Mel Arnold in the House of Commons (Image Credit: File Photo/CPAC)
Office Woes

Kamloops MP Arnold aiming to have new Valleyview-area office open by early fall

Sep 16, 2026 | 6:02 PM

KAMLOOPS — Kamloops-Shuswap-Central Rockies MP Mel Arnold is hoping to be in his new Valleyview-area office in the early fall, ending a nearly one-and-a-half year search for a space in the city where most of his constituents live.


The longtime Conservative MP told CFJC Today he’s found a suitable location in an area that is “pretty accessible for everyone.” He said he’s still working through the permitting process to make sure the location meets all the requirements at the municipal and federal level.

“There are some building modifications or renovations that need to be done and that involves building permits through the [City of Kamloops],” Arnold said. “Everything will meet the House of Commons requirements, but it’s meeting the building codes and so on that’s been the hold up.”

Arnold was elected MP in the North Okanagan-Shuswap riding in 2015 and he has an office in Salmon Arm. He won a fourth term in April last year in Kamloops-Shuswap-Central Rockies riding, which includes several east Kamloops neighbourhoods as well as portion of downtown, east of Sixth Avenue.

“Office space in the portion of Kamloops that is my riding is very limited,” Arnold lamented. “The landlord is working through that permitting process and it won’t take long once the permitting process is finished.”

Arnold said he’s still been able to help his Kamloops-constituents over the past several months, though he also admitted that the search for an office hasn’t gone as fast as he would have liked.

“The permitting is all municipal and I appreciate they have to go through their processes,” Arnold said. “I am avoiding inserting myself in that process as I don’t want to be seen as having a conflict of interest, so I leave that with the landlord. He’s been updating me regularly and they are working through the challenges.”

“We’re looking forward to opening that office very soon and welcoming Kamloops residents into it.”