A standing room only crowd at the community centre in Okanagan Falls attended a town hall forum, Wednesday, organized by RDOS director Matt Taylor.

Image Credit: Keith Lacey, Local Journalism Initiative

Judging from the reaction of a standing-room-only crowd that packed the Okanagan Falls Community Centre Wednesday night, the majority of residents in the village of 3,500 are now vehemently opposed to incorporation into its own municipality.

Just over four months after a March 22 referendum — where 588 residents voted in favour and 512 against — public sentiment appears to have shifted.

Following a 45-minute presentation by RDOS director Matt Taylor and chief administrative officer Jim Zaffino outlining steps taken by the provincial government and those still needed to finalize incorporation, a scheduled question period turned heated.

“I see a lot of anger here and I’m one of you,” said one woman, a longtime resident. “Even if you are in favour (of incorporation), we were still blindsided as we weren’t given enough information (by the provincial government).”

Another woman, who has lived in Okanagan Falls for more than 50 years, said she warned Taylor and the advisory committee that a vote for incorporation would bring delays and problems.

“I think the incorporation vote should be null and void,” she said, receiving the night’s loudest applause. “None of this information was presented to any of us before we voted. Almost half of this town voted ‘no’. So don’t get up on your high horse and say the vote was for incorporation. Only 60 votes was the difference. Half of this town said no and they didn’t want this s--t happening. Now the province has their hooves into us and they probably had it planned all along. Now we’re paying the price. I would like to see the incorporation vote be null and void.”

Taylor expressed frustration at new issues emerging since the vote, saying the process has “gone off the rails” due to new information and requests injected after the referendum.

He said he even asked the Province whether the vote could be overturned.

“The answer, and this is coming from the Province, is the only way to un-incorporate is to first complete the incorporation process,” he said, as the crowd booed. “Then we would have to work with the Province to initiate an un-incorporation process. There have been a couple done, but first we have to finish the legal process and become incorporated. It’s not my process, it’s the Province’s process.”

Another woman said the process has become so bogged down in bureaucratic red tape that most residents no longer want to proceed. A fourth speaker echoed frustrations over the lack of information prior to the vote.

“I do think the wool has been pulled over our eyes,” she said. “I think they changed the rules in the middle of the game. We want what’s best for our town. That’s all. We want what’s best for our town.”

Taylor noted that the lack of a draft letter patent — needed to appoint an interim corporate officer and move toward electing a mayor and councillors — has frustrated residents, RDOS staff, and himself.

One man thanked Taylor for hosting the meeting.

“I would just like to thank Matt very much for having this meeting tonight,” he said. “I think it has been productive and I think more information that has been provided to the community has been brought out tonight, so thank you very much.”

Helena Walker, an 86-year resident and committee member on incorporation discussions, said she supports incorporation but emphasized respect for differing views.

“But I would suggest don’t take it out on Matt,” she said. “He’s done a good job.”

She urged residents to write to provincial leaders.

“We’re trying to make this an open process, where everybody has a say,” she said. “I have to say that for all these years, I’ve never, ever seen the people of Okanagan Falls, without doing anything, let this town down. Please don’t start.”

A man who had voted in favour of incorporation said he would now change his vote, citing unexpected red tape from the Province.

“They have put in a ton of effort,” he said of the local advisory committee. “But we’re running into a serious roadblock. The referendum was clear. We voted yes to incorporation. We expected the Province to jump on board, but months later, we’re still waiting.

“We’re now hearing about new conditions that may be introduced in regard to land claims, about renaming the town ... that’s not fair. We didn’t vote on that.”

He said renaming the town was “a very serious matter” and would likely have changed the outcome of the vote had it been raised earlier.

Taylor confirmed a contract lawyer is involved as the process continues. Near the end of the meeting, he thanked everyone for participating.

“Again, I’m the messenger and I’m bringing you information to let you know what we’re hearing,” he said. “In order for me to be effective representing you, I’m needed to get these questions back about what you think. So thank you very much for telling me that.”

He closed with a message of shared frustration.

“We are tired of waiting,” he said. “Write the Minister, write the Premier. You can copy MLAs, the Leader of the Opposition, but the people you have to get it to are the MLA and the Premier. On that note, thank you very much for coming.”

— This story was originally published by the Penticton Herald

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