Whether Parker Cove residents will soon be without fire protection services is a question that remains unanswered, and amid this uncertainty, the federal government is now advising tenants in the community on the west side of Okanagan Lake to obtain legal advice.
The recommendation comes two months after the Okanagan Indian Band (OKIB) announced the pending cancellation of fire protection and medical response services at Parker Cove, owing to the fact that Parker Cove Properties Limited Partnership (PCPLP) hasn't been paying for the services.
Located by the northwest end of Okanagan Lake off Westside Road, Parker Cove is a residential subdivision on OKIB reserve land.
Eric Head, spokesperson for Indigenous Affairs Canada, told The Morning Star Friday that the federal department entered a head lease with PCPLP which stipulates that utilities, including fire response services, are the responsibility of PCPLP.
"(Indigenous Services Canada) is monitoring the situation to ensure the terms of the head lease are met," Head said in an email. "We encourage tenants of Parker Cove to obtain legal advice for any concerns about their lease agreements with PCPLP."
The OKIB originally planned to cancel fire protection for Parker Cove on July 23. While the band has withdrawn from the dispute and is not inclined to discuss it, a Parker Cove resident told The Morning Star they were informed that the July 23 deadline has been extended by 30 days.
The 30-day extension gives Parker Cove residents a short reprieve from worrying about their homes as wildfire season ramps up in the Okanagan. Many Parker Cove residents have bad memories of being evacuated in 2021 due to the White Rock Lake Wildfire.
A lack of fire protection could jeopardize residents' ability to obtain home insurance, which would in turn prevent them from obtaining a mortgage.
The resident, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said they know of another Parker Cove resident who was quoted $6,800 for insurance.
PCPLP did not respond to The Morning Star's request for comment on the situation.
