Lake Country has rail power

Photo: Contributed - John Gallant

A decision by the electorate in Lake Country could either make or break the pending purchase of the defunct CN Rail line between Kelowna and Coldstream.

While Kelowna and the Regional District of North Okanagan have funding streams in place Lake Country is asking its citizens for approval to borrow up to $2.6 million of the municipality's $5.1 million share of the rail corridor through the Alternative Approval Process.

Lake Country Mayor, James Baker, says public response at various open houses hosted by the municipality has been positive.

However, opposition has been mounting against the borrowing bylaw.

To date, a few dozen signatures against the bylaw have been returned to the municipal office while another 300 petition forms have been picked up.

Through the AAP 10 per cent of the estimated 9,315 registered voters in Lake Country (931) would have to register their disapproval to halt the borrowing bylaw.

The deadline is noon Monday, Feb. 23.

"If there are 10 per cent of the people opposed then it would be a council decision whether to pursue it with a referendum or to abandon the idea of participating," says Baker.

Statutorily a referendum would be a six week process from the time council approved it which would likely be at the end of February or the beginning or March which would run up against an April deadline imposed by the Canadian Transportation Agency.

Baker says the municipality could ask for an extension to that deadline to allow for the completion of a referendum.

"We would look at that at council if there is overwhelming opposition, far more than 10 per cent. A number of people that came to the open houses didn't like the idea that 10 per cent of population being able to say yes or no and if we didn't pursue it they would be most upset."

Doug Gilchrist, Kelowna's Divisional Director Community Planning & Real Estate says if Lake Country were to pull out for whatever reason it could be detrimental to the purchase.

"We would have to revisit the issue with council," says Gilchrist.

"It would be very problematic."

Gilchrist says it is important to the process that Lake Country be able to fund its portion of the track.