Lake Country Municipal Election Candidates Panel, recorded by Rogers tv. Watch on YouTube.
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Tap a question to see every answer to it. Each summary was written by AI and checked by a person, with one exact quote and a link to the moment in the video.
Summary Tricia Brett says the past four years on council involved hard choices on growth, housing rules, costs and drought. Brett lists a 20-year water plan, park and community centre upgrades, and a new in-house road crew as progress. Brett says water, growth, infrastructure and taxes are all connected.
Water is important to growth. Growth is connected to infrastructure. Infrastructure is connected to taxes.
Summary Priscila Brunetto says the goal is to make daily life easier for the 18,000 people in Lake Country. Brunetto wants better roads, traffic and infrastructure, and wants residents to feel safe. Brunetto says council's job is to ease stress for residents.
How can I provide you better roads? How can you provide better traffic, infrastructure? How can I make you feel safe and alleviate the stress that is our council as a job to alleviate from your shoulders.
Summary MaryEllen Buhler says affordability was the loudest concern heard while knocking on doors. Buhler says taxes rose almost 40% over four years and calls that unsustainable. Buhler wants development in the right places that pays its fair share of ongoing costs.
Some development is necessary, of course, but we do need it in the right places, and that development needs to pay its fair share of the ongoing costs once it's done.
Summary Lynn Bursaw says 37-plus years of nursing work would be used to work for Lake Country. Bursaw wants to support local business, lake health, clean drinking water, farming and reasonable housing growth. Bursaw also supports getting ready for fires and floods and bringing new health care options to Lake Country.
environmental stewardship to support our lake health, to provide clean and safe drinking water, support agriculture activities for our local farming community
Summary Rodi Gorrell says residents keep raising affordability and sustainability, and says the economy and infrastructure are under strain. Gorrell says Lake Country needs sidewalks, lights and better water. If elected, Gorrell would focus on transparency so residents know what is happening in Lake Country.
And I just want everyone to know that if I get in on council, that one thing that will be is transparency.
Summary Blair Ireland, the current mayor, says experience matters and points to roles on the regional district, hospital and water boards. Ireland says these roles give Lake Country a voice outside its borders and help get funding. Ireland wants to keep the tax burden as low as possible.
But it's really important that we keep our tax burden as low as we possibly can going forward because we can't be more expensive than the other places.
Summary Heather Irvine says love of the community is the reason for running again. Irvine says the current role is councillor for Winfield, and hopes to be re-elected. Irvine kept the introduction short to leave more time for questions.
The love of my community is why I run, continue to run, and I'm hoping to be re-elected.
Summary Kent Johnson wants to keep Oyama small and beautiful, in its original shape. Johnson would repave some roads and keep current infrastructure plans moving forward. Johnson says changing the plan means starting over, and wants to listen and be a voice for residents.
So my plan with it all is just to repave some roads, keep infrastructure moving on forward the way it is, and just keep it going.
Summary Michael Lewis grew up in Lake Country and says it is the best place to raise a family. Lewis says permits for building and development used to take years instead of weeks. Lewis says council worked together to fix this problem and wants to serve another term.
when it comes to permitting and development, building houses, building a deck, renovating your house, any little thing, took years, years instead of weeks.
Summary Bib Patel has served as councillor at large for four years and is running again. Patel says sidewalks for safety and a business park are not done yet. Patel wants to keep moving them forward and increase community engagement, including hearing residents' opinions.
I ran on sidewalks that needed to be built for safety. They're not done. We have a lake, we have a business park. It's not done.
Summary Kristi Reich thanks the current council for its work over the last four years. Reich says a community fight last January against a project near Reich's home led to running for office. Reich runs businesses and supports small business owners in the community.
I'm out in the community every day supporting small business. I'm very raw-raw for small business as an owner myself.
Summary Ian Scromeda says infrastructure is a big issue in Lake Country and will cost a lot to fix. Scromeda wants to help the district get funding from senior governments. Scromeda says paying for it through local taxes alone would not be sustainable.
that's where I feel I can be most effective in helping Lake Country navigate issues and obtain funding from senior government because it will be unsustainable for us to pay on our own through our taxes
Summary Sean Sookochoff says the district needs responsible, open money management as elementary schools face growth pressures. Sookochoff wants policy changes to be careful and based on evidence, not sweeping reversals or one-size-fits-all rules. Sookochoff supports a model where every child has an adult mentor at school.
