To the Honourable Mike Farnworth
Minister of Transportation and Transit
Parliament Buildings
Victoria, BC, V8V 1X4

Dear Minister Farnworth,
 

Re: The Highway 33 Multi-Modal Corridor - irresponsible heat island exacerbation
 

I am writing to express my strong opposition to the planned Highway 33 Multi-Modal Corridor in Kelowna.
Construction of this corridor will mean destroying two large wetlands, riparian zones, and a large
amount of green space. Kelowna is at the top of the list of mid-sized Canadian cities in terms of
amount of green space lost over the past two decades. Furthermore, the city has already lost most of its
wetlands. With climate change making summers in Kelowna ever hotter, and densification relentlessly
four-plexing the yards and gardens used to surround Kelowna homes, the Mill Creek green space is
absolutely critical to keeping the city livable. To pave it over would be criminal.
 

Other cities around the world are trying to re-introduce green spaces in order to reduce the intolerable
summer heat. The difference in temperature between sun-baked asphalt and the shady space under a
tree can be as much as 10°C. The city is already regularly hitting temperatures around 40°C in the
summer, and the last thing we need is to see a cooling green space paved over. No one wants to spend
the summer holed up indoors in air-conditioned spaces: In order to stay healthy we all need access to
outdoor spaces where we can be physically active.

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The only way to reduce congestion is to get people out of their cars. I urge you to ditch the plans for the new road, and focus instead on building active transportation infrastructure and public transit. As bonus, this approach will also help cash-strapped Kelowna residents save money, by giving them convenient and accessible alternatives to driving and operating a car.

To build the new road would be short-sighted and a completely irresponsible use of my hard-earned tax
dollars.
 

Regards,
 

 

 

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