B.C.’s solicitor general is disappointed over what he calls the “politicizing” of the proposed Burnaby pretrial centre.
John van Dongen said yesterday he had spoken with Burnaby Mayor Derek Corrigan about the 16-hectare site at Willingdon Avenue and Canada Way back in April and did not hear from
Corrigan again until January.
Corrigan will be heading a public hearing about the site at 7:30 p.m. tonight at Burnaby Central Secondary.
“They have completely politicized the issue for election purposes,” said van Dongen, noting that Corrigan’s wife, Kathy, will be running for the NDP in the Burnaby-Willingdon riding.
Corrigan and New Democrat MLA Raj Chouhan have both expressed safety concerns over the location of the proposed Lower Mainland Pretrial Centre and anger over a lack of public consultation.
“This is not the right location,” said Chouhan, noting the site’s proximity to Moscrop Secondary School, Cascade Heights Elementary and BCIT.
He presented a petition with more than 4,600 signatures in legislature yesterday.
“It’s so disappointing that the government has become so arrogant. They’ve decided they don’t care about people’s views.”
