Kelowna shines during the holiday season 

Mayor's holiday message

Photo: Contributed

Kelowna Mayor Tom Dyas

As the festive season approaches, I am reminded how grateful I am to the community we all call home.

It’s an opportunity to embrace the spirit of the holidays and reflect on what makes Kelowna such a great place to live. With festive events already underway and more to come, cherished traditions, and countless ways to give back, this season allows each of us to find our own unique ways to celebrate and be together.

For many of us the annual lighting of the Tree of Hope signifies the start of the season here in Kelowna, thanks to the Stober Foundation. For nearly three decades, this illuminated tree has been a beacon of light in the Landmark district and a powerful symbol of hope for the holiday season.

As always, this year's Tree of Hope lighting supported an essential cause. The Stober Foundation named Central Okanagan Search and Rescue as its charity of choice, making a significant donation of over $500,000 to support its work. COSAR plays a critical role in ensuring safety across our region, and the generous contribution will allow it to continue its important services.

This past weekend we’ve celebrated light ups throughout the city.

The annual Downtown Kelowna Light Up and winter street market is one of the city’s popular gatherings and a community highlight. The event in Stuart Park brought together friends and families to enjoy live entertainment, skating, and a wide range of activities for people of all ages on Saturday.

The winter street market ran during the day and was an incredible showcase of local vendors and warm treats, with proceeds going to the Central Okanagan Food Bank. The day came to a close with the much-anticipated tree lighting, illuminating the heart of downtown and setting the festive mood for the weeks ahead.

In Rutland on Sunday, the Uptown Rutland Business Association hosted its winter light up in Centennial Park. The vibrant community event brought together residents and businesses and featured local vendors, live entertainment, food trucks, and, of course, visits with Santa himself. It was another community celebration that reminded us all that the joy of the holiday season is felt across our entire city.

On Dec. 14, Kelowna will see the return of something truly special—a holiday parade in downtown Kelowna. For the first time in decades, the magic of a festive parade will return to our city centre with the event, “A Parade with a Purpose.” This community-driven celebration originated in Kettle Valley four years ago and has grown significantly, prompting organizers to move it downtown, a decision made possible with the city’s full support and collaboration with the parade’s founders.

All funds raised from the parade will go directly toward The Bridge Youth and Family Services’ new Youth Recovery House project, a much-needed resource in our community. The parade promises to bring festive floats, music, and excitement for families, while also making a meaningful difference for youth in need. It’s a wonderful opportunity to start a new family tradition as this parade evolves, while continuing to support a worthwhile cause.

With events like these taking place throughout the city, it’s important to remember to shop local and support the many businesses that are the backbone of our growing economy.

While the holidays bring happiness and celebration for many, they can also be a challenging time for some members of our community. The season is often a reminder of how much we rely on one another, and it’s a time when the support and care we show to each other really shines. Whether through volunteering, donating or simply offering a helping hand, we can all play a part in making this season brighter for those who may be struggling.

Whether you celebrate Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa or any other tradition, I hope that above all, you experience in some way the warmth that defines the holidays and the values that unite us as a community, such as kindness, generosity and gratitude.

It is both an honour and a privilege to serve as your mayor and I am incredibly proud of the progress the current city council has made together over the past year. With major events coming to this community, along with the advancement of capital infrastructure projects, 2025 promises to be a busy year. Until then, I hope you are all able to take time to relax and enjoy the holidays together.

So, as the holidays approach, let’s embrace all the season has to offer. Enjoy time with family and friends, support our local businesses and look out for each other.

I also hope to see you all at the annual New Year’s Eve celebration in Stuart Park by Festivals Kelowna on Dec. 31.

Together, let’s make this a joyful and meaningful holiday season.

Happy holidays, Kelowna.

Tom Dyas is the mayor of Kelowna.

Mario Canseco: B.C.'s digital divide persists post-pandemic

Approaches to online risks

Photo: Pixabay

The pandemic was supposed to usher in a new era of connectivity in British Columbia, and some things have not changed since we went back to the office and the classroom. We continue to see more than half of British Columbians engaging in five different activities online “at least a few times a week”: Sending e-mails (76 per cent, unchanged since April 2021), visiting websites or blogs (71 per cent, down four points), using an instant messaging service (67 per cent, up five points) accessing banking information (62 per cent, up one point) and looking for deals online (52 per cent, down two points).

