Lake Country counters CN rail objections with mass mail out

KELOWNA – Lake Country civic officials are countering what they are calling misinformation by residents opposed to the purchase of the CN Rail corridor and the alternative approval process being used to seek its approval.

Corporate services manager Reyna Seabrook said the district decided to do another mass mail out to all Lake Country households after complaints that opponents to the $5-million purchase had mailed out an anonymous information sheet of their own, along with a copy of the counter petition to parts of Lake Country.

“We’ve seen the document that’s being circulated and it is not accurate,” said Seabrook, who added the district’s own information sheet counters specific claims about various aspects of the deal. “We’re just trying to make sure residents have the facts so they can make an informed decision,” she said.

The district's counterpoints are posted on its website and Seabrook said it includes specific rebuttals concerning the details of the proposal including Kelowna's temporary purchase of half of the corridor. While the purchase and holding is temporary, the district says there is no repayment schedule or obligation to purchase the land. Instead, the sale of surplus district land would be used to buy down Kelowna's interest.

She said the district decided to act when they heard the mail out included copies of the counter petition and had been at least partially directed to people living south of Beaver Lake Road, who are not actually residents of Lake Country but have a Kelowna postal code and address.

“They don’t actually have a vote in this so those will end up being spoiled petitions,” she said.

Lake Country residents have until noon Monday, Feb. 23 to file a counter petition at the municipal office. Seabrook said she did not know how many counter petitions the district has received. “The last number I have is from last week and that was around 200,” she said. A special district council meeting is scheduled for 5 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 24 to deal specifically with the CN Rail corridor purchase.

To contact the reporter for this story, email John McDonald at jmcdonald@infotelnews.ca or call 250-808-0143. To contact the editor, email mjones@infotelanews.ca or call 250-718-2724.