FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Conservative MLAs Demand Action on Highway 97: NDP Neglect Leaves Okanagan Residents Stranded

“Highway 97 is a lifeline for the people of the Okanagan. But the NDP have allowed this critical corridor to be plagued by closures, delays, and risks that are completely unacceptable. This is an issue that affects every driver, family, and business in the Okanagan — and it demands immediate action.”

—Harman Bhangu, Conservative MLA for Langley-Abbotsford and Shadow Minister of Transportation

PEACHLAND, BC: Conservative MLAs Harman Bhangu, Misty Van Popta, and Macklin McCall are demanding immediate action from David Eby’s NDP government to address the ongoing failures surrounding Highway 97, a critical transportation corridor connecting Peachland and Summerland in the Okanagan. The highway has been plagued for years by frequent closures due to landslides, wildfires, and other hazards, with no adequate long-term solutions from the government in sight.

“Highway 97 is a lifeline for the Okanagan region, carrying over 20,000 vehicles daily,” said Harman Bhangu, MLA for Langley-Abbotsford and Shadow Minister of Transportation. “Yet, under Eby’s NDP, it has become a symbol of mismanagement and neglect. Residents, businesses, and emergency services have been left with a broken and unreliable road link as the government delays solutions year after year.”

The highway’s repeated closures, such as the August 2023 rockslide that dumped over 3,000 cubic meters of debris and took nearly a year to clear, have caused significant disruptions. Alternate routes often extend travel times from 20 minutes to over three hours, leaving the region’s residents and businesses struggling to cope.

“The NDP’s reactive measures and leisurely timeframes are unacceptable,” said Misty Van Popta, MLA for Langley-Walnut Grove and Shadow Minister of Infrastructure and Construction. “We need a comprehensive plan including soil stabilization, fire prevention, and road widening to proactively address Highway 97’s vulnerabilities and prevent future disasters.” Van Popta concluded: “Upgrading alternate routes must be prioritized for safe and reliable detour options.” The current emergency detour route via Trout Main Forest Service Road is unmaintained and hazardous.

Macklin McCall, MLA for West Kelowna-Peachland and Shadow Minister of Emergency Management, has seen the impact of the closures firsthand: “The residents of the Okanagan are tired of constant disruptions. We are tired of being left behind by the NDP,” he said.

“We are calling on Premier Eby and Transportation Minister Farnworth to allocate funding in the upcoming budget for comprehensive Highway 97 upgrades. The livelihoods and safety of British Columbians are at stake.”

The Conservative Party of BC will continue to advocate for Okanagan residents by holding David Eby’s NDP government accountable for its failures with Highway 97.

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