CANDIDATE PROFILE: Ray Dhaliwal

I have owned and operate three of the oldest businesses in Kamloops since 1973. As the CEO of all companies, I have an extensive business background building companies which I will bring to the corporation of the City of Kamloops.

I am seeking the mayor’s position to bring stability back into our local government.

To bring back public engagement to foster relationships between the mayor’s office, senior staff and the provincial and federal governments. We need to repair these relationships in order for us to move forward as a community. We have lost many opportunities because of how our elected officials are conducting themselves in city hall. Together, we grow stronger. Kamloops needs someone that has chaired meetings. I have chaired meetings for over 20 years and over 200 meetings. When elected as mayor, I will be giving back to the taxpayers 50 per cent of the mayors wage in the form of a fund to support seniors and families in crisis. This will be $280,000 over the four-year term.

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

The biggest issue facing Kamloops Is safety and security. We are facing theft and violence at an unprecedented level. We are close to the highest crime rate for a city our size in Canada. We need to address this by supporting our first responders, police, fire, ambulance and Community Safety Officers. They are our front line defence against the crime, drug use and violence.

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?

City council is in disarray, with the turmoil that has taken over our council meetings at a level I have never seen. This is caused by not having a strong chairperson (mayor) that has lost the respect of its board. I know good governance being the chair of the Kamloops Multicultural Society for over 20 Years. I know how to chair meetings and keep the board on track. Respectful communication is paramount, along with respect for the chair.

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

We have seen taxes rise at an unsustainable level in the last four years. l would ask staff at the budget meetings to review the non-essential items to see where we could cut costs, and to put projects on hold that are non-essential at this time until such a time we have our spending under control. Also, senior management wages are at an unsustainable level and need to be reviewed. After the review, we must keep the tax rate to the rate of inflation, or to zero per cent for the next four years. We cannot keep having five-to-eight per cent increases going forward. Our citizens and business owners are struggling now to pay the property taxes and some could lose their homes in the future.

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?

With major infrastructure projects forecasted for the near future, I would use the AAP process if it is a need like water sewer upgrade roads, etc. If it is a want and not necessary, it should go to referendum. Taxpayers money must be respected. Our taxpayers should have a say as to where they want their money spent. We must listen to our stakeholders (taxpayers). We must bring the communication back from our taxpayers to council, and council must hear and listen to the public.

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

This past term has been soiled by the infighting between the mayor’s office, senior staff and council with online bullying and harassment from the public. When I am elected mayor, I will open up respectful communication between the mayor’s office, council, senior staff and the public. All levels of communication will be open. Without communication we do not know what the public is thinking and we cannot as a council know what the taxpayers expect. Are we doing a good job? Do we need to make improvements? Communication is very important to gauge the health of our community.

by CFJC Today

CANDIDATE PROFILE: Ray Dhaliwal

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