Kelowna councillors and key city staff met with several ministers at during last week’s Union of B.C. Municipalities convention regarding the community’s top needs.
“It is important to have that in-person connection with provincial ministers to continue advocating for improved services and infrastructure investment needs that will support and advance the quality of life for our residents and businesses here in Kelowna,” said Mayor Tom Dyas.
The Kelowna delegation met with the ministers for Mental Health and Addictions, Housing, Transportation and Infrastructure, Education and Childcare, and the Solicitor General.
Highlights of those meetings included:
- commitment to see 20 complex care spaces fully operationalized, and for new, purpose-built Complex Care housing with supports;
- need for more emergency shelter spaces in advance of the cold winter to address homelessness;
- ongoing approaches to address public safety, including changes to ensure repeat property offenders face appropriate consequences;
- progress toward a new transit operation centre;
- continued planning and investments for the Highway 33 Clement extension;
- alternative routing along Highway 97 due to slides;
- need for more childcare spaces.
Mayor Dyas also spoke with Premier David Eby and Tourism Minister Lana Popham about the effects of the wildfires on small and tourism-oriented businesses, asking the province to explore solutions to support them.
City staff met with ministry and agency staff including BC Housing, BC Transit, RCMP leadership and the Municipal Finance Authority for continued conversations to advance city projects and opportunities.
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