CANDIDATE PROFILE: Mike O’Reilly

For more than 20 years, I have worked and done business right here in Kamloops, creating jobs and contributing to millions of dollars in economic growth. I have also been fortunate to serve on a number of local non-profit boards, including the Kamloops MS Society, Big Little Science Centre, Downtown BIA, Kamloops Exploration Group, and Children’s Circle Daycare.

For the past eight years, I have had the privilege of serving on Kamloops council. During that time, I have chaired the Finance Committee, the Build Kamloops Committee, and the Economic Health Committee. These roles have given me a broad understanding of the challenges facing our community, from managing taxpayers’ dollars to supporting economic growth and investing in the facilities and infrastructure Kamloops needs.

For the past four years, I have also served as chair of the Thompson Regional Hospital District. In that role, I worked to secure commitments for the new Kamloops Cancer Centre and the expansion of the emergency department at Royal Inland Hospital. Through those negotiations, I was also able to help save taxpayers in the Kamloops area approximately $30 million.

I am running for mayor because I believe Kamloops is at an important point in its future. We have tremendous opportunities in front of us, but we also face real challenges. I believe my experience in business, on council, and with the regional hospital district gives me the experience to lead, bring people together, and get things done.

Most importantly, I am running because I believe in this community. I have spent almost 40 years building my life here, and I want to make sure Kamloops remains a great place to live, work, raise a family and invest for generations to come.

What do you think is the biggest issue facing the City of Kamloops and how would you use your elected position to address it?

I believe the biggest issue facing Kamloops is community and neighbourhood safety.

We cannot end homelessness overnight, but we can manage it better. We need an approach that supports people experiencing homelessness while also protecting the safety, security and quality of life of residents, businesses and neighbourhoods.

I fundamentally believe emergency shelters cannot coexist effectively in core business areas or established residential neighbourhoods. That is why, if elected mayor, I would bring forward a motion to the new council asking the province to close the emergency shelter at the former Greyhound location when its current lease ends and relocate those services to a city-owned property at Mission Flats.

The city owns an 8.5-acre property at 800 Mission Flats R. It is approximately 1.5 kilometres from the downtown core, while providing significantly more space and separation from established businesses and residential neighbourhoods.

My proposal would be to lease the property to the province for the development of a provincially funded campus of care. This would bring the emergency shelter together with wraparound services, medical care, transitional housing and other supports in one location.

This is about taking a more organized and compassionate approach to homelessness while recognizing that residents and businesses also have a right to safe and secure neighbourhoods.

As mayor, I would work with council, the province, Interior Health, service providers, businesses and neighbourhood groups to develop a solution that supports vulnerable people while making our communities safer for everyone.

Following a term highlighted by infighting and tension at city hall that impacted Kamloops’ public image, how would you ensure civil discourse and good governance would take place between yourself, fellow elected officials and city staff?

I have a proven track record as a collaborator and consensus builder through chairing multiple non-profit boards, council committees and the Thompson Regional Hospital District (TRHD).

The TRHD is made up of 31 directors, including seven Kamloops city councillors, representing three regional districts. Leading an organization with that many elected officials and different communities requires listening, finding common ground and bringing people together around shared goals.

Being an elected official means you are, and should be, held to a higher standard. Healthy debate is an important part of good government and, when done respectfully, disagreement can lead to better decisions.

The reality is that elected officials will not agree on everything, and they shouldn’t be expected to. But there is a difference between having strong, respectful debate and creating unnecessary conflict.

As mayor, I would set the tone from the top. I would encourage open and respectful discussion, listen to different perspectives, and make sure Council has the information it needs to make informed decisions.

Once a decision is made by the majority of council, I believe everyone has a responsibility to respect that decision and move forward as a team. We can disagree on an issue and still work together for the betterment of Kamloops.

Good governance requires trust between council and staff, respect for different viewpoints, and a shared commitment to putting the community first.

Considering recent years of large municipal tax increases in Kamloops, how would you address the city’s tax rate going forward?

It is important to acknowledge that Kamloops has experienced higher-than-average tax increases over the past four years. However, part of that reflects the decision made during COVID to keep the tax increase to just 0.95 per cent. That decision was deliberate and reflected what residents were asking for at the time, but it also meant that some of the financial pressures facing the city had to be addressed in subsequent years.

Over the past 10 years, Kelowna has averaged approximately 4.2 per cent in annual property tax increases, compared with approximately 4.65 per cent in Kamloops. We need to look beyond the annual tax increase and address the underlying structure of how we fund our community.

I believe Kamloops has a structural tax deficit. One example is the way some neighbourhoods outside the city contribute toward the municipal services they use. Residents of Sun Rivers and Sienna Ridge benefit from city parks, recreation facilities and other amenities, but the city does not receive the same level of contributions toward those services as it does from residents within Kamloops.

As a result, I estimate that Kamloops taxpayers are subsidizing these communities by approximately $800,000 to $1 million each year. That is not sustainable.

Going forward, I would focus on finding ways to ensure that communities benefiting from city services contribute their fair share toward those services. That revenue could then be invested back into our parks, recreation facilities and other community amenities, reducing the pressure on the property taxpayers of Kamloops.

We also need to continue looking for efficiencies, prioritize spending, and make sure every tax dollar is delivering value for residents.

My goal is not simply to promise a lower tax increase. It is to address the structural issues behind our tax pressures, make sure everyone pays their fair share, and build a sustainable financial foundation for Kamloops.

As major infrastructure projects are on the horizon in Kamloops, how would you prefer the city go about gaining the electorate’s approval – via referendum or the alternative approval process (AAP)? Why?

I believe both the alternative approval process (AAP) and referendum have value, and the appropriate approach can depend on the project, the level of borrowing and the level of community support.

As an example, in the last municipal election, all eight councillors and the mayor were elected on a platform that included advancing the Recreation Master Plan, including the Kamloops Centre for the Arts and additional sheets of ice. There was a clear electoral mandate, and we heard consistently from residents that these facilities were needed.

Given that level of community support and the mandate council had received, I was comfortable supporting the alternative approval process for those projects.

Going forward, I am open to listening to the community about which process should be used for additional borrowing requirements, including a potential new RCMP building and future Build Kamloops projects.

I don’t believe there should be a one-size-fits-all approach. The important thing is that residents have a meaningful opportunity to provide input, council is transparent about the costs and long-term financial commitments, and the process chosen reflects the level of community support for the project.

Ultimately, major borrowing decisions should be made with both fiscal responsibility and the voice of the community in mind.

What are your thoughts on communication between the City of Kamloops and its residents? Are there areas of improvement you’d like to see?

I believe communication between the City of Kamloops and residents can be better. Residents deserve to feel that city hall is accessible, that their concerns are being heard, and that they have meaningful opportunities to engage with their elected officials.

At the first council meeting of the new term, I will put forward a motion to bring back public inquiries. I believe residents should have a regular opportunity to ask questions directly of council and receive answers in a public forum.

Unfortunately, during the last term, the process did not work as it should have. The chair was not always able to effectively manage the speakers and the process, and I believe that contributed to public inquiries not being as effective as they could be.

I look forward to bringing public inquiries back and ensuring they are conducted in a respectful, organized and meaningful way.

More broadly, I would like to see council become more accessible to residents through regular community open houses, better communication about council decisions and greater opportunities for residents to provide feedback.

Good communication is a two-way street. The city needs to do a better job of not only telling residents what it is doing but also listening to what residents are saying.

by CFJC Today

CANDIDATE PROFILE: Mike O’Reilly

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