CANDIDATE PROFILE: Rob Bertrand

I bring almost two decades of experience in management, including sales management, general management, budgeting, staffing, HR, accounting, conflict resolution, contract negation and building relationships. I’ve also spent four years serving on a board, including two as president.

I’ve spent most of my career dealing with employees, customers, budgets and the everyday problems that come with running a business.

I decided to run because over the last four years I’ve watched people become frustrated with the direction of our city. I asked myself what I would do differently, and decided that instead of complaining from the sidelines, I should put my name forward and be willing to get dirty and do the work.

At the end of the day, I’m just a Kamloops resident raising a family here, and I want to bring that everyday perspective to city hall.

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 issue I’ve focused on most is restoring the confidence that the basic responsibilities of municipal government are being handled well.

That means public safety, roads, water, sewer, fire protection, responsible spending and neighbourhoods where people feel safe.

Homelessness, addiction and mental health are complex issues that a municipality cannot solve alone. The city can, however, enforce its bylaws, support our RCMP, CSOs and first responders. We can help protect neighbourhoods and businesses, measure the results of the programs we participate in and strongly advocate to the province for detox, treatment and mental health services to address the bottleneck we have today of shelters beds vs next step support spots.

At the same time, we have to maintain the infrastructure and services everybody relies on. My approach would be needs before wants, measurable outcomes and making sure taxpayers can clearly see where their money is going.

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?

You don’t have to like everyone you work with, and you don’t have to agree with them, but you do have to respect others and be able to work with them.

I’ve spent years managing different personalities and dealing with conflict. My approach has always been to ask questions, listen, disagree when necessary, and then move forward.

Council absolutely should heavily debate ideas but without making it personal. City staff should also be able to do their jobs professionally without being dragged into tantrums.

There will be eight councillors and a mayor, and nobody gets everything they want.

Good governance requires compromise, professionalism and accepting the outcome when a vote doesn’t go your way; that’s democracy.

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

My approach would be to start with priorities.

Water, sewer, roads, public safety, fire protection and other core infrastructure have to come first.

After that, council needs to be willing to ask hard questions about discretionary spending, administrative growth, service levels and the timing of major projects.

I don’t believe in promising a tax number before seeing the books. I think any candidate making promises of that nature is dishonest about the roll.

I do believe council should challenge spending before asking taxpayers for more.

Families and businesses are already dealing with higher costs everywhere. Municipal government isn’t in control of inflation or international issues, but every additional dollar still comes out of somebody’s pocket.

The goal should be a cost of city operation that residents can comfortably carry.

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 tools have a place, but I would keep the AAP for essential infrastructure and core services.

For major discretionary projects or borrowing that could significantly affect taxpayers for decades, I believe in putting the question directly to voters through a referendum.

Referendums do cost more and take longer, but when we are asking future generations to repay substantial debt servicing for discretionary projects, I believe direct public participation is the only option.

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 is one of the areas I would like to see change.

Communication isn’t just telling residents what city hall has decided. It also means giving people opportunities to speak and making it easy to understand what is happening.

I would support more open dialogue and public question periods, regular town halls, clearer explanations of major spending decisions and public dashboards showing budgets, project costs, timelines, measurable outcomes and who has voted on what at the table.

I’d also like to see the city use social media as a more effective tool for actual communication rather than simply another place to post news releases.

Not everybody has time to read a 300-page agenda or attend a council meeting on a Tuesday afternoon during their work week.

Government belongs to the people it serves. Information should be easy to find, questions should be welcomed and handled transparently, and residents should be able to understand how and why decisions were made.

We need to bring back the meaning of civil servant.

by CFJC Today

CANDIDATE PROFILE: Rob Bertrand

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