Flawed process

Re: Supportive housing expedited

While recognizing Kelowna’s need for more supportive housing, which may be made more urgent by the demands of COVID management, the province and the city’s decision to bypass the rezoning process is deeply troubling.

History is full of examples of government excuses for bypassing established procedures which were created to ensure that communities, and their citizens, have a voice and the right to have input into changes to their community. 

Kelowna City Council has a track record of paying lip service to this right when previous re-zonings have been brought to public hearing and the prevailing sentiment was subsequently dismissed in the decisions. McCurdy Road and Ambrosi come immediately to mind.  

There has been a longstanding need for subsidized housing in this city. Noisy public hearings that give voice to concerned or frightened citizens are a nuisance and challenging for our elected politicians.  They are, however, our right, and this decision by the provincial government to “ask the City of Kelowna to set aside the rezoning process” while perhaps not illegal, has absolutely bypassed our right, as citizens, to be heard. 

The goal does not justify the means, and if this request by the province to bypass due process goes forward without being challenged, then I suspect we will see it happen again … and perhaps again. 

It is so easy to excuse the abuse of legislative power in the time of crisis, but that is exactly how the slippery slope begins. Please speak out.

Sharron J Simpson, Kelowna