I advocate for a model where every child has an adult mentor in their school, a trusted advocate who fosters belonging to their school community
Summary Wilbur Turner says schools need to be safe for both students and staff. Turner also wants to close gaps in academic results. Turner says leaving school after grade 11 was largely because of bullying.
one of the reasons I'm running is because I really believe that we need safe schools. We need safe schools for students. We also need safe schools for staff.
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
Summary Rodi Gorrell says Lake Country is special because it is rural, small and cozy. Gorrell wants to keep that character as the town changes. Gorrell says building should continue, but it must be sustainable and done right.
I'm not saying we don't build, but it's got to be sustainable, and it's got to be done right.
Summary Blair Ireland says the rural character of Lake Country is what makes it special and must be protected. Ireland says the ALR and ALC help protect land and does not want that land taken out. Ireland wants to keep the community green despite development pressure.
it's our rural character. And that's what we have to protect. There's a lot of development pressures around, but the most important thing is that we protect
Summary Michael Lewis grew up in Lake Country and says the community is still much like it was. Lewis says its character comes from its people and how people treat each other. Lewis says farmland is already protected, with 47% of Lake Country in the ALR.
So what makes Lake Country Lake Country? It's not the building. I think it's a culture. It's the people. It's the way people act with each other.
Summary Heather Irvine says it is time to slow down growth. Irvine says water is a concern after this summer's drought and roads need to be better. Irvine says new building is outpacing roads, and more residents will mean longer traffic delays.
We are adding all this building and we don't have enough roads.
Summary Bib Patel says sidewalks are a safety issue, pointing to kids walking on the road near Peter Greer. Patel wants to keep pushing for safety first, such as filling sidewalk gaps on Okanagan Centre. Patel supports doing road work with District-owned equipment to save money, and wants smart decisions on development.
I want to keep advocating to make sure that we're focusing on safety first.
Summary Kristi Reich says growth is being approved without thought for police, paved roads, sidewalks or lights. Reich opposes the new mini mall near Berry Road and the Bond Road development. Reich wants a sidewalk and crosswalk for kids at Davidson and Okanagan Centre East.
we're just pushing through any single thing that comes across the board. We're not giving any thought to how that's going to affect the community
Summary Lynn Bursaw says making homes affordable for families will take planning for growth. Bursaw says other types of homes, such as duplexes, could be considered. Bursaw wants a review of what the community needs right now.
Different types of homes, such as duplexes, could be considered and require assessment of what is actually needed in the community at this time.
Summary Ian Scromeda says housing costs are mostly set by the open market, including building and material costs. Scromeda wants a wide range of housing types, including secondary suites where they fit. Scromeda also wants a faster, simpler permit process that people understand from the start.
we need a streamlined process so it's easy for people to build homes, like Michael's comments. It should be a straightforward process that everyone understands going in.
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
Summary Priscila Brunetto says council should deliver both preservation and progress, without choosing between them. Brunetto wants growth directed to the town centre, away from farms and lands, and infrastructure for current residents first. Brunetto says new development should pay toward roads, water, sewer and community needs.
We should not have to choose between preservation or progress. We should be able to deliver both.
Summary MaryEllen Buhler says growth and protecting the environment can both happen. Buhler says this means planning 5 to 20 years ahead and listening to experts with a critical ear. Buhler wants to protect the environment, stay true to Lake Country's nature and keep the lakes healthy for years to come.
if you plan appropriately, listen to the experts with critical ears and eyes understand that what you're doing is planning for 5, 10, 15, 20 years out and not in the moment
Summary Kent Johnson says keeping green spaces is very important. Johnson wants a better plan so the area develops as one, not in scattered pieces. Johnson also wants to keep farmland and protect the water source.
keeping our green spaces is very important, and having a better sea plan, where we develop it as one, rather than here, there, everywhere.
Summary Sean Sookochoff says the biggest challenge is navigating a fast-changing world where future jobs are uncertain. Sookochoff wants schools to offer students a safe and stable place to learn. Sookochoff also wants students to try different things before graduating, like work experience, music, building projects and school trips.
I want students to have opportunities to try on a couple of hats before they graduate.
