Scheer won't stop nat'l park

Photo: Chelsea Powrie

Andrew Scheer and Helena Konanz in Penticton Tuesday afternoon.

Conservative Party leader Andrew Scheer was in Penticton Tuesday knocking on doors with local candidate Helena Konanz, and said if elected to Canada's highest office he would not be looking to reverse controversial national park plans in the South Okanagan.

Scheer spoke to media just hours after a memorandum of understanding was signed in Osoyoos with regard to the national park. 

Federal Environment Minister Catherine McKenna was joined by provincial counterpart George Heyman and Chief Clarence Louie of the Osoyoos Indian Band and Chief Keith Crow of the Lower Similkameen Indian Band for the signing, and Konanz was on hand with support as well as some criticism.

"I don't think you'll come across anyone that's really against national parks," Konanz said. "But I think communication has been botched, with the people that actually live here and work in this area."

She said people in the area are "scared" of the park moving forward because they haven't been given solid information on how the park would affect their lives. 

"There are a lot of angry, upset people, and that needs to be acknowledged. And we can't patronize those people. They are worried about their daily lives," Konanz said. 

Andrew Scheer chimed in later Tuesday afternoon while knocking on doors in Penticton's Red Wing Resorts community. He said that should he be elected to Canada's highest office in October, he would not be looking to reverse national park process.

"Once things have got to the point where the work has been done, and the places have been set aside, I think any time you start to undo that, that could cause some concerns about other park space around the country," Scheer said.

He added that during his last visit to the South Okanagan he spoke to residents about this issue. 

"I heard a lot of people on both sides. I think as long as we can look and say the process that was followed was fair, open and transparent, then at the end of the day, that's something that we have to respect," Scheer said. 

He said he could not comment on specifics of the consultation process that took place in the South Okanagan.