How will you work with the city administration to promote a business friendly relationship?
I will advocate for timely, transparent, and fair responses to businesses concerns. I will advocate to make it easier to do business in Kamloops long term. I also think it would be good for city council to meet with each year’s business excellence awards winners to learn about their experiences, ideas, values, and concerns. I support the search for industrial land. In my platform, I am asking for a periodic, more thorough council review of city spending, in part because I would like our commercial tax rates to be very competitive.
Do you support the return of the business vote in civic elections?
Respectfully, at this point, no. I am open to argument but I worry about creating an unequal playing field between citizens who own businesses and those who do not.
Are you in favor of establishing a provincial municipal auditor’s office?
Yes, I do. An independent, non partisan office, funded by the province, that reviews municipal budgets could be very helpful, like a second opinion from a doctor. I believe it is important that municipal auditor general office work as a partner with city hall staff and that person who holds the office of muncipal auditor general, while still arms length, earns the respect of muncipal governments across the province.
How will you become aware of business issues within Kamloops?
Being an active member of the Kamloops Chamber, past President of the Kamloops Tech Industry Association, and a former city councillor, I have a wide network of friends in business across the city. I will regularly be asking for input from my network and, indeed, from the larger business community. I will also closely follow the Chamber policy advocacy process closely.
