NEW CHAIR | Two-term trustee takes over reins at Vernon School District [A6]
Morning gStar
The Walmar t
ue, Vernon
2200 - 58 th Aven
Superstore
Friday, December 19, 2014
ay, Vernon 5001 Anderson W ww w.sus
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See dealer for details.
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Road upgrades sought
BOOTS TO BLADES
LISA VANDERVELDE/ MORNING STAR
Andie Keens, four (front), Anneke VanderVelde, four, and Colton Baskerville, three, chase their skating instructor Veronica Jones around the Centennial Outdoor Rink Saturday during their Boots to Blades lesson.
Rail trail plans remain on track RICHARD ROLKE Morning Star Staff
Proponents of purchasing a railway corridor are staying the course despite high-profile opposition. The Okanagan Indian Band has come out against the agreement local jurisdictions have signed to purchase the Canadian National line from Coldstream to Kelowna for $22 million. The band insists the corridor is part of an outstanding land claim. “We have no control over that and we’re working through the rules as we know it. To just stop (the purchase process), we would lose that opportunity,” said Jim Garlick, Coldstream mayor. “We’re not trying to infringe on anything with the band because we have no powers (with First Nations land claims).” Juliette Cunningham, Greater Vernon Advisory Committee chairperson, is reluctant to comment on how the band’s opposition may impact the rail purchase.
“We will have to talk to City of Kelowna staff who have been the lead in negotiations,” she said. Kelowna officials say they were aware of the band’s land claims with the federal government along Wood and Kalamalka lakes. “Our understanding is that CN has the right to legally dispose of the railway corridor and that this is a land claim issue between the OKIB and senior levels of government,” said Doug Gilchrist, Kelowna’s division director of community planning and real estate. “The city does not take stands on land claim issues between First Nations and senior levels of government as it’s outside of our jurisdiction. The City of Kelowna will continue to work with the OKIB through the joint planning initiative currently underway for the mutual benefits of all our citizens.” The corridor is part of the Commonage claim, which the band says was created when reserve land was taken away from the band in the late 1800s.
VERNON
TOYOTA
! ANWICE CHTO LADAST A N FT LE Y
“In our eyes, the resolution of the OKIB’s entitlement to the Commonage Reserve remains outstanding business,” said Byron Louis, Okanagan Indian Band chief. “We offered the mayors the opportunity to back our claim. First, it would have helped to build much needed bridges between parties and cultures and second, it would have saved the taxpayers $22 million.” The band has forwarded the issue to legal counsel for further review, but that hasn’t halted optimism among the Okanagan Rail Trail Initiative that a recreational corridor can be developed. “This doesn’t surprise me because there’s still an unresolved issue,” said Brad Clements, initiative president, of the band’s concerns about the land purchase. “All of us in the Okanagan need to understand the history and where the band is coming from. It’s part of the process. There will still be a solution.”
RICHARD ROLKE Morning Star Staff
Rural politicians are demanding major improvements to roads in the North Okanagan. The Electoral Area Advisory Committee has submitted a list of priority projects it wants included in the Ministry of Transportation’s 10-year plan. “There’s a bit of a deficit in terms of how the road projects are proceeding,” said Bob Fleming, EAAC chairperson and BX-Swan Lake director. “I’m not terribly confident (about the ministry doing the work) but if we don’t say anything, it doesn’t get on their radar.” Among the projects being lobbied by EAAC are improved safety at Highway 97 and Stickle and Birnie roads in BX-Swan Lake, resurfacing of the Baxter bridge in rural Lumby and a traffic light at Highway 97B and Springbend Road in rural Enderby. There are also calls for the ministry to upgrade and resurface the Lumby-Mabel Lake Road. “There are parts that should be upgraded and are dangerous,” said Rick Fairbairn, rural Lumby director. EAAC also wants an enhanced ministry role in remediation work, including infrastructure and drainage, in the area of the Kingfisher Interpretive Centre in rural Enderby. The ministry is also being asked to improve communications with local governments on rural road and highway improvements, and enhance partnership opportunities for pedestrian/ bicycle paths within ministry right-of-ways. “When there is no where to walk on the side of a road, it is a safety issue,” said Fleming.
TOYOTA DRIVE HOLIDAY TOY Find The TOYOTA TRUCK At the Village Green Centre!
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Toys will be donated to the Salvation Army.
Please donate a new unwraped toy, which will be distruibuted to children in need this Christmas!
2014
CLEARANCE