Image Credit: CSRD

By Victor Kaisar

CSRD Road Rescue

Falkland-area residents opposed to new road rescue service; North and South Shuswap residents in favour

Jul 4, 2025 | 1:10 PM

SHUSWAP, B.C. — The Columbia Shuswap Regional District’s (CSRD) plan to add a new road rescue service in the Falkland-area has crashed.

Preliminary results released by the CSRD on Friday (July 4) show there were 216 residents who voiced their opposition as part of the recently concluded alternative approval process. It was well above the 99 elector response forms that had to be submitted ahead of the June 30 deadline.

According to the CSRD, the plan to add a new road rescue service in the Falkland area would have led to a maximum tax rate of $232.79 for the average residential property. In year-one, that figure was expected to be around $201.18, while in subsequent years it would drop to an estimated $66.84.

“The cost to taxpayers will be greatest during the first year of the service due to the need to buy the specialized equipment to conduct road rescue,” the CSRD said in a statement. “In subsequent years, the taxation will be reduced because once the equipment is purchased, the cost of the program will be largely operational.”

Proposed service area map for the Falkland Road Rescue service. (Image Credit: CSRD)

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There was not enough opposition to halt plans to move ahead with road rescue services in both the South Shuswap and North Shuswap.

According to the preliminary results, residents of the South Shuswap were resoundingly in favour of the new service as just 13 valid forms were submitted, well below the 753 required to halt the process.

Residents in an average property in the South Shuswap would be faced with a maximum tax of $53.64. The CSRD said in the first year, the tax requisition was expected to be $20.45 for the average residential property, while in year two it would drop to $8.44.

Proposed service area map for the road rescue service in the South Shuswap. (Image Credit: CSRD)

In the North Shuswap, there were 26 valid forms received which was also well short of the 272 needed. These property owners would see a maximum tax of approximately $51.41. In year-one, residents in the average property will pay an extra $28.27, while in year-two their share would drop to $10.21.

Proposed service area map for the road rescue service in the North Shuswap. (Image Credit: CSRD)

“The new road rescue service would be provided by existing CSRD fire departments in those specified areas,” the CSRD said, in an earlier statement. “Currently, these three areas either have no road rescue service or are under-serviced due to the travel distances required by other already established road rescue providers.”

“The affected CSRD fire departments have been consulted and are willing to provide the additional service to their communities and members of the travelling public affected by motor vehicle incidents.”

The CSRD Board of Directors will discuss the results of the AAP as well as next steps at their next board meeting, which is scheduled for July 17.