The unique antelope brush grassland of the South Okanagan-Similkameen were proposed as the site of a national park. (Richard McGuire file photo)
The Town of Osoyoos is seeking the support of other municipalities throughout B.C. in its efforts to persuade the provincial government to reopen talks about a proposed national park.
Osoyoos has put forward a resolution at this week’s Union of British Columbia Municipalities (UBCM) convention in Whistler, B.C. calling on the province to get back to the table.
The convention runs from Monday, Sept. 22 to Friday, Sept. 26.
In early 2012, the B.C. Liberal government abruptly pulled out of discussions with the federal government aimed at establishing a national park reserve in the South Okanagan-Similkameen. In the absence of B.C. government participation, the federal government has shelved the idea.
Osoyoos Mayor Stu Wells said last week that he couldn’t predict how the resolution will be handled at UBCM.
Some resolutions go before a plenary session, while others are bundled with other environmental issues.
“You really don’t know what’s going to happen other than I’ll be there and I will be speaking to it,” Wells said. “It’s pretty straightforward. It’s what we’ve been asking for all the time, the continuation of dialogue.”
The park is supported by most tourism, business and environmental organizations in the South Okanagan.
Some ranchers, hunters and all-terrain vehicle users who fear their activities could be curtailed if the area comes under Parks Canada have opposed it.
Wells said the key points he will make with other municipalities is that the park would help to protect endangered species and habitat.
The antelope brush grassland is unique in Canada, he said, and a park would be an important economic boost to Osoyoos, which relies on tourism.
“From the environment, from the science, and from the economics, we strongly believe there should be a park created there,” Wells said.
Another important consideration, Wells noted, is that currently there is a window of opportunity that could be closed in the future.
The largest rancher owning land in the park area, Ace Elkink, supports a park and is willing to sell his land, Wells said.
“I don’t know how many other ranchers there are that are affected and I don’t know how many head of cattle, but surely we’re not holding up a national park for a couple of hundred head of cattle,” said Wells.
Parks Canada has stated that it would allow livestock grazing to continue under existing tenures if the park is established.
Parks Canada has said it would buy land on a willing buyer-willing seller basis although the Crown owns much of the land in the park area.
A key opponent of the park is Liberal MLA Linda Larson, who has said she would not support a park if it has an impact on the lifestyles and livelihoods of local people.
In a recent Globe and Mail story, Larson also expressed concern that a national park would impede mining in the area.
While Wells made clear that he would not support mining in the park area, he avoided criticizing the MLA directly, only saying he found the MLA’s comment “interesting.”
RICHARD McGUIRE
Osoyoos Times
