As the community vote on the national park approaches, the question has been raised whether this will be the final opportunity for the public to weigh in.
Last week, council received correspondence from the provincial minister of environment that confirmed that the province "will only consider a national park reserve if, among other considerations, there is continued support from Bowen Island throughout the process as it develops."
In short, the province will look to the community for cues.
At the November 14 meeting, Mayor Bob Turner said council had asked Minister of Environment Terry Lake to clarify his ministry's position. The request was prompted by confusion over an earlier letter by that agency that had outlined the province's commitment to not move ahead with its approval of the park unless it was first supported by the municipality.
In a letter dated November 7, Lake said that the outcome of the November 19 vote would send a clear signal to the province whether the community has an interest in proceeding in a discussion about a national park.
However, Turner said, "the minister didn't speak to the future and that created confusion in the community whether the November 19 vote would be the final opportunity for Bowen Islanders to make a decision."
Turner wrote to the minister seeking clarification. "The minister wrote back the same day, Thursday of last week," Turner said.
In the second letter, minister Lake confirmed the original statement. He wrote, "I recognize the uniqueness of this initiative in that the proposed national park reserve would be entirely within the municipal boundaries."
Turner says the letter makes it clear that the provincial government won't go ahead without the support of the community.
"How this is going to be determined is the business of the municipality and council. This is not a subject the province weighs in on. The next council will ascertain what is the community will," said Turner.
In short, it is council that has to gauge and communicate the community's desire to the province and make sure its voice will be heard, and acted upon.
