Anti-South Okanagan National Park petition delivered to Ottawa

PENTICTON – After several months of silence, the issue of a National Park in the South Okanagan is being discussed again.

South Okanagan West Kootenay MP Richard Cannings says he presented a petition against the park in the House of Commons earlier this week.

“Last October, after the announcement by National Parks that discussion with local First Nations would start again, I was approached by some people that had concerns about it and met with some of them,” Cannings says.

Cannings says he walked the group through the electronic petition procedure that also requires MP sponsorship, which he agreed to do, even though he is a National Park supporter.

“I wanted to help a group that wished to present their opinion. I know these concerns are out there,” he says, adding the petition contained more than 900 signatures.

“Their main issue seemed to be they wished to have a referendum on the park.”

The petition will be presented to the minister and the government will issue a response, but Cannings doesn’t know what the time frame for that might be.

“That’s the way petitions work, once they are tabled in the house,” he says.

Cannings says he met with National Park officials in Penticton last week.

“It was the first time they were in the Okanagan since last October’s announcement. They are just starting their meetings with local First Nations, so there isn’t anything new to report on that front,” he says.

Plans for the creation of a National Park in the South Okanagan have been discussed since 2002. The idea recently found new life with the provincial NDP and National Park officials after the former Liberal government said they were not interested in discussing the issue any further.


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Steve Arstad

I have been looking for news in the South Okanagan - SImilkameen for 20 years, having turned a part time lifelong interest into a full time profession. After five years publishing a local newsletter, several years working as a correspondent / stringer for several local newspapers and seven years as editor of a Similkameen weekly newspaper, I joined iNFOnews.ca in 2014. My goal in the news industry has always been to deliver accurate and interesting articles about local people and places. My interest in the profession is life long - from my earliest memories of grade school, I have enjoyed writing.
As an airborne geophysical surveyor I travelled extensively around the globe, conducting helicopter borne mineral surveys.
I also spent several years at an Okanagan Falls based lumber mill, producing glued-wood laminated products.
As a member of the Kaleden community, I have been involved in the Kaleden Volunteer Fire Department for 22 years, and also serve as a trustee on the Kaleden Irrigation District board.
I am currently married to my wife Judy, of 26 years. We are empty-nesters who enjoy living in Kaleden with our Welsh Terrier, Angus, and cat, Tibbs.
Our two daughters, Meagan and Hayley, reside in Richmond and Victoria, respectively.

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