BC government documents obtained by the Wilderness Committee reveal huge public support for a South Okanagan National Park

VANCOUVER, BC –  The Wilderness Committee has recently obtained government information that suggests Victoria is downplaying overwhelming public support for the designation of a large national park reserve in the South Okanagan region of BC.

This directly contradicts the BC government’s Consultation Summary Report that minimized both the level of support and interest in having all of the proposed protected areas within the national park reserve.

In the 5,000-page Freedom of Information (FOI) request, it was revealed that 92 per cent of the submissions to the BC government from individuals and 80.5 per cent of submissions from business, local government and other regional agencies were supportive of the Province’s proposed strategy to protect areas in the South Okanagan. Over 70 per cent of the submissions from local communities also supported the BC government’s strategy for more protection.

The FOI also revealed that majority of submissions recommended that Area 2 including Mount Kobau, which the Province had proposed be aside as a provincial conservancy, be included in the national park reserve.
 
“Why the BC government has chosen to suppress information that shows that the public overwhelmingly supports all areas, including Area 2 to be in the national park reserve is a mystery to us,” said Joe Foy, National Campaign Director with the Wilderness Committee.

A national park reserve is expected to provide 772 new jobs locally, and $57 million in annual visitor spending in the region.

“In our opinion Victoria and local MLA Linda Larson need to pay more attention to feedback that came right from their own public consultation process – designation of a national park reserve with all the areas protected is good for democracy, for the environment and the economy too. It’s time to make this highly popular dream of a national park reserve, into reality,” said Foy.

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For more information, please contact:

Joe Foy | National Campaign Director, Wilderness Committee
604-880-2580, joe@wildernesscommittee.org

Additional Media Resources
FOI Documents Available upon request.
Report: Protected Areas Framework for British Columbia’s South Okanagan
Report: Consultation Summary Report
Briefing Note: Backgrounder on SOS National Park Reserve

Quotes 

Doreen Olson, Coordinator of the South Okanagan-Similkameen National Park Network -

“We all agree that Areas 1 and 3 need the highest protection possible because of the rare habitat and species found there. A national park will protect them. Removing area 2 from the concept isolates species and leaves no connectivity for this important migration corridor especially in light of climate change.  We need the BC Government to honour the results of their own consultation process and to listen to the voices of the people of the region.”

Jim Wyse, owner of the Burrowing Owl Winery and representative of the B.C. Wine Institute –

“The establishment of a national park reserve is immensely important to wineries, business, and communities in this region. It is going to be critical that the Minister figures out how to ensure that the Town of Oliver also benefits from the national park reserve. A national park in B.C., on average, produces 772 jobs locally, and $57 million in annual visitor spending, which is very important to Oliver and business in the area. It is clear that a national park reserve is viewed very positively by the residents in MLA Linda Larson and Dan Ashton’s ridings. Lack of action by the Province is no longer tolerable.”

Sue McKortoff, Mayor of Osoyoos.

“The Town of Osoyoos has always recognized the value of a national park reserve. A national park reserve will bring tourists and in-migration that will strengthen our community, provide security for our school, and provide opportunities for new jobs while protecting the rare and unique species and habitat that are part of what we, as a community, identify with.  We encourage Minister Polak to start negotiations now with Parks Canada for a national park reserve here.”

Quick Facts:

• 2003 - The Province of BC and Government of Canada sign a Memorandum of Understanding agreeing to work collaboratively on a report to see if a national park reserve is feasible in the South Okanagan-Similkameen, one of Canada’s four most endangered ecosystems.
• 2010 – The feasibility study report concludes that a national park reserve is feasible and that negotiations should begin immediately.
• 2011 – The BC government withdraws from the national park establishment process stating that although a national park reserve was feasible, they need more evidence of local support. 
• 2013 – The Syilx (Okanagan Nation Alliance) feasibility study shows that a national park reserve is feasible, their rights and title will be respected in a national park reserve and that negotiations should begin immediately.
• August 2015 – the BC government releases an intentions paper and launches a public consultation process on August 13, 2015 regarding additional protected areas in the South Okanagan-Similkameen including potential areas of national park status. The paper proposes two areas as national park reserve and one area as a provincial conservancy
• May 2016 – the BC government releases a summary of the public consultation that shows strong evidence of support for the Province’s land use framework and interest in all or a significant portion of Area 2 being added to the national park reserve.