Lumby Mayor, MLA Comment On Prison Site

Written by Peter McIntyre  107.5 KISSFM Monday, 06 February 2012 12:52

The B.C. government has selected an industrial park between Oliver and Penticton as the site for a new prison.  Premier Christy Clark made the announcement in Osoyoos Monday, saying the $200 million project will provide economic benefits for the South Okanagan and greater public safety.  The site is owned by the Osoyoos Indian band and the project is the first partnership of its kind between the B.C. Corrections Service and a First Nation.  The prison will include 360 cells, which will more than double inmate capacity in the province's Interior.  The government says the project will create up to 1,000 direct and indirect jobs during construction and the jail itself will employ about 240 people by the time it opens, which is expected in 2015.  However, there's no firm construction schedule yet because Clark says the government and the Osoyoos band still have to work out a detailed business plan before the project moves ahead. Lumby was one of three other bidders along with Summerland and the Penticton First Nations.  Vernon Monashee MLA Eric Foster says the site was a big part in the decision with the Osoyoos band having serviced land ready to build on. Foster isn't sure if opposition to the idea in Lumby may have hurt the village's chances. "I think the site was a big part of the decision making, and the people in the southern part of the valley, near Osoyoos and Oliver, really embraced the idea, so I'm sure that kind of weighs into it." Foster says he didn't have any say on the decision. "It was non political, and based on merit."  The MLA says he is a bit disappointed Lumby came up short. "I am a bit. Lumby put a lot of effort into it, but it's one of those decisions that gets made, and you move on from there." Lumby mayor Kevin Acton says he's disappointed the village didn't get the facility which he says would have boosted the area's economy. "The North Okanagan lost out on one of the biggest economic drivers that have come along in a long time, and it's unfortunate we didn't get it." Acton says his council will continue to look for other opportunities for the village. He thinks the strong opposition in the Lumby area may have played a factor in the provincial decision. Fifty six percent of LUmby residents voted for it in a referendum last year, but 66 percent of nearby Area D residents voted against it.

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B.C. announces site for Okanagancorrectional centre NEWS RELEASE