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Penticton council considers SILGA resolutions

Revelstoke to play host to annual convention set for April

Community living may be among the issues Penticton brings up during the coming Southern Interior Local Government Association convention this spring.

The B.C. Community Living Action Group wrote council in regards to the highly publicized issues those with developmental disabilities face in obtaining adequate supports to live and work in communities throughout the province.

The group sought Penticton council’s support in line with what the City of Vancouver did, which was to pass a motion calling on the provincial government to end funding cuts, group home closures and provide financial resources to maintain housing resources.

“This is an issue of concern,” Coun. Wes Hopkin said, noting there may be a desire to discuss the issue even if the group’s proposed approach “is too partisan and on the nose.”

Coun. Garry Litke suggested council could bring the issue forward through SILGA, for which he represents Penticton. SILGA consists of 14 member municipalities and six regional districts from south central British Columbia, and allows leaders throughout the Interior to collectively lobby on senior levels of government on issues.

Litke explained the next AGM convention is scheduled for April 26 to 28 in Revelstoke, which could serve as a forum to discuss the provincial issue. Resolutions passed in that forum move on to the Union of B.C. Municipalities’ 2012 convention and are given a higher consideration for having received full support from SILGA.

Resolutions to be addressed must be received by Feb. 24 for consideration at the SILGA convention.

The councillor also noted that councillors could consider putting their names forward for election to the SILGA executive, as it has lost a few members as a result of the municipal elections last fall.

“Working on the SILGA executive is gratifying,” Litke noted.

The election process of table officers begins the morning of April 27, followed by six positions for directors at large. Nominations from the floor are also accepted.