Prison decision up to village

Roger Knox - Vernon Morning Star Published: July 17, 2010 12:00 PM

A decision on a correctional facility for Lumby lies with the people of the village. And Premier Gordon Campbell said a prison is something the province would not impose on Lumby. The premier met with community leaders, including Lumby Mayor Kevin Acton, during a brief visit to Vernon Thursday morning following a week-long cabinet strategy planning session in Kelowna. “I think the decision is entirely up to the people of Lumby,” said Campbell. “I think it’s smart that Lumby council is going out and talking to people, laying out the information and they’ll make the decision if they want it or not. It’s not something we’d impose. If people want to work with us and they think it’s a good addition to their community, it’s certainly something we’ll work with them on.” Acton and Lumby council held a public meeting to gather input on the possibility of a correctional facility being located in the village. The meeting drew close to 400 people.

Campbell said there is a need for a new correctional facility in the province and that Lumby could be a possible site. “It’s important to go out and talk with the people after what a correctional facility is and what it isn’t, what it looks like and what it doesn’t,” said the premier. “Talk about how it will have a positive impact on the community so people can make their own decision. I’m confident the people of Lumby will make a decision that’s best for Lumby. It would be wrong for me to suggest what’s best for Lumby.”

Acton said council continues to gather information on a possible facility, and called the meeting with the premier encouraging. “Before any councillors or myself sign on a dotted line, we’d want some guarantees from the province,” said Acton. “Until we have some of that stuff somewhat hammered out, which would mean the provincial government putting a business case together with Lumby as a site for a provincial correctional centre, the only decision we’ve made is to keep pushing forward to get that information.” The public hearing saw residents split about 50-50 on whether or not they wanted a correctional centre in or near the village. “I can’t base my decision on just the public meeting. I have to remember the hundreds and hundreds of conversations I’ve had, the floods of e-mails and phone calls, and try to wade through all of that and try to get a good sense of what Lumby thinks about this,” said Acton. Acton said a referendum on a correctional centre could be a possibility.