Fewer British Columbians are active online “at least a few times a week” in five other ways: Looking for directions to get to a destination (47 per cent, up eight points), posting on social media (32 per cent, down five points), uploading pictures or videos (27 per cent, up one point), purchasing goods (24 per cent, up one point) and using VoIP (voice over internet protocol) for calls (22 per cent, down one point).

Some of these fluctuations are easy to explain. With the “third wave” of COVID in the first few months of 2021, people would not have been too eager to figure out how to get to a specific place. Still, now that we are free to travel, there is no significant shift on purchasing goods from websites.

What we do see on e-commerce is a profound age discrepancy. While only 21 per cent of British Columbians aged 18 to 34 purchase goods from websites “once a month or less often,” the proportion rises to 31 per cent among those aged 35 to 54, and to 50 per cent among those aged 55 and over. The pandemic did not make Baby Boomers as connected as their younger counterparts.

Half of British Columbians (50 per cent, down three points) have worried “frequently” or “occasionally” over the past couple of months about having their personal information stolen over the internet.

As was the case in 2021, at least seven in 10 British Columbians say they are “very comfortable” or “moderately comfortable” accessing banking information online (86 per cent, down one point), shopping online (also 86 per cent, down one point) or making charitable donations online (70 per cent, down three points). We remain more guarded when it comes to commenting on an online forum that requires our email address (53 per cent, down one point).

The level of comfort from British Columbians aged 55 and over is similar to what is observed with their younger counterparts on most issues, except for online shopping. Many of those aged 18 to 34 (50 per cent) and aged 35 to 54 (47 per cent) say they are “very comfortable” purchasing goods online. Among those aged 55 and over, the proportion drops to 29 per cent.

Previous experiences have a lot to do with this reticence. Two tech-age nuisances are more prevalent: Receiving an email offering money for help or assistance (54 per cent across B.C. and 59 per cent among those aged 55 and over) and receiving a “phishing” email (61 per cent across the province and 68 per cent among those aged 55 and over).

We may never fully eradicate scams and “phishing” from our Inboxes, but a generational gap persists. British Columbians aged 18 to 34—members of a generation that grew up with ubiquitous connectivity—are less likely to express worry about possible setbacks when using the internet. Their counterparts aged 55 and over are significantly more troubled, particularly when pondering an invasion of privacy, and more likely to be getting emails that can lead to significant problems after a single click.

Mario Canseco is president of Research Co.

Results are based on an online survey conducted from November 15-17, 2024, among a representative sample of 800 adults in B.C. The data has been statistically weighted according to Canadian census figures for age, gender and region in B.C. The margin of error is plus or minus 3.5 percentage points, 19 times out of 20.

How much more housing does Summerland need?

Adressing the housing need

Photo: Contributed

Summerland Mayor Doug Holmes

To address future growth, Summerland will need 671 more housing units in the next five years and 2,212 more units within 20 years, according to a new housing needs report recently received by Summerland municipal council.

The report was required by the provincial government as part of new legislation aimed at easing the housing crisis and draws on data provided by B.C. Stats, Statistics Canada, CMHC and others, as well as interviews with affordable housing operators, business owners, non-profits, School District 67 and members of the public through an online survey that garnered 767 responses.

Survey respondents expressed particular concern about the cost of housing, including the cost of construction and the cost of land. Some 44% of residents said they spend more than 30% of their before-tax income on housing, which is the point where housing is considered unaffordable.

While most respondents said they would not move away from Summerland due to housing issues, 42% said either they would or at least consider it.

A key problem for Summerland is the lack housing options, which results in a lack of diversity in our local population, with the most affected being renters, seniors on fixed incomes and young families looking to enter the housing market.

The latest data (2021) shows 71% of all Summerland residents live in a single-detached house. While that proportion has fallen from 76% in 2006, much of the new multi-unit housing being built are high-end condos. As a result, paradoxically, many people who have outgrown their family home find that they can’t afford to downsize. They therefore remain in a house that’s too large for their needs, resulting in fewer opportunities for young families to purchase or rent a single-detached house.

The housing needs report is intended to be used by council for a review of the Official Community Plan, which is required by the provincial government by the end of 2025.

The data and information in the housing needs report uses standardized methodology issued by the Ministry of Housing to provide a consistent understanding of local housing needs around the province. The model is designed to take account of social variables such as homelessness and population growth as well as variables reflecting market demand such as rental vacancy rates.

