A lack of a final agreement isn’t stopping enforcement of the rules on local waterways.
The Regional District of North Okanagan board has instructed staff to enter into discussions with the Conservation Officer Service to provide seasonal boat patrols in the rural areas.
“We have a tentative agreement in place and the program will go ahead,” said director Bob Fleming when it was pointed out that negotiations are occurring while boats are already prevalent on lakes and the Shuswap River.
The electoral areas budget about $21,000 a year for boat enforcement, and it was decided recently to approach conservation officers to provide the service instead of continuing with the RCMP.
“These are extra patrols because the conservation officers already conduct patrols,” said Fleming.
Besides the Shuswap River, patrols will be conducted on Mabel Lake, Sugar Lake and Kalamalka Lake, near Cosens Bay.
“All of the directors have forwarded their priority areas (to the officers),” said Fleming.
