E-7035: Petition to the House of Commons — Canadian Petition Tracker
Canonical URL: https://petitiontracker.ca/petition/e-7035
Track petition E-7035 — "Petition to the House of Commons" sponsored by Helena Konanz. 1,737 signatures and counting. See signature growth trends and provincial breakdown on PetitionTracker.ca.
Petition Text
Petition to the House of Commons
Whereas:
• 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.