Area G director preps controversial motion
Gerry Wilkie
By Kelsey Verboom
Pioneer Staff
One member of the Regional District of East Kootenay Board of Directors is about to stir the pot at the board’s next meeting on June 8th.
Area G Director Gerry Wilkie has confirmed that he plans to bring forward a motion to ask the government to repeal a motion approved by the Regional District Board of Directors in 2009.
The 2009 motion gave the provincial government decision-making powers with respect to the Jumbo Glacier Resort development, and supported the formation of a Mountain Resort Municipality as the preferred form of governance for the development.
Now, Director Wilkie plans to ask the board to consider reversing that decision, and ask the province to consult with and possibly return decision-making powers to local government — namely, the regional district and neighbouring municipalities.
Director Wilkie’s rumoured motion comes following amendments to the Local Government Act made during the most recent sitting in the Legislature. The tweaks to the act were passed as part of Bill 41.
The changes allow a Mountain Resort Municipality to be formed, with a government and council appointed by the province, even if no permanent population exists.
The amendments are consistent with existing government policy and merely clarify the current wording of the Local Government Act, Ida Chong, Minister for Community, Sport, and Cultural Development told The Pioneer during an interview last month.
Director Wilkie disagrees, and said the changes raise “serious questions about public accountability in governance and all other aspects of this development.”
As such, he plans to bring forward a motion and let the board decide whether or not to return the “power vested in the Regional District that was taken away.”
Director Wilkie’s planned motion is all about the democratic process, he said.
“We were denied that at the time of the August 2009 resolution. To me that was the real mistake I think the board made. Not necessarily a mistake, but it was a very difficult decision, and it denied people their rights under the Local Government Act.
“What I’m asking for, given the fact that they [the provincial government] have apparently decided on this somewhat precarious and draconian idea of setting up a municipality, is that they at least consult with people in the region about decisions that are going to be made.”
When asked whether raising a motion contrary to one that was already voted on and passed by the board was anti-democratic, he replied, “I guess it is a little retrospective in a way, but the important thing is it will involve the local people who live in the area, and that was denied.”
Director Wilkie’s motion will not be official until it is printed in the Regional District of East Kootenay agenda, which was expected to happen after press time.
Thank you Gerry.
The Jumbo resort is to be located about 1 hours drive from Invermere. Gerry Wilke proposal would turn over the resort to local control. The running of the resort would depend upon the whims of a group of people who do not want the resort in the first place. What kind of a job would they do since their hearts are not unamimous in seeing the resort thrive. I believe they would throw up every sort of regulation they could think of in order to make the resort impossible to operate. The Mountain Resort Municality would have the best interests of the resort in mind. As a civil engineer I have seen this sort of thing happen where endless red tape and regulation by adversary groups have the same effect.
Also I do not believe that people who are elected to run a city like Invermere have the same qualifications that would be required at a true mountain resort. This is a billion dollar municipality. The operating of a small town like Invermere and the resort could not be more different requiring totally different skills.
Gerry Wilks, you are an honorable man. It was absolutely unethical and a slap in the face to democracy what the last RDEK board did with Jumbo. I hope the new RDEK board sides with you and helps restore some of the credibility to our local governments. I have the basic expectation that governments will do their job. For the RDEK that would include making land use decisions on Jumbo. I can only hope that we now have directors within the RDEK that are will to do the job that they were elected for.
Good on you Gerry, about time someones stands up for the democratic process.
Ooooh Myyyyy Goooooodness Gracious
Here we go again.
Gerry, there is no doubt but that any director can bring any topic to the table, within the confines of the rules of the RDEK, no question.
But is not 20 + years not enough????
I know this has been your pet peeve for decades, but enough is enough, There are far more important issues to contend with within the district than revisiting an issue that has been decided at the regional and now the provincial level.
Talk about wasting precious time on the directors pare.
The governement has, after 20 years of democratic and consultive process, made an informed decision.
Granted, it does not meet your desires, but give this valley some rest Gerry.
Enough is more than enough.
So Glad that RDEK put this on the agenda again. For 20 years the residents have said NO to this development. the employment offereed will be construction jobs, then chambermaids. the habitat will be destroyed and the Native people do not approve. We have been saying NO< NO< NO< NO< NO…… the government did not make an informed decision but a political move. We locals are saddened by the outcome.
Hear! Hear!