The referendum on the $70 million Kamloops Centre for the Arts has been postponed to a later date due to the COVID-19 health crisis (Image Credit: CHP Architects)

By Chad Klassen

ARTS CENTRE REFERENDUM

Mayor says referendum postponement right decision, arts centre could help in city’s recovery from COVID-19 crisis

Mar 19, 2020 | 3:02 PM

KAMLOOPS — Mayor Ken Christian says the province’s decision to postpone the April 4 Kamloops Centre for the Arts referendum is the right move during this current health crisis.

“I think it’s in the best interest of public health, and that’s really the bottom line,” Christian told CFJC Today. “We will pick up the pieces after we’re on the downside of this situation. Myself and council will decide a path forward.”

The Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing put out a statement on Wednesday night announcing the postponement of the vote.

Any mail-in ballots sent to City Hall will have to be destroyed immediately without being opened. Christian had expressed earlier this week a concern about turnout. He wants the vote to be a true representation of what Kamloops residents want, and he didn’t feel that would happen.

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“I was observing a large number of people contacting my office directly or through social media, saying they were concerned about their health and the risk of voting,” said Christian. “That triggered me to start thinking about voter suppression. What we want out of this exercise is the opinion of the citizens of Kamloops, and if they’re going to be feeling uncomfortable about going to a polling station, then we have to take that into account.”

The ‘yes’ side is disappointed but also knows the pandemic should be the focus right now. They want people in the community to be healthy more than anything.

“Would it have limited the turnout? I’m sure it would have. Would there have been the ‘yes’ supporters out? Would there have been the ‘no’ supporters?” wondered President of the Kamloops Centre for the Arts Society Norm Daley. “I think it all talks about the integrity of the vote. At the end of the day, the decision was made. It’s the right one.”

The ‘yes’ side, which has been vocal leading up to the April referendum, will put its campaign on hold and wait until a new referendum date is set.

“There’s not really much point in spending dollars on advertising,” said Daley. “Our social media is out there and people are still commenting and looking at that. There’s not a lot of cost there. But we’re going to press pause on the committee and come back stronger at a point in time when we can have the opportunity to make a decision on this project.”

Christian says the project could be what the city needs as it recovers from the COVID-19 crisis. The Municipal Affairs and Housing Ministry says a new date for the referendum will be determined by the City of Kamloops in consultation with public health officials and Elections BC.