However, the methodology has its limitations because it is not a market-based measure and does not reflect supply and demand factors such as construction costs or prices levels. It doesn’t consider nuances like whether anyone will be able to afford to build or buy the housing that is estimated to be needed.

Some of the data needs to be treated with caution. For example, it was determined Summerland requires only six more rental housing units over the next 20 years to achieve a “balanced” rental vacancy rate above 3%.

Intuitively, we know the need is much greater.

While the report remains useful for identifying general trends, determining how and where the community is to grow will ultimately be guided by on-going consultation with the residents of Summerland as part of the OCP review process.

Doug Holmes is mayor of Summerland

Time to focus on private sector job growth in B.C.

Private sector jobs needed

Photo: Contributed

Kelowna-Mission MLA Gavin Dew.

British Columbia is at an economic crossroads.

For seven years, the NDP government has prioritized government expansion over investing in the private sector. The result? A cost-of-living crisis, a brain drain of talent, and stagnation in industries that should be fueling prosperity for our people.

Now, more than ever, B.C. needs a relentless focus on private sector job creation to ensure every British Columbian sees the benefits of a province awash in talent and resources.

Under the NDP, job growth has been driven by government spending rather than by investments in BC’s business sector.

Bureaucracies have ballooned, while small businesses—the backbone of our economy—struggle under crushing taxes, red tape, and labor shortages. Key industries like forestry, mining, and energy, which should be key drivers of our prosperity, face uncertainty and stagnation due to ideological policies and poor management.

The NDP will likely point to its record of job creation in their upcoming fiscal update, but let’s be clear, those are predominantly public sector jobs paid for by taxpayers. While public sector workers play an important role in our society, they cannot be the foundation of a thriving economy. The longer we rely on government expansion as a growth strategy, the deeper we dig ourselves into an unsustainable fiscal hole.

Since 2022, British Columbia has created one private sector job for every 12 public sector jobs. Over the last five years, public sector employment in BC has grown by a third, while net private sector job growth has been virtually zero. Our public sector is growing at three times the rate of the rest of Canada. However you measure it, it’s not good. And it’s not sustainable.

This imbalance underscores the NDP’s failure to foster an environment where private businesses can thrive. British Columbians need more than government-funded jobs; they need a robust private sector to drive innovation, investment, and long-term prosperity.

The cost of complacency is clear. Young people are leaving BC in search of better opportunities elsewhere. Businesses are struggling to survive. Investors are looking to provinces with more favorable policies. We cannot afford more of the same.

The B.C. Conservative Party has a clear alternative: to create an economic environment where the private sector can flourish, making life better for everyday people and families. This vision is built on three key principles:

1. Cut red tape. Overregulation is strangling innovation. Whether it’s delays in permitting for tech startups or endless red tape for resource projects, the NDP has created a climate of uncertainty. A B.C. Conservative government would streamline approvals, eliminate unnecessary regulations, and fast-track projects that create jobs while respecting environmental standards.

2. Lower taxes. Under the NDP, taxes on individuals and businesses have skyrocketed. The Employer Health Tax, carbon tax, and other levies have driven up costs for everyone. To remain competitive and attract investment, we must reduce the tax burden on both families and businesses.

3. Invest in the right infrastructure. Infrastructure investment shouldn’t just mean spending on government pet projects and playing blacktop politics. It should mean building the roads, ports, and digital infrastructure that allow businesses to grow and trade more efficiently. Investments in transportation, housing, and broadband connectivity are critical to unleashing BC’s economic potential.

Revitalizing BC’s private sector also means providing clear, stable policies for resource industries, doubling down on technology and advanced manufacturing, and supporting sectors like agriculture and tourism that are uniquely tied to our identity. These industries have the potential to create good-paying jobs for British Columbians while positioning B.C. as a leader in Canada’s economy.

British Columbia has everything it needs to lead the nation in economic growth: abundant natural resources, world-class talent, and an entrepreneurial spirit. What is missing is a government that truly believes in the power of the private sector to create jobs and prosperity.

This week’s fiscal update will give us another snapshot of the NDP’s approach. British Columbians deserve better. They deserve more than just numbers on a page. They deserve a government with a real plan to empower the private sector and build a thriving, sustainable economy and the “can-do” attitude to get it done.

As we await the fiscal update, it’s time to move beyond government-funded job creation and start building an economy driven by private sector growth.

