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Penticton 8:45am - 920 viewsA new Okanagan correction centre will be built on lands owned by the Osoyoos Indian Band.
The announcement was made Monday morning by Premier Christy Clark and Solicitor General, Shirley Bond.
It comes several months after an announcement was expected.
The province announced in late 2010 it planned to construct a new correction facility in the Okanagan for opening in 2015.
It asked interested Okanagan communities to submit bids to the province.
Four communities, Osoyoos Indian Band, Penticton Indian Band, Summerland and Lumby all expressed interest and made proposed sites available.
The City of Penticton had placed a bid, but pulled out last spring.
The preferred site for the new 360 cell, $200M correction centre is the Senkulmern Enterprise Park on Highway 97 north of Oliver.
Key considerations according to the province in selecting the site included project costs, zoning, environmental impacts, accessibility to major transportation routes and the project completion date.
The project is expected to create 500 direct and 500 indirect jobs.
It will more than double the current corrections capacity in the interior.
"This project has the potential to bring incredible economic benefits to the South Okanagan and greater public safety for communities, correctional staff and inmates across our province," says Premier Clark.
"We look forward to working in partnership with the Osoyoos Indian Band to complete a detailed business plan as the next step in moving this project forward."
The correction centre will be built as a public-private partnership.
"Today's welcome news reflects well on the strength of the business case we presented and the confidence we and the province feel in each other as partners of this significant project," says band Chief, Clarence Louie.
"Our band owns the most businesses per capita of any First Nation in Canada which makes us a major economic driver in our region. This project will only build on our history of success."
The project is the first partnership of its kind between BC Corrections and a First Nation.
