Recently, Vernon city council voted unanimously to request that the provincial government fund a study on governance options for Greater Vernon.
For those of us that think that decisions on how we are governed should be based on sound and unbiased information, its action was gratifying. That satisfaction, however, has proved to be short lived.
At a more recent gathering at the regional district, as reported in The Morning Star, by unanimous vote, the regional district board of directors declined to forward a request to the ministry to fund a study on governance in Greater Vernon.
To this more than casual observer, this decision did not come as a surprise but why was the motion unopposed?
It seems that the members of Vernon city council who serve as directors did an about face and joined with others at the regional table in supporting the negative motion put forward by the electoral areas.
I know the argument can be made that their support of the electoral advisory recommendation was just defending the electoral areas B and C right to refuse to request the study and avoid the appearance of democratic bullying.
But if persuasion and argument did not lead the electoral areas to change their mind on the matter of the governance study why did Vernon’s directors capitulate and vote for the motion and perhaps weaken the power of their own request to the provincial government?
They missed a chance to affirm their decision to request a study on governance. Instead, they seem too willing to dance to the tune at the regional district table. But in so doing, they forget who brought them to the party in the first place.
Surely it is not unreasonable for the citizens of Vernon to expect some consistency with previously taken decisions when our elected officials are at the regional district?
In my opinion, the credibility of Vernon’s present regional district directors comes into question.
To what degree do they actually represent Vernon at the regional table?
I am confused by this mixed message sent by the Vernon directors.
They did an about face after their efforts at persuasion fell upon deaf ears. Why give up?
Perhaps, in reality, our own representatives wish the whole issue of Greater Vernon governance would just go away. That seems to be the message they are sending by their recent actions. Actions always speak louder than words.
Shawn Lee
Vernon
