What drew my wife, Donna, and me to Lake Country and the Okanagan Centre area was the strong sense of community, quality of life and the balance between rural character and the amenities we value.
I’m a semi-retired business leader and consultant who has spent my career working with businesses large and small. My professional experience has taught me how to lead thoughtful change, seek efficiencies and reduce costs, while working with people to find practical solutions to everyday challenges. Even in semi-retirement, I continue to look for opportunities to put that experience to use, work with people and make a meaningful difference in the things I’m part of.
Out in the community, you’ll often find me exploring local trails or swimming with our two Duck Tollers, playing pickleball with the Lake Country Pickleball Club, or spending my summers as part of the Ambassador program at Predator Ridge Golf Course.
After almost 30 years of marriage, Donna remains my favourite person to share it all with.
What White said at the Rogers tv panel. Each summary was written by AI and checked by a person. The quote under it is exact, and the link opens the video at that moment.
Asked And with that, we'll start with introductions. To the candidates, as a reminder, you have two minutes to present your introduction.
Summary Tony White says friends and neighbours in Okanagan Centre urged a run for council. White says being semi-retired leaves time to do the job well. White says skills from over 40 years in business, including finance, HR and sales, would be used every day.
I'm semi-retired And that gives me the unique ability To spend the time that it's going to take to do the job I am not a career politician
Asked Do you have any comments, opinions, or observations related to housing affordability? And do you have any suggestions or innovative ideas that may contribute to making Lake Country housing more affordable?
Summary Tony White says housing affordability includes rentals, co-ops and senior housing, not just home ownership. White wants zoning changes for laneway homes, carriage homes, secondary suites, and manufactured or tiny homes. White also wants to encourage workforce housing so businesses can grow.
we need to find a way and encourage workforce housing because businesses can't grow if employees can't afford to live here
Asked Is there a role for the district to strengthen support for local businesses? And do you have any suggestions for the types of economic development that you would prioritize for Lake Country?
Summary Tony White says businesses should always have a seat at the table and be consulted first on decisions that affect them. White wants Lake Country to be easier to do business with. White supports the industrial park plan but wants it to attract businesses that employ local residents.
We've got a great thing going right now in the plan for the industrial park, but we need to make sure that the right businesses go there.
Asked As a member of council, how will you stay informed about the needs of the community, and what will you do to ensure you remain connected to residents throughout the term?
Summary Tony White says residents have not been heard and wants to reopen the conversation with them. White would hold town halls in person or online, update residents regularly, and attend community events and meetings. White would also answer emails promptly, encourage council to bring back resident dialogue, and use social media to engage.
I want to hold town halls Either in person or online and update the residents on a regular basis, attend community events and meetings, not just council meetings.
Asked What is one accomplishment or project in your past work or volunteer life or other experience you would share with the audience that would demonstrate your ability to lead, collaborate, and or solve complex problems?
Summary Tony White says one proud accomplishment was turning around the commercial sales division at Best Buy Canada. White says revenue grew over 250% and net operating profit grew 2,500% by finding savings and renegotiating contracts. White says the work with the district would be done in a similar way.
So I worked with internal and external partners to find savings. We looked at controlling expenses. We looked at the headcount wages. Looked at the contracts that we had and renegotiated them.
My friends and neighbours continually expressed concerns about the lack of accountability and communication from council for their decisions, for the ongoing budget increases or for their response to questions from the residents. I chose to run, to use my extensive business background to change this.
I'm running to represent my neighbours in Okanagan Centre for Lake Country Council to focus on what matters most - responsible spending, respectful conversations, open transparency, better roads and infrastructure and public safety.
I’m a semi-retired business leader and consultant who has spent my career working with businesses large and small. My professional experience has taught me how to lead thoughtful change, seek efficiencies and reduce costs, while working with people to find practical solutions to everyday challenges.
Asked Lake Country businesses often struggle to recruit and retain employees because of housing costs and availability. What actions would you support to increase attainable workforce housing?
Firstly, we need to work to relax the requirements for secondary suites and allowing more carriage houses to be accepted into the rental pool. Rooming houses could also be an option when companies run their own accommodations for staff.
Asked Lake Country businesses often struggle to recruit and retain employees because of housing costs and availability. What actions would you support to increase attainable workforce housing?
Any new rental structures that are approved and meet the District's plan could have rent controls as a requirement.
Asked How would you control municipal spending and keep commercial property taxes, business-licensing costs and other municipal fees affordable?
Previous councils have treated taxpayer money like it was a blank cheque. We need to control spending, perform a forensic deep-dive into costs and contracts before we look at increasing taxes and fees.
Asked How would you address traffic congestion, parking limitations and transportation challenges affecting employees, customers and commercial deliveries?
Parking and delivery access restrictions should be reviewed and either enforced or relaxed to the benefit of the businesses. Other communities have implemented business only park and ride facilities where the employees of multiple businesses share a larger centralized parking lot.
Asked What specific changes would you support to make building permits, development applications, inspections and business approvals faster and more predictable?
Some good examples would be creating a single point of contact, enhance the online application and approval process as well as turn-around time for inspections.
