Here are some figures that appeared on November 23, 2010 regarding survey results on the development of an official community plan for Regional District of Central Kootenay Area E:
From the 2,136 surveys mailed out, 40 per cent were returned (854), from which 43 per cent of respondents (367 surveys) supported and 37 per cent (315 surveys) were undecided or needed more information. What about the remaining 20 per cent (172 surveys) that are unaccounted for?
Of the 854 surveys returned, less than 50 per cent supported the development of the official community plan. Further, from 2,136 surveys sent out, only 367 said they supported the plan. That’s only about 17 per cent of landowners and residents.
This indicates to me that something is not correct. The entire process of developing this official community plan should have been shelved after receiving these results.
I can understand Procter, Harrop and Balfour having concerns about the large development in Procter, but did it really affect anyone living in that area?
In conclusion, let us say if all those 682 counted respondents supported the official community plan, that is about 32 per cent of surveys sent out — way below the 50 per cent required for it to be democratic.
Can’t the regional district just accept the fact that the great majority of us just want to live and be left alone?
I am quite sure we are able to take care of ourselves.
Sam Relkoff, Blewett