Last week’s jam-packed gathering in Lumby was supposed to be a chance for residents to access information and provide feedback on the prospect of a prison coming to town. And with close to 400 people in the room, there certainly was no shortage of debate. But what was lacking were any meaningful details residents could use to become better informed. If anything, parts of the two-and-a-half hour session were nothing but an infomercial moderated by an animated consultant wearing a head-set. All that was missing were some ShamWows or vegetables being sliced and diced. Council had insisted up, down and sideways that it was remaining open to all possibilities about a correctional facility until the public had spoken.
But that appeared to go out the window as Mayor Kevin Acton took to the podium. Certainly Acton spoke about his initial reluctance when the concept of a jail was put before him, and the research he has pursued by speaking to his counterparts in prison towns was not only interesting, but informative. But impartiality was left on the sidelines as Acton made it quite clear where he stood on the matter. He spoke of cash that would flow into town to help extend services to the industrial park, and how jobs and new residents would roll in. “They will bring families, fill our schools and support our businesses,” he said. The need to increase public awareness also included feel-good provincial government videos bragging about how correctional facilities are wonderful employers and dynamic places in the Best Place on Earth. Thankfully, the technology gods intervened and the sound didn’t work, forcing village staff to abandon their cinematic duties. A panel of experts was also on hand — retired guards and architects who specialize in the Big House. But no matter the questions fired at them, everything was absolutely rosy, and that situation wasn’t lost on at least one man in the crowd.
“When looking at a panel that makes a living off of it, you’re going to get one side,” he said. If the village was truly dedicated to presenting a balanced approach and wanted the public to be as educated as possible, why just have the correctional cheerleaders there? Where were the groups that have concerns about our justice system or the victims’ rights advocates? Where were the police during all of this? Some questioned why the meeting was even called. “There’s lots of things that bring economic benefits. I’ve never seen a community meeting called to bring a college campus to Lumby,” said resident Don Elzer. “This is all about selling us on a prison.” In council’s defence, it has tried to get the answers to some questions, but apparently the provincial government has been too busy to deal with it. But Victoria’s ineptness aside, the village’s approach was hollow and very one-sided. Acton and the rest of council are now back at the drawing board after realizing that considerable opposition does exist. “There won’t be a strong push to get this put into the ground but there will be a strong push for information,” he said of the village’s next steps. But let’s hope that any further consultation with the public doesn’t consist of a pre-conceived agenda, and the plug is pulled on the headset.
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