City of Kelowna priorities kept top-of-mind during advocacy trip to Ottawa

News Release

On behalf of the City of Kelowna and Council, a delegation led by Mayor Tom Dyas has returned from a productive advocacy trip to Ottawa, focused on advancing Council priorities and strengthening partnerships with the federal government.

The visit took place the same week as the tabling of the federal budget, providing an opportunity for the City to respond swiftly, and directly engage in collaborative discussions with Ministers, Members of Parliament, and senior officials regarding federal investment opportunities that will support Kelowna’s growth and regional role.

“Kelowna is the fastest-growing city in Canada, and federal investment needs to reflect the role our city plays in driving economic growth both for the region, British Columbia and the country,” said Mayor Tom Dyas. “It is encouraging to see the federal budget, while still being debated, focus on strengthening the economy and investing in infrastructure to support growth. Our advocacy is focused on targeted areas where partnership will have the greatest impact, so we can continue to grow responsibly and deliver a safe, thriving, and well-connected city for residents.”

The City’s advocacy to the federal government focused on three core priorities:

• Investments at Kelowna International Airport (YLW) to unlock nation-building economic growth in industry, innovation, and the aerospace sector
• Advancing a new Transit Operations Centre, Clement Avenue extension, and securing predictable transit infrastructure funding
• Continued action to address repeat property crime to build safer communities.

In discussions regarding YLW, the City outlined the importance of federal investment to unlock available industrial land at the airport, which would enable aerospace expansion, support high-value job creation, strengthen domestic industrial capacity, and leverage private-sector investment.

As the 9th busiest airport in Canada, YLW plays a vital role in trade, tourism, innovation, and the regional economy.

The City also reiterated the need for the prioritization of Kelowna for a new Transit Operations Centre and Clement Avenue extension to modernize the system, reduce congestion, and enable electrification of the bus fleet. As Kelowna continues to grow rapidly, our current transit yard is over capacity with constrained ability to meet near-future demand. With the Kelowna Regional Transit System being BC Transit’s second-largest operation, serving regional connectivity, the City stressed the importance of establishing and accessing stable, long-term transit funding.

The Transit Operations Centre is connected to the Clement Avenue extension, which will improve overall network efficiency by easing congestion, running parallel along Highway 97. As a supporting corridor, it will enable much improved transit connections and smoother access for future service expansion.

Kelowna expressed appreciation for the recent introduction of Bill C-14, the Bail and Sentencing Reform Act by Minister of Justice and Attorney General Sean Fraser, which establishes a stronger framework for addressing repeat property crime. Kelowna has been a leading voice on this issue, advocating for stronger bail provisions, additional Crown prosecutors, and enhanced mental-health, housing, and addiction supports to address the root causes of chronic repeat crime.

The delegation also highlighted the successes achieved through federal partnership, including the deployment of the $31.5 million Housing Accelerator Fund received in 2023, demonstrating that when the federal government invests in Kelowna, the City delivers results for the community and the country.

Meetings to advance Council priorities were held with:

• Hon. Sean Fraser, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada
• Hon. Maninder Sidhu, Minister of International Trade
• Hon. Stephen Fuhr, Secretary of State for Defense Procurement and MP for Kelowna–Lake Country
• Mike Kelloway, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Transport
• Dan Albas, MP for Central Okanagan–Similkameen–Nicola

Senior federal officials in:

-Ministry of Finance

-Defense

-Housing, Infrastructure and Communities

-Industry

-Transport Canada

-Artificial Intelligence and Digital Innovation

“Delivering results for Kelowna requires strong collaboration at every order of government,” added Mayor Dyas. “We value all federal partners and the opportunity to work together on shared priorities that improve public safety, enhance transportation, grow our economy, and support the quality of life residents expect. This was a constructive visit, with engaging discussions and we look forward to continued partnership to move these initiatives forward.”