Fund Naramata–Kelowna secondary road
Petitioners ask the Government of Canada to fund and plan a secondary Naramata–Kelowna road with British Columbia to improve safety and ensure emergency access during Highway 97 closures. The government responds it would consider federal participation if the province submits a formal proposal that meets program criteria.
Why we would sign this petition
- Provides an alternative route so ambulances, fire services and police can reach communities when Highway 97 is closed, reducing delays and risks to life.
- Helps protect local commerce and tourism by avoiding repeated single-route disruptions that interrupt supply chains and business operations.
- Adds redundancy to the regional road network, lowering the chance communities become isolated and improving emergency preparedness.
Why we wouldn’t sign this petition
- Highway planning and construction are provincial responsibilities; federal funding depends on British Columbia submitting a formal proposal, so a petition alone may not prompt action.
- Building a new road requires costly planning, environmental assessments and construction; feasibility, cost and environmental impacts could outweigh benefits.
- Upgrading Highway 97’s resilience, improving maintenance or enhancing evacuation and detour planning might address risks faster and at lower cost than building a new route.
The summary and both sets of reasons are AI-generated from the petition and given equal weight. Claims are the petitioners’ own; consult the official record for the full text.
Official petition
Petition to the House of Commons Highway 97 is the only major route between Penticton and Kelowna, and repeated closures due to landslides, rock falls, wildfires, accidents, and truck incidents completely cut off access, creating serious safety risks for residents, travelers, and emergency services; These closures force drivers to take long detours over unsafe or impractical alternative routes, delaying ambulances, fire services, police response, and significantly disrupting local communities; Highway 97 is a vital corridor for commerce, supply chains, tourism, and frequent closures interrupt business operations, transport of goods, and tourism revenue, affecting economic stability across the South Okanagan region; Constructing a secondary road connecting Naramata and Kelowna would provide an alternative route, improving public safety, ensuring reliable emergency access, and supporting economic resilience in the region; and The federal government has previously provided funding for provincial infrastructure projects that enhance safety, trade routes, and emergency preparedness, demonstrating its ability to support projects of regional importance. We, the undersigned, residents of the Okanagan Valley, call upon the House of Commons to respectfully request that the Government of Canada work with the Province of British Columbia to plan and fund a secondary roadway connecting Naramata and Kelowna in order to improve public safety, ensure reliable emergency access during Highway 97 closures, and reduce the risk of communities being cut off.
Government response
Response by the Minister of Housing and Infrastructure and Minister responsible for Pacific Economic Development Canada Signed by Jennifer McKelvie, M.P. The Government of Canada thanks the petitioners for drawing attention to concerns regarding transportation reliability and emergency access between communities in the South Okanagan region of British Columbia. Highway planning, design, and construction fall primarily within provincial jurisdiction, and the Province of British Columbia is responsible for identifying priorities, undertaking planning and environmental assessments, and leading the development of new roadway infrastructure. As such, residents are encouraged to engage directly with the province to express their concerns regarding access, safety, and resilience along Highway 97 and potential alternative routes. Should the Province of British Columbia choose to advance a proposal for a secondary roadway connecting Naramata and Kelowna and seek federal participation, the Government of Canada could consider such a request through its infrastructure funding programs. Any consideration would be subject to program criteria, available funding, and the submission of a formal proposal by the provincial government. The Government of Canada remains committed to working collaboratively with provinces and territories on infrastructure projects of shared interest that enhance public safety, strengthen economic resilience, and improve community connectivity.