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Regional district responds

Regional District of Central Okanagan provides comments on North Westside governance3

On behalf of the Regional District of Central Okanagan board, I'd like to thank The Morning Star for its ongoing coverage related to the governance study for the North Westside fire protection service area.

It's important for all residents in the area, and throughout the Central Okanagan, to be aware of important issues like this which come before board directors. I would however, like to clarify one statement made in the editorial, Westside study a good start, in the Jan. 15 edition.

It was written, "RDCO only wants the study to explore issues within the existing electoral area structure." Actually, the regional district has in its request for provincial funding for the study, reiterated the position put forward by Community Development Minister Peter Fassbender in his letters to the board.

He's stated the study should consider, "approaches within the existing regional district electoral area structure," and, "I believe a small-scale review, with a focus on local decision making and input into regional district services, would be a good starting point."

For my part, as the editorial indicated, "I am hopeful that we can come to a better place at the end of this process."

Gail Given,

Regional District of Central Okanagan chairperson