11 June 2010

RDOS Wants KVR to Remain
Public Right-of-Way

Penticton British Columbia - The regional district is looking for a guarantee that the Kettle Valley Railway trail in Summerland remains a public right-of-way.
 
City of Penticton councillor and Regional District of Okanagan Similkameen alternate director Dan Albas approached the regional board last week with a motion for staff to investigate whether or not Agriculture Canada was negotiating for the acquisition of the portion of land where the KVR right-of-way runs by the Summerland research station.
 
Albas said with the ongoing dialogue between the Penticton Indian Band, municipal governments, and the public, he was able to ascertain information this particular piece of land was not being negotiated for by Indian and Northern Affairs Canada. The Penticton Indian Band is currently undergoing the process to regain back roughly 139 acres that were expropriated under the Indian Act from the PIB reserve in the early 1900s for the KVR line, excluding land by the Summerland research centre.
 
"Basically I am asking staff to find out what the intended purpose of it would be and would free and public access continue under the federal government," said Albas of his motion to investigate the situation further, which was unanimously passed by the RDOS. "I know Michael Brydon (RDOS Area F director) has been working very hard with the Penticton Indian Band to find the ways and means to establish continuing access through that part and it behooves all of us to make sure that whole KVR right-of-way is preserved."
 
The RDOS motion states the KVR offers invaluable opportunities for tourism, necessary utility corridors, as well social, health, and natural benefits. It goes on to say the trail is of vital importance to the people of Canada, in particular the residents of the RDOS, who wish to see continued free and open access. Albas said if Agriculture Canada is purchasing the property then he plans on talking to Okanagan Coquihalla MP Stockwell Day to ask for his assistance in finding assurance from the federal government that free and continual access of public use remain.
 
"I mean reasonable access, so if they want to make a little trail that goes through the property or on the outskirts of the property. As long as people still have a direct access," said Albas. "Residents have told us loud and clear through various means, in town halls, and regional district meetings that they want that access in some sort of way and we want federal assurances with that.
 
Kristi Patton.