South Okanagan residents call for referendum on proposed national park

Public support for a proposed national park in the South Okanagan is dwindling and a new poll shows the majority of residents want a local referendum to determine if the plan should go ahead at all.

The controversial project has been discussed and debated since it was first proposed in 2003.Concerns from locals include restricted roaming for cattle, increased wildfire risk, and loss of outdoor space for recreational activities such as hunting.

The South Okanagan-Similkameen Preservation Society, which, according to itswebsite"is fundamentally opposed"tothe park,commissioned Innovative Research Group and polled 300 locals. Seventy-sixper cent of respondents favoured holding a local referendum to determine if the plan for a park should ultimately be parked.

The survey also found that 45 per cent of respondents are opposed tosetting aside284 squarekilometres for Parks Canada.

This is in contrastto a2010 poll that CBC previously reported on, conducted byMcAllister Opinion Research, whichshowed 69 per cent of 405 respondents favoured the idea.

More cons than pros

"We're at the moment opposed to the park simply because there are more cons to the park than there are pros,"Lionel Trudel, director of the South Okanagan-Similkameen Preservation Society, told Daybreak South host Chris Walker.

Trudelsaid there hasn't been an honest discussion with the federal government about possible tax increases to support infrastructure for the park, such as wear and tear on roads and the strain on local first responders if the park entices more people to explore the back country.

According to Trudel, Parks Canada has not yet come forward with its budget for park development so residents are still in the dark on costs.

The society's survey also indicates 59 per cent of people think the government has done a poor job of local consultation.

"If we can get that promise of a referendum from government, that opens the gates to actual dialogue and discussion," said Trudel.

In a statement, Parks Canada said it is committed to consulting Indigenous communities, partners, stakeholders and local residents. They are also taking public input online until Feb.28.

Innovative Research Group polledresidents at random by telephone from Dec.12, 2018to Dec.19, 2018.The margin of error is plus or minus 5.72 per cent 19 times out of 20.

To hear the complete interview with Trudel click on the audio below:

With files from Daybreak South and Brady Strachan