The Conservative Party of British Columbia is ready to deliver a plan that works for businesses, families, and future generations.

Gavin Dew is the BC Conservative MLA for Kelowna-Misionn and his party’s Jobs, Economic Development, and Innovation critic.

Site C – Who gets the power and who pays?

Cost, benefit of B.C. dam

Photo: Contributed

B.C.'s new Site C dam.

B.C. Hydro has switched on the first turbine at the new Site C dam, which means someone has to start paying for it.

Who gets the power and who pays? The short answer is the liquid natural gas industry gets the power and B.C Hydro customers and B.C. taxpayers pay. Does that make you mad? It should.

Here’s how we ended up here and what we can do about it.

A cost estimate produced during the 2007 feasibility study for the Site C dam placed the financial cost of building the Site C dam at a maximum of $6.6 billion, based on the 1981 design, safety and engineering standards. Cost projections kept going up until February 2021, when the estimated cost reached $16 billion.

No transmission lines were built to major population centres because the Site C dam was not built to light up and heat 450,000 homes but to serve the LNG industry by electrifying operations normally powered by methane.

Currently, B.C. Hydro’s strategic plan calls for a $3 billion, ratepayer-funded transmission line from the dam to new LNG terminals on the West Coast.

The B.C. government kick-started its LNG industry in 2017 when then-premier John Horgan persuaded LNG Canada to build a $40-billion export terminal in Kitimat (the price included both Phase 1 and Phase 2).

To convince the project's owners (Shell, Petronas, PetroChina, the Korean Gas Corporation and Mitsubishi Corporation) to proceed, the provincial government offered $6 billion over 40 years in tax and regulatory relief, with the expectation it would receive $22 billion in revenue over the same period.

The province’s only currently operating LNG terminal is Tilbury LNG, though several more are close to operational or are expected to be approved soon. LNG Canada Phase 1, Cedar LNG and Woodfibre LNG are either under construction or have been sanctioned, while two others, Ksi Lisims and LNG Canada Phase 2, are looking to be sanctioned.

The Woodfibre LNG terminal is a strange marriage between Sukanto Tanoto, a controversial Indonesian billionaire and private utility empire Fortis Inc. The only way Woodfibre makes economic sense is if FortisBC ratepayers cover the cost of boring a twin 24-inch pipeline nine kilometers through a mountain and under the Squamish River.

That major project is supposed to take four years to complete, at an unknown cost. Woodfibre would collapse without the provincial government propping it up.

Normally, a company would burn 10% of the fracked gas to generate the power to cool it, but that would release carbon, which B.C.’s government is trying hard to reduce. The B.C. government’s oil and gas sector target is to reduce climate pollution by 40% by 2030 and all future LNG facilities are required to be net-zero by that time. To meet the target, modelling shows the vast majority of emissions reductions will need to come from extensive electrification of LNG terminals and in upstream natural gas production.

Tillbury LNG is already operational and not subject to the net zero imperative.

A 2023 report by the Pembina Institute found that if electricity is used to reduce emissions both at the liquefaction terminals and for natural gas extraction through fracking, LNG Canada Phase 1 and Woodfibre alone would need power from the equivalent of 2.5 Site C dams.

For all five LNG plants mentioned above, other than Tillbury, the equivalent of eight new Site C dams would be needed by 2030 for them to be net zero.

There are many sectors besides LNG where clean electricity will be required to support emissions reductions in the upcoming years. Already established sectors, such as transportation, with the adoption of electric vehicles, and buildings where, in most climates, most days of the year, electric heat pumps are cheaper to run than gas furnaces.

Electric water heaters and induction stoves operate with no poisonous exhaust.

People in B.C. are starting to learn the benefits and making the switch to clean electricity which will require increased electrification. Other growing industrial sectors that will support the future clean economy, such as critical minerals mining and green hydrogen production, will also need clean electricity.

Site C could service one LNG terminal, subsidizing fuel exports to Asia while doing nothing to reduce overall emissions, or that new power could electrify hundreds of thousands of B.C. homes, immediately improving people’s health and saving them money for years to come.

It remains unclear if Premier David Eby would entertain pivoting away from LNG in light of fresh evidence that it’s a risky bet financially.

If you think the electricity from Site C Dam would be better used to electrify our province than to subsidize the sunset LNG industry let David Eby and his NDP government know.

Janet Parkins is a member of Climate Action Now! and Frack Free BC.