There is no official word yet, but all indications are that the wheels are once again in motion in the direction of a national park in the Okanagan Similkameen.
Federal Environment Minister Catherine McKenna and B.C. Environment Minister George Heyman were scheduled to make an announcement on the matter at the Nk香蕉视频直播橫ip Desert Cultural Centre in Osoyoos at 10 a.m. Friday.
香蕉视频直播淚 have a good feeling about tomorrow, you know it香蕉视频直播檚 all speculation on my part, but I think it香蕉视频直播檚 going to be a really good thing, I think it香蕉视频直播檚 going to announce that the negotiations will begin,香蕉视频直播� said Doreen Olson, a member of the South Okanagan Similkameen National Park Network. 香蕉视频直播淚香蕉视频直播檝e been on this campaign for 15 years and this is better than getting a new puppy. I香蕉视频直播檓 very excited about the news and I know we香蕉视频直播檙e going to try to work together with those people who are not quite as positive about the announcement as we are.
香蕉视频直播淭he stars have aligned. They香蕉视频直播檝e got a government in Victoria that is positive about parks and protected areas. They香蕉视频直播檝e got the First Nations that are anxious to work together and they have Parks Canada and the Government of Canada, who want this to go through.香蕉视频直播�
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The idea of a national park has divided many people throughout the region and in some cases pitted neighbour against neighbour in the rural communities.
香蕉视频直播淭here are certain rules that can香蕉视频直播檛 be changed but I think we香蕉视频直播檙e all going to work together,香蕉视频直播� said Olson.
香蕉视频直播淏ut we don香蕉视频直播檛 have a park yet, and we won香蕉视频直播檛 have a park tomorrow, but this is promising. This has been worth waiting for.香蕉视频直播�
About five years ago Parks Canada abandoned its feasibility assessment and stepped away from plans to create the park after it lost the support of the B.C. Liberal government when then Environment Minister Terry Lake, said there was a 香蕉视频直播渓arge contingent of people opposed to the initiative.香蕉视频直播�
A survey in 2010 showed of the 405 people polled, 63 per cent were in favour. At the time it was reported the ecosystem was home to 56 endangered or threatened species, one of the highest concentrations in the country.
香蕉视频直播淔rom my standpoint it is the endangered species that is most important and the connectivity of that protected land base,香蕉视频直播� said Olson about her support of the park.
Those who were against the concept also formed a coalition which included ranchers, outdoor enthusiasts and others.
One person concerned with news the park may be actively pursued again is general manager Dave Schwartzenberger of the HNZ Topflight helicopter training centre, longtime opponents.
The company currently has a 10-year permit to do it香蕉视频直播檚 training in some of the designated park areas however that expires on May 1, 2018.
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香蕉视频直播淭his is super short notice and we香蕉视频直播檙e a little bit blindsided by the announcement tomorrow,香蕉视频直播� said Schwartzenberger on Thursday. 香蕉视频直播淲e got notice about a day and a half ago that the ministers for federal and provincial would like to meet with us today at 3:30 p.m. today (Thursday) at the parks office.
香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 coincidental, we香蕉视频直播檙e in the permit renewal process right now so this could change the landscape of that permit. We香蕉视频直播檝e been training our national forces basically now since 1951 in all these areas they香蕉视频直播檙e trying to make parks. If we didn香蕉视频直播檛 get the permit we香蕉视频直播檇 be out of business. We香蕉视频直播檇 be looking for substantial compensation from government for the loss of business.香蕉视频直播�
He added the business pumps 香蕉视频直播渕illions and millions and millions of dollars香蕉视频直播� a year into the local economy and accounts for over 60 per of paid aircraft movement at Penticton Regional Airport.
香蕉视频直播淲e香蕉视频直播檙e kind of the main reason this airport is viable and has been for the last 66 years,香蕉视频直播� said Schwartzenberger. 香蕉视频直播淲e really believe in what we do, we provide life-saving training to our Canada Forces and we have contracts with the German Army, German Air Force, the Danish Air Force, the Norwegian Air Force and there is a reason they come to Penticton. They have lots of mountains in Europe but they come here because of our expertise and our history and what we can provide them.香蕉视频直播�
The company says it has a strict policy regarding impact on wildlife and as part of its permit provides critical information to government agencies about numbers and location.
According to Schwartzenberger another of the company香蕉视频直播檚 concern is a response to its questions to Parks Canada, including what the company香蕉视频直播檚 status will be during the wildlife assessment to be done.
香蕉视频直播淲e still have the same position we香蕉视频直播檝e had in the past decade and we still haven香蕉视频直播檛 gotten these answers after all this time and the answers we get are just not good enough and the 香蕉视频直播榯rust us香蕉视频直播� approach is just not acceptable, we need to see something in writing,香蕉视频直播� he said. 香蕉视频直播淭he ranchers and the coalition group are really upset about this sneaky approach. They香蕉视频直播檝e (government) been working diligently in the background and all of a sudden they want to come and talk to you the day before the announcement.香蕉视频直播�
Both he and Olson also expect there will be word that the park香蕉视频直播檚 size will be closer to the original figure of 654 square kilometres, which had been scaled back to 284 sq. km in 2006.
The park concept began in 2002 when current Osoyoos Indian Band Chief Clarence Louie, Sen. Ross Fitzpatrick and others went to Ottawa to meet with the Prime Minister香蕉视频直播檚 staff after which the feasibility study began.
