Image Credit: CFJC Today / Kent Simmonds

By Dylana Kneeshaw

LICENSING DELAYS

Licensing delays part of multi-union strike action impacts in Kamloops

Oct 10, 2025 | 4:20 PM

KAMLOOPS — The expansion of the BC General Employees Union strike is making itself known with disruptions across a variety of sectors. That includes liquor and cannabis distribution, ICBC driver’s license services and other daily government services people may use.

According to Lapper Security owner Ed LaPierre, filing paperwork with the provincial government to get a security license was already a slow system, often taking three-to-four weeks to get a license in hand. But with the ongoing BCGEU strike, and the CUPW postal strike, those timelines have shot up significantly.

“Anybody who has a license already, the government sort of gave us leeway with using them while it’s in the renewal stage. We had a bit of extra time for that for anybody who has already had a license, but the delay has definitely been long for anybody waiting for a new license.”

LaPierre has already seen 10 applicants who haven’t been able to start because of a licensing delay.

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“They’ve had to find other stuff, so I don’t know if they’re going to come back or not, once they find other employment,” says LaPierre.

In the case of Alfred Ortiz, he waited 18 weeks for his security license.

“What are you going to do, you’re not going to work? You wait three or four months until they decide to issue it?” says Ortiz. “It doesn’t make any sense.”

Ortiz finally received the ‘soft copy’ of the license and can start work with it next week. But the hard copy is still in the mail, among other supplies small businesses are waiting on.

“I mean, that strike affects the industry just as much because I’ve got uniforms sitting somewhere,” says LaPierre. “I’ve got new employees with no uniforms because of the postal strike.”

It’s one example of escalating strike action becoming more noticeable in day-to-day life and Ortiz says it’s increased his desire to see employers and unions reach a deal.

“I just wish the people who are striking get their fair share of what they are looking for, but be mindful that there is a domino effect. A lot of people get affected — families and all of that,” he adds.

For now, Lapper and other businesses in the same boat are just going to have to wait it out.