Local group pens letter to province ahead of 2024 wildfire season
The Penticton Chamber of Commerce urged the B.C. government in a letter this week to be more “transparent” during wildfire season after the province issued a travel advisory last August that preceded the cancellation of several events and millions lost in tourism dollars.
The advisory was issued Aug. 19 and lifted four days later. It prompted the cancellation of several events, including Penticton Ironman, which was supposed to start on Aug. 27. The Penticton Chamber asked Ma in its letter to use real-time information provided by local governments and emergency centres before taking action.
“It was later determined that outside of West Kelowna, the ban was unnecessary and rescinded only four days later after you and Premier Eby personally visited our evacuation centres only to find them all but empty,” the letter continues.