Summary Wilbur Turner says provincial funding is the biggest challenge, affecting class size, supports, results and community growth. Turner says per student funding has not kept up since 2002. Turner wants the board to push the province for more money through the BC Trustees Association.
we need a strong voice on the board to advocate through the BC Trustees Association to the provincial government for stronger funding
Summary Lynn Bursaw says there are more than 315 local farms in the community. Bursaw says supporting farmers means buying local and not asking for changes to the agricultural land reserve. Bursaw wants farmers to have a voice at the table and the resources they need, such as water.
Supporting them means buying local and not requesting changes to the agricultural land reserves that protect those local farmers.
Summary Bib Patel says local farms and roadside sales are part of the community's identity. Patel supports the Farmgate Trail and wants to expand it. Patel wants an online tool that shows people where to find specific local produce.
Farmgate Trail is one of my favorite things in the world and I stand behind it. I think Ruth in our business developments have done a fantastic job. I want to expand on that.
Summary Kristi Reich says nearby farmers said council causes them no problems and did not ask for anything. Reich wants an interactive landmark at farm gate locations, where visitors scan a barcode to join a local scavenger hunt. Reich says this would bring more people to farms and supports shopping local.
my ideas would be to create an amazing interactive landmark at all of our Farmgate locations, where if you go there, you scan a barcode and it puts you in part of the local scavenger hunt
Summary Tricia Brett says supporting local business helps diversify the tax base and supports people who live and work here. Brett supports the Lake Country Business Park to add business space that costs less than Vernon or Kelowna. Brett wants more staff help in the economic and tourism department.
that space has to be cheaper than what is in Vernon and Kelowna because we are competing against two different centres and two large centres
Summary Heather Irvine wants Lake Country to have its own stand-alone tourist board. Irvine wants the community to become a four-season place so businesses do not rely only on summer. Irvine says businesses need a voice and wants at least two councillors on the chamber committee.
We need to become a four-season spot. Right now, we're geared towards summer, and that's wrong. One bad summer season could do a business in.
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.
Summary Rodi Gorrell says seniors need more support, including healthcare, doctors and a place to go. Gorrell wants more senior centres and more senior-friendly rentals. Gorrell says seniors who need a ride should have someone to take them.
If they need a ride, there should be someone there to take them somewhere. I know there was some of that being cut back, and we need to take care of those seniors.
Summary Blair Ireland says seniors who want to downsize are often forced to leave for Kelowna or Vernon. Ireland wants senior government to help fund local options and more support for the Lake Country Health Society. Ireland also says access to doctors and lab services in Lake Country needs a solution.
they want to stay in Lake Country, but they do not have that opportunity right now. and we lose people, you know, they're forced to move to Kelowna or Vernon for some sort of facility.
Summary Kent Johnson says seniors need a senior centre and recreation places to go to. Johnson also wants better health care, including bringing doctors to town, and more affordable housing. Johnson says the way to address this is getting funding and pushing for it.
providing just more affordable housing, more affordable centers for them. It's all a part of it, but it's getting funding for it all and pushing for it
Summary Priscila Brunetto says the strongest step would be engaging parents and asking what their kids need. Brunetto supports programs that strengthen families rather than pull youth away from them. Brunetto also wants safe roads, good lighting, transportation and local jobs so youth can see a future here.
So programs that strengthen family with life rather than pulling youth away from them and the goal is to support what parents are already trying to do.
Summary MaryEllen Buhler says youth have nowhere to go, no way to get there and few job chances. Buhler wants to ask youth what they need and let them guide the services offered. Buhler supports an outreach program with regular meetings, working with schools and the liaison officer.
I think that we need an outreach program that's dedicated to regular meetings, work with the high schools, work with the middle schools, and with the elementary schools
Summary Michael Lewis says engaging youth is always hard. Lewis believes kids need to learn about local government and what council does. Lewis agrees with a youth committee and floats a youth council, liaison or committee as possible ideas. Lewis is willing to speak at schools.
honestly I think kids need to learn about local government. I think most adults don't understand what we do.
Summary Ian Scromeda wants a youth committee that meets with council regularly to share what young people need and want. Scromeda says Lake Country lacks transportation, so youth rely on parents and others to get around. Scromeda would support a system that helps youth get around town more easily.
I think the biggest thing would be having a youth committee that engages with counsel on a regular basis so they can understand what they need and want and help drive solutions towards them
Summary Sean Sookochoff says protecting class size should be a budget priority. Sookochoff says hiring fewer teachers and raising class sizes saves money but is not best for students. Sookochoff wants the province to fund education and wants support for classroom space and staffing.
