South Okanagan West Kootenay MP Richard Cannings is pictured in this submitted photo.
Image Credit: SUBMITTED
March 24, 2018 - 1:30 PM
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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