The Cariboo Regional District (CRD) board has rescinded third reading of the Green Lake and Area Official Community Plan (OCP) because the province won’t sign off on it, noting the regional district didn’t follow the guidelines of First Nations engagement. The directors gave the OCP bylaw third reading more than a year ago after a lengthy review process, but since that process didn't follow First Nations procedures for review and endorsement, the document needs to be modified again.
The project began in 2009 in response to the community's desire for local governments to provide long-term planning objectives and policies for protection of the natural environment of the plan’s area.
After multiple public hearings and the efforts of an advisory committee, CRD Area L Director Bruce Rattray notes the board understands the community surrounding Green Lake is looking forward to the OCP's final approval and release.
"It's been a long process with a lot of community consultation leading up to the plan that we currently have.
"It's been disappointing that it has taken so long to get final approval of it, but it appears this is the final hurdle and we're looking forward to the final adoption of the plan in the not too distant future."
After the third reading in late 2010, both the CRD and the Thompson-Nicola Regional District (TNRD), which share common boundaries within the OCP area, sent the plan to Community, Sport and Cultural Development Minister Ida Chong for the signed approval required by law, he explains.
The ministry's review identified a concern that Section 12.2 did not refer to the province’s Guide to First Nations Engagement on Government Statutory Approvals (Interim).
Then talks went back and forth between the regional districts and the ministry last year.
"We obtained legal advice about changing Section 12.2 to meet the ministry’s requirement and were advised to write to the First Nations advising of the change and give a 60-day response time, and then follow up with a public hearing."
The proposed amendment states engagement with First Nations will take into consideration the province's interim guide and its First Nation guidelines.
The hearing is necessary because the Local Government Act dictates it when any new information is received after a public hearing is adjourned, Rattray adds.
"We expect to be able to hold the public hearing [in 70 Mile House] in June and have agreed that we would do a joint CRD/TNRD hearing as we have in the past."
While this amendment will be the primary focus of the public hearing, he says it is possible other issues may be raised which the two boards will also need to consider.
"Once Section 12.2 is amended, it is expected that the province will quickly proceed with approval of the OCP.”
TNRD Area E Director (Bonaparte Plateau) Sally Watson says the initial OCP review process didn't go "as far afield" as needed to encompass all the First Nations people who should have been consulted.
"It never occurred to us to consult with Canim Lake Band, so we weren't thinking outside the box enough. I can take blame for that, it never occurred to me to include [them]."
The concerns of the Canim Lake Band were expressed but hadn't previously been addressed, she explains.
"We hope we can get this happening better for all interested parties, and we need to consult with them far sooner than we have been. In everything we do, we need to consult with First Nations in the very beginning."