OVER THE PAST YEAR, we've seen how strongly Canadians have stood together in the face of challenges, like global inflation and threats from Trump, and our patriotism is stronger than ever. We're making progress and creating more opportunities for people across B.C. and Canada. And right now, we have something we can al...

ABOUT ONE IN EVERY FIVE NEW VEHICLES sold in B.C. in 2025 was a zero-emission vehicle, such as an electric vehicle (EV) or plug-in hybrid. As EVs become an increasingly familiar sight on Kamloops roads, the city's charging infrastructure has evolved to keep up. The city now boasts 112 charging ports within 15 kilometer...

BRITISH COLUMBIA is defined by its land and water. Forests, rivers, alpine meadows and rugged coastlines aren't just scenery. They're the backbone of our economy, our culture and our shared identity. And unlike many places in Canada, these landscapes are overwhelmingly public, with nearly 94 per cent of B.C. made up of...

COMMUNITIES ACROSS BRITISH COLUMBIA are growing rapidly. And with that growth comes a clear need: more skilled tradespeople to help build and maintain the places we all rely on, like our homes, schools, hospitals and community infrastructure. As an MLA, I hear every day how important it is that we prepare people for th...

THE TOXIC DRUG CRISIS is taking lives, and harming families and individuals in communities across the province. Confronting the stigma of mental health and addictions is essential to get more people the help they need. In 2023, our government tested a decriminalization pilot with broad support from advocates, service p...

HAPPY 2026 FROM THE TEAM at the Kamloops Food Policy Council! As we enter a new year, now is the time to start thinking about fruit tree care, especially pruning, for the upcoming spring and summer. Over the years, we have seen increased damage to our local fruit trees due to the unpredictable patterns of climate chang...

AT THIS TIME LAST YEAR, we were fighting external economic threats from the U.S. and now some would rather we turn on each other.Building projects in partnership with First Nations means jobs and prosperity for the entire province. We simply can't afford to walk away from co-operation with First Nations and choose, ins...

TWENTY-NINE PER CENT OF ADULTS in the Thompson-Cariboo-Shuswap region, which includes Kamloops, consider themselves overweight or obese, a recent Interior Health report reveals. That figure is the result of a complex mix of influences, from food availability and people's understanding of nutrition, to how easy it is to...

AS WE REFLECT ON 2025 and prepare to welcome 2026, one thing has been clear: British Columbians and Canadians have come together shoulder-to-shoulder and supported each other through threats to our sovereignty and the effects from Donald Trump's unjust tariffs. Despite the economic pressures people are feeling from glo...

AS THE YEAR DRAWS TO A CLOSE, the all-too-familiar headlines pop up like clockwork: "Expect to pay more for groceries in the coming year," and "Growing demand pushing food banks to the breaking point". While headlines may be accurate, they don't always tell the whole story.Let's shine some light on ...

IN THE FACE of economic uncertainty and threats to our sovereignty, Canadians and British Columbians have stepped up all year to tirelessly support local farmers, retailers, restaurants and businesses across B.C., and have carefully chosen Canadian-made groceries and products in their day-to-day lives. Just last week, ...

NOVEMBER 25TH TO DECEMBER 10TH marks 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-based Violence.Every one of us knows someone affected by gender-based violence. Communities across B.C. continue to feel the loss of women, girls and gender-diverse people who were targeted simply for who they are. Too many people are still trapped...

DEAR MR. PETERS:It has taken me a couple of weeks to write to you regarding your segment on November 14th, 2025. Although I haven't agreed with all your comments over the years, I believe your objective has been to get people to talk or at least discuss or debate the subject. That in itself should have value in our cur...

BRITISH COLUMBIA is one of the most beautiful places to live in the world and we want people to have good, long lives here. Around the world, people are feeling the effects of global economic instability, and in addition, Donald Trump's unjustified tariffs have been an attack on our sovereignty and our economy. That's ...

THE NEWS THAT THE PERFORMING ARTS CENTRE (PAC) cost has climbed to $211 million shouldn't surprise anyone - least of all city hall.The AAP capped borrowing at $140 million, but the project cost can rise far above this as long as the city finds the extra money through reserves, grants, land sales or current and future t...

CHANGES TO THE EMPLOYMENT STANDARS ACT have come into effect on November 12th that limits when employers can ask for sick notes due to short-term illness. This will help ease the administrative burden on healthcare professionals while also making sure that people aren't spreading illness or experiencing long wait times...

SITTING UNDER A MARKET TENT in June with Naya Macaulay, my friend and fellow team member at the Kamloops Food Policy Council, a woman strolling up to our booth at the Yew Street Block Party told us, "If you live in Kamloops and have to buy apricots, then you clearly don't have enough good friends." We laughed...

EACH YEAR ON NOVEMBER 11, British Columbians come together to honour those who served and sacrificed their lives for our country.Everyone has their own connection to Remembrance Day. In my family, I think of my grandfather, who despite not knowing how to swim, served in the Navy during the Second World War. That kind o...

LAST WEEK, we announced that we will be keeping ICBC basic auto-insurance rates low through 2027. British Columbians are facing pressures with rising costs due to global inflation and Donald Trump's tariffs, and they don't need to worry about their insurance costs rising, too. Up until at least 2027, basic auto insuran...

BRITISH COLUMBIANS ARE WORRIED about energy use. Across the globe, energy demand is increasing due to artificial intelligence, industrial development and data centres, and everyday people are weary of feeling it in their pockets with rising energy costs. In B.C., we're taking charge of our energy use now to protect our...

EVERY PERSON DESERVES to have accessible, affordable health care that they can count on close to home. As an MLA, I know that healthcare options are top of mind for my community and that's why our government has been making major investments in Surrey that will not only expand local healthcare access but will also bene...

IN OUR CURRENT HOTBED of political strife, it was difficult to imagine a unifying cause that could bring people from every corner of the political spectrum together. But where Interior Health has a lack of will, there's a way. And they've done it in extraordinary fashion this time, because Canadians unite in the belief...

ONE OF THE BEST gifts received in our home last year was the Kamloops Holiday Foodie Box, created by The Stir and the Kamloops Food Policy Council (KFPC) - and I'm thrilled that the KFPC is offering this unique gift option once again! Last year, the first Foodie Box item to disappear in our home was the Authentic Indig...

YOUTH IN B.C. are facing a challenging world and it's our government's goal to do everything we can to protect them against online exploitation and the health risks from vaping and tobacco. To keep that commitment, our BC NDP government introduced two bills that will help protect people - especially young British Colum...

THIS PAST MONDAY, MLAs from across the province returned to the legislature for the beginning of the fall session. This session, we will be introducing legislation early in the session that will help make sure people in B.C. have good, well-paying jobs, that workers are treated fairly, that we are addressing affordabil...

EARLIER THIS WEEK, we recognized the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, to commemorate and reflect on the strength of the survivors, families, and communities who were forever changed by the residential school system, and especially the children who never came home. This day coincides with Orange Shirt Day, a c...

WHEN IS THE CITY OF KAMLOOPS going to rid our streets of weeds? We have a beautiful city and I am wondering why the City of Kamloops refuses to put any effort into weeding our streets, sidewalks, etc. If you drive down pretty much any street in Kamloops, you will find trees growing where weeds once started. If you driv...

This winter is shaping up to be a big one for sports in Kamloops. Sun Peaks Resort, Canada's second-largest ski destination, expects a surge in American and international visitors this winter, as current U.S. travel restrictions and strained politics may work to drive more tourists north to Canada instead. On opening d...