Loyal Wooldridge: The business climate in Kelowna скачать в хорошем качестве

Loyal Wooldridge: The business climate in Kelowna

Kelowna councillor defends short-term rentals, rejects slate politics ahead of vote Kelowna Councillor Loyal Wooldridge says he remains undecided about seeking re-election this fall, but is clear on two points: he opposes partisan slates in municipal politics and stands by his long-held position on short-term rentals. “Undecided at this point,” Wooldridge said when asked whether he will run in October’s civic election. Speculation has surfaced about the possible return of an organized “FourChange later rebranded as ForKelowna” slate in Kelowna, as well as the potential involvement of provincial political brands in municipal races. Wooldridge said he does not believe party-style politics belong at city hall. In the 2011–2014 era, a civic slate called FourChange emerged in Kelowna aiming to shake up city council and endorse candidates who would change the culture and direction of council That group later re-branded as ForKelowna and was active in the 2014 municipal election, backing then-councillor Colin Basran for mayor and other aligned council candidates. FourChange/ForKelowna was credited with helping shape council’s composition in that period by endorsing and getting some candidates elected while targeting others for defeat. “I firmly believe that partisanship in local government doesn’t have a place,” he said. “What I love most about this level of government is that a candidate can have a Liberal or a Conservative or a New Democrat vote for them. The moment we start seeing this partisanship enter local government, I fear that we’re really going to lose that flavour of our free thinking.” Asked whether he would join a slate if approached, Wooldridge was direct. “I don’t believe in slates either,” he said. “I’m definitely not wanting to kiss the ring and be beholden to a certain group of people to vote a certain way. I think a certain level of autonomy in local government is really important.” While opposing formal political groupings, Wooldridge acknowledged advocacy organizations have the right to participate, noting new Elections BC rules now require such groups to register and comply with campaign financing laws. On housing and short-term rentals, Wooldridge reiterated a position he has maintained for years including during his run as an NDP candidate in the 2024 provincial election that zoning consistency and investor certainty matter. “When I joined council in 2018, our vacancy rate for rentals was below one per cent. We’re now above six, and that’s because we’ve brought so much supply on market,” he said. Wooldridge has argued that properties purchased within designated tourism commercial zones were marketed and sold with short-term rental use permitted, and that retroactive provincial restrictions created uncertainty for owners. “We created that tourism commercial zone back in 1999 and people were buying a certain product with a certain use,” he said. “From my perspective, that’s how you should control any sort of operation through land use and zoning.” He said the city is now advocating to the province to restore short-term rental permissions in designated tourism areas, particularly to accommodate major events. Wooldridge said he took criticism for that stance including while running under the NDP banner provincially but maintained his position. “I pushed back on that because folks bought units that had that use and then it was removed through provincial legislation,” he said. “I’ve been consistent on that.” On crime and public safety, Wooldridge said municipal leaders remain limited by federal and provincial policy decisions, particularly around bail and repeat offenders. “It is madness,” he said, referring to repeat offenders cycling through the system. “It’s doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result.” Kelowna council previously issued a joint letter calling for bail reform after high-profile cases involving repeat offenders. Wooldridge cited a city-commissioned white paper that found British Columbia has the lowest charge approval rates in Canada and among the lowest levels of public confidence in the justice system. He said that while the city has increased policing resources the RCMP contract represents the largest line item in Kelowna’s budget broader reforms are needed at senior levels of government. Looking ahead, Wooldridge said if he seeks another term, his primary focus would be economic growth across the Central Okanagan. “If we’re to deal with poverty, if we’re to deal with housing, all of it hinges on making sure that people have good employment,” he said. Municipal elections in British Columbia are scheduled for October 19, 2026.