STATEMENT REGARDING OKANAGAN FALLS INCORPORATION
The residents of Okanagan Falls voted to incorporate with the clear and democratic goal of gaining local representation and decision-making authority over their future. Incorporation was intended to be a straightforward step toward self-governance and local accountability. Unfortunately, this process has become the first test case under the NDP government’s implementation of the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act (DRIPA), creating delays and uncertainty that were never part of the community’s expectation when they cast their ballots.
Reconciliation with Indigenous peoples is an important and shared goal. I fully support building strong relationships based on partnership, respect, and good faith. However, the Province’s current approach — making the fulfilment of consultation demands a precondition to incorporation rather than a collaborative step toward reconciliation — has left the people of Okanagan Falls without direct, elected representation during critical discussions that will shape the community’s future. While the Province maintains this is not a veto, the reality is that the community has been left in limbo, with decisions being made without a locally elected government at the table.
At present, the Osoyoos Indian Band (OIB) is requesting a range of concessions before incorporation can proceed. These concessions have not been provided in writing by the Province, nor has there been any public statement from the Minister. These negotiations have been conducted behind closed doors, with no meeting agendas or minutes available to track progress. As your elected MLA, I have not been included in these meetings, informed of their outcomes, or recognized as the person chosen by the people of this region to represent them.
The provincial government must explain when and why such conditions are being placed on a community seeking to move forward with self-governance. If the Province allows incorporation to stall under these terms, it will set a damaging precedent for other communities, discourage future self-governance initiatives, and risk fuelling division between Indigenous and non-Indigenous British Columbians. I am calling on the Province to issue the Letters Patent without delay and without imposing concessions that were not part of the original referendum approved by residents.
At present, Okanagan Falls is represented in these negotiations by the Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen (RDOS), a board of 20 members with only one representing the community. The remaining members, while acting in the best interests of their own areas, must also consider broader regional relationships and priorities. This leaves Okanagan Falls without a dedicated, elected voice advocating solely for its interests in these high-stakes discussions.
I am actively working to change that. I am demanding that the Province cease all negotiations with OIB in relation to the incorporation of Okanagan Falls and issue the Letters Patent immediately. Once Okanagan Falls is formally incorporated, residents will be able to elect their own mayor and council, begin receiving municipal tax revenue, and exercise greater autonomy in decision-making. This will allow the community to enter discussions with OIB and the Province from a position of democratic strength. Following incorporation, consultation with OIB will be both appropriate and constructive — a chance to build relationships, listen to all perspectives, and work toward solutions that reflect the needs of everyone at the table.
If the Province now believes that DRIPA requires these negotiations to occur prior to incorporation, it must be transparent that the process presented to the community was flawed. In that case, the referendum should be nullified and reissued so residents can make an informed decision with all relevant facts and potential outcomes.
The people of Okanagan Falls deserve a process that honours both their democratic choice and the principles of reconciliation. As your MLA, I will continue to advocate for a fair, transparent, and timely resolution — one that ensures residents have a direct voice in shaping their future and delivers the local representation the community voted for.
ARTICLE IN LOCAL CASTANET
ARTICLE IN THE PENTICTON HERALD
Read the full article: https://www.pentictonherald.ca/news/article_9dcb81a6-986a-4e2e-a2df-6e75817a3102.html
