By Lyonel Doherty

Push-back from the federal government and not knowing how long provincial money is available for is making at least one Town councillor nervous about funding to repair the Gallagher Lake irrigation siphon.

Water councillor Rick Machial expressed concern during a recent discussion on the Town’s wish list that council will present to government ministers at the Union of BC Municipalities convention in Vancouver this fall.

“I’m getting a little nervous,” Machial said, referring to federal grant funding to fix the irrigation canal that was damaged last year by a rock fall at Gallagher Lake. The Town temporarily fixed the damage and subsequently approved a $10 million permanent fix, which includes rerouting the canal along a section of Highway 97.

The provincial government previously pledged $5 million towards the project, but that hinges on the federal government coughing up the other $5 million.

Mayor Ron Hovanes said council is getting some “push-back” from the federal government until the Town has a new provincial counterpart to work with. Council members hope to speak with the ministers of transportation and agriculture at the convention to get support.

Hovanes said they want to engage retired senator Ross Fitzpatrick to see if he can “pull some strings” and “bend some ears” for the Town. Machial said if they don’t get commitment from the federal government, they will lose the provincial money.

To stipulate how important the canal system is, Machial said it can be used as a back-up for domestic drinking water. Chief Administrative Officer Cathy Cowan said she tried that angle with the federal government, but “they’re not biting.”

In the worst case scenario, if the government says no to funding, the Town will still “hammer” away at finding a grant, the mayor said. “It’s really critical . . . but we have more than a strong case,” Hovanes said, noting the government cannot ignore it.

Machial said they can always go back and look at the less expensive options to fix the canal.

Councillor Jack Bennest said residents must be prepared to pay their share if the government doesn’t fund the full amount.

Another issue that council will take to the convention is the impact that the Okanagan Correctional Centre is having on local police resources. The Town wants to know if additional resources are coming to deal with the increase in service calls to the prison. Council members also want to talk to the Ministry of Health about inadequate staffing at South Okanagan General Hospital.