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The provincial government may have an appetite to oversee large-scale events and festivals in BC.
The issue was raised by members of Penticton's delegation at the Union of BC Municipalities Convention (UBCM) in Whistler.
The request for some provincial oversight was made to Attorney General, Suzanne Anton and Health Minister, Terry Lake.
It came on the heels of the Boonstock Music Festival held on Penticton Indian Band lands during the August long weekend.
The festival was fraught with problems and 24-year-old Lynn Tolocka of Leduc, AB died at the site.
The Penticton delegation asked for provincial oversight stating the government already has regulatory and budgetary jurisdiction over the range of protective services that go into making a festival, including policing, health, emergency management and liquor control.
Establishing provincial oversight in the form of a BC approvals panel for large-scale events would create that central point of authority required to effectively and efficiently assist promoters plan their event.
The body could assist promoters with pre-planning by outlining a definitive set of event criteria and anticipated timelines for implementation – making BC the easiest jurisdiction to hold a large-scale events in Canada.
These checklists would also enable the provincial government to ensure resources on the part of agencies and the promoter are appropriately allocated and public safety is taken into account establishing the event as a safe and fun space for all.
“There is incredible economic opportunity with large-scale events, not only in terms of direct and indirect spending by event attendants, but the ripple effect of community exposure when resident recruitment is taken into account,” says Penticton Mayor Garry Litke.
“Oversight of large-scale festivals is an opportunity to also ensure that resources from agencies like health regions and RCMP are appropriately allocated before, during and after the event.”
During Tuesday's meeting, provincial Ministers recognized the need for oversight and committed to working with affected agencies to create an approvals panel.
