Another week has gone by and we find ourselves wondering - once again - what is going on behind the scenes with the national park issue in the South Okanagan - Similkameen.
In mid January, Parks Canada quietly issued a statement on their website announcing their withdrawl from public engagement of stakeholders over the creation of a national park in the area.
Confusion continues to be the order of the day, however, even after the issuing of what appeared to be a definitive stance by Parks Canada.
A recent statement issued by the Okanagan Nation Alliance included a pointed request by Grand Chief Stewart Philip for the province to reconsider its position on the park, a position which B.C. Environment Minister Terry Lake says has not changed. (The province has publicly withdrawn support for the park, citing a lack of local support.)
BC Southern Interior MP Alex Atamanenko also recently commented that local First Nations had been made “partners” in the park evaluation process. Will this make treatment of First Nations concerns different from a stakeholder’s - if so what is the difference? Is this a quiet policy change by Parks Canada or by someone else? The public has every right to know if such changes are being contemplated - otherwise the process is anything but open and transparent.
A simple question asking for comment regarding Parks Canada’s website announcement made last week to Parks Canada Project Manager Bruno Delasalle could not be answered due to “sensitivities.”
Seemingly contradictory comment - or lack thereof - and behaviour from Parks Canada has us wondering who and what is actually driving this process now.
We feel it is imperative that federal Environment Minister Peter Kent step up and make a definitive statement regarding Parks Canada’s intentions, as it seems they are unable to.
It certainly appears to us that at this point in the process, Parks Canada’s actions belie their public statements - making credibility a key issue when considering anything that Parks Canada has to say.