North Okanagan official defends radio comments made in water-contamination case

VERNON, B.C. – The chairman of the North Okanagan Regional District says he meant no disrespect when he commented on the ruling of a provincial court judge.

Patrick Nichol says he gave a radio interview last month, after a court decision that found the district guilty for not protecting a drinking water source from contamination in the community of Coldstream nearly four years ago.

Judge Mayland McKimm has delayed sentencing, saying he heard Nichol say on the radio saying that the regional agency did all it could to protect people.

McKimm says he found Nichol’s comments out of line, but Nichol says he never meant to be disrespectful to the judge or the ruling, and that McKimm might have misheard or took his comments out of context.

McKimm has requested the transcripts of the radio broadcast in question.

A new sentencing date is expected to be set next Wednesday. (CKIZ)