Mr. Steiner’s letter commenting on Director Herman Halvorson’s statements regarding Shuswap River plans clearly points to the need to check Mr. Steiner’s pronouncements for relevance and veracity.
There is no evidence for the comment about the deliberate exclusion from the sustainability process of riverfront owners, businesses who rely on boating, and boater recreation groups.
As a riverfront property owner, I was certainly not excluded. I did not get a personal invitation to participate, but volunteered to, unlike businesses owners which were contacted, but refused to. I’m aware of only one boater group, known as the Riverfront Owners for Responsible Recreation headed by Mr. Steiner, which was formed to oppose regulation.
The comment about Director Halvorson being unfair and exclusionary has no basis in fact. RDNO staff, not Director Halvorson, did the work, and proceeded according to the rules (including extensive public consultation) I have been aware of most of the 26 years I have owned riverside property.
The recommendation of opening up the process again was the logical one. Only about half of respondents agreed with the proposed 10 HP regulation, so that had to reconsidered. Doing nothing and buckling under to a pressure group is not an option: a recent poll indicated 90 per cent of respondents favour some sort of regulation.
May Mr. Steiner and his group become wiser before their time, or at least support compromise as the current process unfolds: for the preservation of the river for all.
Peter Vander Sar,
Vernon