File Photo (Image Credit: Contributed / Jon Stewart)

By Sydney Chisholm

incorporation

Talk of incorporating the North Shuswap into its own municipality getting louder

Nov 24, 2023 | 6:30 PM

NORTH SHUSWAP, B.C. – Discussions are ramping up in the North Shuswap about the pros and cons of incorporating into a new municipality, rather than continuing as part of the Columbia Shuswap Regional District.

“I think the majority of the community would like to be incorporated,” Jay Simpson, CSRD North Shuswap representative, said. “But there’s a lot of questions about. ‘What’s it going to cost us?’ Taxes are always the question that comes up.”

Altering the local government make-up would be a lengthy undertaking. But some residents are willing, if the cost is reasonable.

“I think it’s going to be a challenge. It’s going to be a lot of work to try and get it there. I’m not convinced we can do it, but I think that we will get something out of this. We’ll end up with Scotch Creek at the minimum, and maybe more,” Simpson continued.

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The goal would be to gain more localized control of tax dollar spending and decision-making. Part of the appeal also comes from the grant funding opportunities for projects or community improvements.

“As a municipality, you can access so many more grants than you can as a regional district area, and that’s critical for the North Shuswap, especially when we are that far away from a big centre,” Simpson said.

On the other hand, some residents are skeptical about how useful incorporating would be.

“I think we need to be left alone out here,” said Celista resident Brenda Jackson. “I don’t think doing that is going to help us with the CSRD. I think it’s just another diversion.”

For now, the next steps include gauging how much of the area is serious about incorporating, petitioning, and presenting that information to higher levels of government.