Five Okanagan communities have submitted bids to be the site of a new BC jail.
Solicitor General Shirley Bond says the list includes Lumby, Summerland, Penticton, the Oysoyoos Indian Band and the Penticton Indian Band. She tells KISS FM, the decision will be based on a number of criteria. "One of them is proximity to jails and court services. There's also a very specific site size required. We're looking at things like if services have been provided and are available on that site. Another key element and one that caused us to move the decision away from Kelowna was the issue of community consultation, and I know that's part of the hard work done by communities that submitted proposals." Bond says community support will be considered. 56 percent of Lumby residents supported the idea, but 66 percent of nearby Regional District Area D voters were opposed in an April 30th referendum. Her evaluation team is targeting mid June for a site decision. The province wants to build a 360 cell minimum security prison in the Okanagan by 2015.
Solicitor General Shirley Bond says the list includes Lumby, Summerland, Penticton, the Oysoyoos Indian Band and the Penticton Indian Band. She tells KISS FM, the decision will be based on a number of criteria. "One of them is proximity to jails and court services. There's also a very specific site size required. We're looking at things like if services have been provided and are available on that site. Another key element and one that caused us to move the decision away from Kelowna was the issue of community consultation, and I know that's part of the hard work done by communities that submitted proposals." Bond says community support will be considered. 56 percent of Lumby residents supported the idea, but 66 percent of nearby Regional District Area D voters were opposed in an April 30th referendum. Her evaluation team is targeting mid June for a site decision. The province wants to build a 360 cell minimum security prison in the Okanagan by 2015.
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