West Kelowna Meetings at UBCM

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 24, 2019 

At this week’s meetings at the 2019 Union of BC Municipalities convention in Vancouver, West Kelowna Mayor and Council are continuing to lobby for support from provincial representatives for power redundancy, transportation improvements, an urgent and primary care centre, new open burning permit regulations, supportive housing and removal of West Kelowna from the Speculation and Vacancy Tax.

Mayor Gord Milsom, members of West Kelowna Council and staff are participating in face-to-face meetings and policy sessions with ministry representatives this week. September 24, West Kelowna Council met with senior BC Hydro officials to discuss the need for a second power transmission line into the community. Currently, there is only one cable which distributes power to West Kelowna, Westbank First Nation, Peachland, parts of the Regional District of Central Okanagan and as far south as Summerland. A commitment was made in 2015 by BC Hydro to construct the second (redundant) power source, however BC Hydro advised West Kelowna in early 2019 that the project would be delayed while it reviewed proposed transmission line options for resiliency and redundancy.

“BC Hydro assured us today that they are very aware of how important power redundancy is to the 50,000 people on the Westside of Okanagan Lake who rely on this single power line,” says Mayor Milsom. “We have seen time and again that emergencies can arise, and that increased forest fires and flooding threaten our infrastructure. It is vital for West Kelowna to have a redundant power source to ensure the safety of our community and the greater Westside. I believe BC Hydro is strongly committed to advancing this project.”

BC Hydro advised the West Kelowna delegation that it intends to bring proposed line options to the BC Utilities Commission in early 2020 that includes power recommendations based on the outcome of their due diligence studies underway.

Council members also attended an informative session on reconciliation and strengthening partnerships with First Nations, an agricultural study tour and the Mayor participated in IIHF fire-rescue simulated exercises to gain hands-on operational experience from firefighters. West Kelowna staff also participated in meetings with the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing, the Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General, and the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change.

Tomorrow, the West Kelowna delegates will meet with Hon. Adrian Dix, Minister of Health, to continue to emphasize the need for an urgent and primary care centre in West Kelowna, and with Hon. Mike Farnworth, Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General to discuss West Kelowna’s interest to ensure rural policing levels are increased and adequate to serve the needs of our community.