Canadians will head to the polls on April 28 to decide who will form the next federal government. While that choice is for voters to make, here in Kelowna, we are ready to work with that government to deliver on the priorities that matter most to our community.
The people of Kelowna have been clear about what they expect — action on housing and affordability, investment in infrastructure and transit, improved public safety, support for economic growth, and real solutions to the complex challenges of mental health, addictions, and homelessness. These are the issues that shape our daily lives, and they remain our Council’s priority and focus.
Municipalities are on the front lines of the biggest challenges facing our country. And as the fastest-growing community in Canada, we hear, see, and experience these issues firsthand. But with those challenges also come opportunities to lead, to innovate, and to keep advocating strongly on behalf of our community.
We’re taking meaningful action locally, but municipalities cannot solve these challenges alone. Local governments rely on investments, legislation, and collaboration from both provincial and federal partners.
We’ve seen the value of this collaboration in our community, where investments from other levels of government have helped us advance our Council priorities. In housing, for example, we’ve been able to remove barriers and build more homes faster, supporting everyone from young families starting out to seniors looking to stay in the communities they helped build.
We’re looking forward to working with the next federal government to continue advancing forward-thinking, innovative approaches to increase housing supply.
But building homes is only part of the equation; infrastructure must keep pace. We need consistent and continual federal infrastructure investments to help us move forward with critical projects, including a new Transit Operations Centre. Our current facility is operating over capacity, and we are feeling the constraints on transit options, particularly as more people are calling Kelowna home.
Public safety is mine and Council’s top priority. While we’re seeing progress locally — with crime trending in the right direction, as per the most recent RCMP Report to Council — this isn’t something any one community can solve alone. Like many others across the country, Kelowna continues to be impacted by repeat property offenders cycling through the justice system. These are national issues that require national leadership. We’re asking the next federal government to continue strengthening bail reform and to hold repeat property offenders accountable.
We’re also calling attention to the urgent need for reform in mental health and addictions care. The current system is failing, and it is local communities who are left to deal with the impacts directly. Kelowna continues to advocate for expanded, compassionate mandatory care as part of a more coordinated and effective response to these complex challenges. Ensuring the Federal Health Transfers to Provinces delivers on expanded mental health and treatment services and facilities is essential.
Kelowna is home to one of the top 10 busiest airports in Canada, an important economic driver in our region. We’re looking for the next federal government to partner with and support us with delivering critical airport infrastructure to meet our growing needs and the development at Kelowna International Airport and its surrounding area.
At the local level, my focus is to get results that benefit our community. That means working across levels of government, regardless of political stripes to find solutions to the real problems facing our residents.
Kelowna has shown that when you bring people and governments together with a shared focus on outcomes, you can make real progress.
As the federal election approaches, our ask is this: a productive government with a strong mandate, ready to work alongside municipalities to build strong and safe communities, grow the economy, and help build a better Canada for all, including us here in Kelowna.
— Mayor Tom Dyas
