Dyas backs off scheme for moving City Hall
Mayoral candidate tells forum such ‘long-term visions’ would require public input, studies
Kelowna mayoral candidate Tom Dyas has dialed back his suggestion to relocate City Hall and replace the RCMP with municipal policing. Dyas said Monday these are “long-term proposals” that would require considerable study and public engagement.
“Any long-term visions, like the ones I expressed last week worth considering, would not take place without public input along with feasibility and economic studies to ensure no further tax burdens are placed on taxpayers,” Dyas said at a mayoral forum held at UBC Okanagan.
Incumbent Mayor Colin Basran, who last week compared Dyas to U.S. President Donald Trump, mostly ignored his three rivals’ comments at Monday’s forum.
Instead, Basran delivered an upbeat message, saying he offered an inclusive approach at City Hall and presided over strong economic growth while still trying to find solutions to challenging issues such as street crime and homelessness.
“I believe we are at a crossroads,” Basran said. “My question to you is, ‘Will you embrace my vision of Kelowna, a vision of an innovative, progressive and welcoming Kelowna, or will you choose to look away?’”
In its concluding days before Saturday’s election, the mayoral race offers a contrast between Basran’s energetic defence of his four-year record and optimistic reading of the future versus Dyas’s repeated assertions city hall has been too dismissive of public concerns about issues such as street crime and a 16 per cent tax hike over the past four years.
Basran says he offers voters a “balanced way forward” while providing what he says is the kind of strong leadership that has earned him re-election endorsements from most of the incumbent councillors.
“This is not an easy job,” Basran said. “Sometimes you have to make tough decisions that you know won’t make everybody happy.”
Dyas, a former chamber of commerce president, said municipal leaders were not happy with ongoing concerns expressed by downtown business owners about street crime and public disorder.
“They said to us, ‘You’re aggressive, and we don’t want to carry these conversations on anymore,’” Dyas said, claiming regular twice-monthly gatherings of civic leaders, police and representatives of the business community were abruptly cancelled.
To a question on how the city supports members of the LGBTQ community, Basran said the city had made “huge strides” in recent years with its focus on promoting a diverse and welcoming community.
“Everybody should be able to find a place in our community,” Basran said.
To the same question, Dyas said: “A lot of learning would be done by me dealing with those associations and meeting with them to see what would make them feel more comfortable
moving forward.”
Bob Schewe, a retired bylaw officer, said Kelowna needed more police and repeated earlier comments that petty criminals should be made to realize they “are not welcome” in the city.
The fourth mayoral contender, Bobby Kennedy, suggested a light-rail transit line should be built in the Okanagan, and advocated a Seabus-style marine vessel link
between West Kelowna and Kelowna.
Kennedy, who illegally sold marijuana from his skateboard shop in what he says was a form of political protest, was asked why voters should trust him to obey the law if elected mayor.
“The only time I ever did actually break the law was when I sold cannabis,” Kennedy said. “I’ll stand up for the people anyway, every day.”