential people managed to sway key players in the Liberal government, said Rhodes.
“It’s not the divine right of a few individuals who are involved in the No campaign” to have influenced the government to change its mind on a project so many people are in favour of, said Rhodes.
While he has “great respect” and admiration for Boundary-Similkameen MLA Linda Larson, he can’t support her staunch opposition to a national park for this region, said Rhodes.
“I think our MLA is very supportive of the No side … and in this case, I don’t think she’s right,” he said.
The Liberal government has put the national park issue “clearly on the backburner” and made it very clear they don’t have any intention to resume talks any time soon, he said.
However, he does believe that stance can and will change if there’s enough political pressure put on Clark and her government.
The most vocal opponents of a national park are those who live on the land that would be within the regional boundaries of the park, said Rhodes.
Any suggestion that they would have their land, land rights or way of life stripped away if a national park were to open are not based in fact, he said.
Every one of Canada’s 36 national parks has had people living within their respective boundaries and all issues have managed to be resolved fairly, he said.
There is no reason the interests of ranchers, landowners, outdoor enthusiasts who own and ride All-Terrain Vehicles and nature lovers can’t be negotiated and included in any agreement that would allow the national park to become a reality, said Rhodes.
On other serious matters facing the current council, Rhodes admitted council’s announcement they are considering closing the Osoyoos Airport and using that land to expand the town’s industrial base, has caused a lot of controversy amongst local residents.
Rhodes said he has received dozens of emails from constituents, with varying opinions from supporting closing the airport to some suggesting it would be a terrible mistake.
“My point is ideas and opinions from engaged people is so important,” said Rhodes. “Development opportunities come and go … so I see the airport staying pretty much the same for the next little while. That’s the way I see it.”
Since council announced last week it was supporting a motion asking the Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen (RDOS) to extend its current lease with the Osoyoos Home Building Centre for another three years (until the fall of 2019), the vast majority of local residents support that stance, said Rhodes.
Extending the lease would mean the Osoyoos Museum wouldn’t be moving into the Home Building Centre building until 2020, instead of next fall as planned.
Rhodes said he attended a meeting of the Osoyoos Museum Society board of directors last week and while many were not happy with what has transpired, “the majority are comfortable with the decision” and realize council had a difficult decision to make.
“They are not happy, but were very positive with the project moving forward as things stand,” he said.
It’s his hope and that of the entire council that Home Building Centre will be able to build a new retail outlet for the Osoyoos market up near the Osoyoos Airport as originally planned five years ago, said Rhodes.
KEITH LACEY
Osoyoos Times
