Leaving economic development commission may be Kelowna’s next step to independence

The City of Kelowna is trying to pull away from the rest of the region, first it was tackling homelessness, then policing and now it’s working on whether to exit the Central Okanagan Regional District’s Economic Development Commission.

City council voted, June 1, to move ahead with evaluating whether the city should exit the economic development commission and set up a Kelowna economic development department. Some councillors were hesitant but only councillor Loyal Wooldridge voted against it.

The recommendation to look into leaving the regional economic development commission was brought forward by a mayor’s task force that has been meeting behind closed doors for seven months. Most of the details about going from the regional economic development commission to a city-led department haven’t been decided yet.

Wooldridge and the mayor’s task force both said the city hasn’t been able to get a hold of any data to actually analyze whether the exit would be a good idea.

“What concerns me most is that we’re discussing a potentially significant restructuring of economic development without first demonstrating that the existing model can’t be improved. Without understanding the full financial implications and without providing counsel or the public with the analysis that supports the recommendations,” Wooldridge said during Monday’s meeting.

Mayor Tom Dyas said getting that data would be another step in taking Kelowna’s issues into the city’s own hands like the Journey Home program and de-regionalizing the RCMP.

“The reality is Kelowna has changed,” the mayor said. He said they’re taking programs that were not working the way they were needed to and bringing them in-house.

The City of Kelowna split with the Journey Home Society in 2024, and began the planning to de-regionalize the RCMP the same year which has been controversial in neighbouring communities.

Dyas said that focusing on Kelowna without relying on input from “outside partners” makes it easier for the city to address its own needs.

“That is what has happened within the City of Kelowna, what the task force is recommending builds on that shift,” Dyas said in the meeting.

While the vote was just to move ahead with evaluating the possibility of leaving the regional economic development commission, Wooldridge had doubts about leaving other smaller communities behind.

“Sometimes being the biggest also comes with responsibilities to make sure that we’re lifting everybody up,” he said.

Councillor Mohini Singh also shared those concerns but deferred to the adage “a high tide lifts all boats.” She said an approach that would be better for Kelowna would be better for neighbouring communities.

“I honestly was concerned about places like Joe Rich, Peachland. We don’t want to leave them behind but this might just take them along. If we don’t try anything, we’re not going to get anywhere, so I will be supporting this going forward,” she said.