iN DISCUSSION: ‘No new taxes’ declaration getting expensive for cities

This is where cold hard facts give way to the hottest of takes, mostly mine I suppose. I’m the editor, Marshall Jones.

Want to include yours? Listen, this isn’t the comment section, this isn’t social media. Discussion and debate requires context and a wee bit of bravery — we need your name and where you’re writing from. Build it in your account or email me anytime.

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Frustrations with the healthcare system

Nov. 24 newsletter editorial

Have we reached that point?

Have we become so frustrated with our healthcare system, we’re ready to try something else?

That’s what they’re doing in Alberta. It’s complicated and I’m not sure I see the value in it (is this more Agitation Theatre?), but Alberta Premier Danielle Smith is working on a plan to allow doctors to work in both public and private systems.

It’s another step toward private health care and any step toward is a step away from public health care. I don’t think the two can survive together. 

I’m more inclined to bolster the public system, but perhaps it is time for something different. We have emergency room closures, entire wards of hospitals shut down for staffing concerns and lengthy wait times. We have trouble attracting skilled hospital staff.

What are your thoughts? Is the patient beyond saving? Email me at mjones@infonews.ca.

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‘No new taxes’ declaration getting expensive for cities

Nov. 26 newsletter editorial

Some of these local government bills are staggering, lacking sufficient deference. 

Ten years ago, I wrote that Kelowna was spending the most money it ever spent on one project, the new RCMP detachment, price tag roughly $45 million. Kamloops wanted a $90 million performing arts centre at that time and it was considered too expensive.

Yesterday we reported a $60 million budget increase on one project in Kamloops among $500 million in new spending. 

Councillors aren’t even pretending to be worried about all this extra money. They’ve even run out my favourite line: NO NEW TAXES to pay for the shortfall.

That always perks my ears up because I know a snow job is coming. That’s what they said in West Kelowna about their new city hall, too. It’s like a desperate hail mary, playing with semantics to make voters feel better.

Well now West Kelowna and Kamloops (and others) are finding problems in their budgets. West Kelowna spent all its savings so it could make political slogans and do close up magic. They’ll be in the red soon unless, you guessed it, they raise new taxes to fill reserves. 

In Kamloops, folks are complaining about another big tax bill nearing a 10 per cent increase because of inflation on its existing services, let alone new bills for new builds. 

All this construction is occurring in a high inflation environment.

That means little in Kelowna, which has paid its bills on time for decades in the form of four per cent budget increases. It’s not counting pennies on its new most expensive building, the $250 million Parkinson Recreation Centre under construction.

Not so in Kamloops. What if costs go up a few points over the next few years of construction? It won’t take much on a half-billion-dollars, let alone operating expenses, before it adds to the tax burden again. They have to be hoping and praying nothing new, no emergencies, land purchase opportunities or new services are required. 

But again, councillors don’t appear to be bothered. Would you? Email me at mjones@infonews.ca.

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iN RESPONSE

Kelowna killer convicted in hammer attack back in jail

Steven Pirko has, for some 13 years now, been consistently involved in the criminal justice system. His actions led directly to the death of another person. He was carrying a weapon at that time and used it when that person was no threat whatsoever to him. He has repeatedly been found with weapons in his possession since that time. I’m going to go out on a limb here and take a guess as to Steven Pirko’s future. I see a Long Term Offender designation in his future, and when he messes that up I see potential for a Dangerous Offender designation with an indeterminate prison sentence. In the entirety of his adult life there’s been nothing good that he brought to the City of Kelowna. An indeterminate prison sentence is perfectly suited to such a guy.

— William Mastop via iNFOnews.ca

SilverStar Mountain Resort bought out by another resort conglomerate

Hmm. Pacific Group bought Silver Star in 2025. POWDR bought Silver Star in 2019 so that’s 6 years they owned it. It doesn’t seem a long time to hold a property that involves that kind of investment?

— William Mastop via iNFOnews.ca

Kamloops performing arts centre cost up by 37% as construction set to begin

I may be wrong but I recall the amount for the PAC was 140 million dollars making the cost over run for construction 70 million dollars or about 50%. The additional amount in the AAP proposal was used to, more or less, create a slush fund for city of Kamloops admin to use for previous bills for the PAC and assorted and unreported “Build Kamloops” projects like the McArthur Island ice rink etc. Regarding Hall’s ridiculous claims how does a 50% 70 million dollar cost over run equal a “Disciplined and transparent financial plan”? More money from “future reserves”? In order to create “future reserves” it’s got to come from somewhere…….get ready taxpayers.

Update: I was wrong….the original estimate was 154 million and 150.5 million after the class A estimate as reported on the city website.

— Robert Mitchell via iNFOnews.ca

THOMPSON: Donald Trump will resign the presidency in 2026

And I’m holding a great bottle of champagne to celebrate with!

— Bonnie Derry via iNFOnews.ca

I will be celebrating too!

— Ruth Evans via iNFOnews.ca

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Tara Armstrong Recall Countdown

Tara Armstrong is currently the MLA for Kelowna-Lake Country-Coldstream. She rode the coattails of the BC Conservative Party, got elected, then rejected and left the party to serve as an Independent within weeks because the Conservatives were too left wing. Now she gets to spout moronic, hateful rhetoric and claim that her riding supports her.

but not for the first 18 months after an election. Some people started an online petition calling for a byelection once she made a shift to independent, then got herself a raise by forming her own party, but it won’t mean anything until the countdown clock hits zero.

So let the countdown begin!

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