You need to advocate for educational space and staffing to keep classrooms learner-centered. The province needs to step up. They need to fund education.
Summary Wilbur Turner says the budget should focus on the ratio of administration to front-line staff. Turner wants more money and respect for teachers and EAs, so classrooms are not crowded. Turner also says the district must push the provincial government for the funding it needs.
I think there needs to be more allocation and respect put to the front line. EAs, teachers, make sure that those resources are there and that we don't have crowded classrooms.
Summary Kent Johnson says decisions would be made without bias. Johnson wants to listen to everyone's views, make the right choice and work together as a team. Johnson says listening to residents is the most important part, and bringing what they need to the table.
I have an unbiased decision and I'm here to listen to everybody's choice and make the right decision on that and work together as a team to make that happen
Summary Michael Lewis says having been on the citizen side, trying to work through district processes, is the main strength offered. Lewis says council should show empathy for applicants and look at issues from their point of view. Lewis says council members all need to get along and work together for the community.
empathetic, empathy for the applicant, the person standing in front of us, and saying, look, let's look at it from their point of view. It's not just about us. We have to all get along here.
Summary Ian Scromeda says experience working with provincial and federal governments is what Scromeda would bring to council. Scromeda would help council deal with the province on funding, support and regulation. On team dynamics, Scromeda says managing large teams at work means being used to bringing different personalities together toward a common goal.
someone who has dealt with the province, getting money, getting help, and working them on regulation.
Summary Blair Ireland says every decision should look at what is best for the whole community. Ireland says serving as a ward councillor showed that the whole community must come first. Ireland would listen widely, beyond those directly affected, before making a decision.
in every decision that we make, that we look at the whole community and what's best for the whole thing.
Summary Heather Irvine says listening to both sides, the yes and the no, is important when making decisions. Irvine says weighing pros and cons should cover all of Lake Country, not just one ward. Irvine says some people will always be unhappy, but decisions must serve the whole community.
there's always going to be an unhappy person. You have to believe it's for the betterment of the whole community.
Summary Bib Patel says every decision will leave some people unhappy. Patel would ask whether a choice lifts the whole community, including businesses, youth and seniors. For people who disagree, Patel wants to talk with them so they respect the answer even if they dislike it.
talking to all the community. Looking at businesses, looking at our youth, looking at our seniors and saying, does this lift the community? Does this move the community forward?
Summary Tricia Brett says council members can all do better at answering emails faster. Brett would stay connected by volunteering, attending local events and school games, and visiting classrooms to hear from youth. Brett commits to reporting back to residents more often than in the first term.
I will ensure that I listen through all of these events, maintain ongoing conversations with residents and the thing that I committed to the first time was reporting back a lot more than I did
Summary Lynn Bursaw says residents are the heart of Lake Country. Bursaw would look for chances to meet with groups and residents so people feel part of council decisions. Bursaw says events like this panel help council learn what the community wants.
I will look for opportunities to engage with groups and community members to stay informed so residents can feel a part of the Council's decision making process.
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.
Summary Priscila Brunetto says council should put residents' opinions and ideas first. Brunetto says experts should guide council, but the vision should come from residents. Brunetto wants council to do more to reach people and to track how many residents take part.
We need to use experts to guide us, but the vision comes from the residents. And the staff and the experts are there to help us how we can achieve the vision that the residents have.
Summary MaryEllen Buhler says council gives a lot of weight to staff advice, but the public's view is sometimes missing. Buhler says people met while door knocking do not feel heard. Buhler says a mayor is elected by the people, so their wishes should be the main filter for decisions.
I think you're elected by the people, and so that should really be your number one loudest filter is to look for what your people want from you.
Summary Rodi Gorrell says candidates are interviewing for a job to work for residents. Gorrell says the job requires communication, so people know what council is deciding and doing. Gorrell invites residents to call or email, and says mistakes can be fixed with public help.
And for us to work for you guys, we've got to communicate. Communication, communication, communication. You guys need to know what we're talking about, what we're deciding, what we're doing.
Summary Kristi Reich says councillors should study council material closely and sometimes visit sites to see the bigger picture. Reich wants to ask residents for their views, including through polls on social media. Reich says councillors should vote the way their ward wants and keep their promises.
if your ward doesn't want something, you need to represent that in your voting and you need to follow through on what you say you're going to do for your ward
Summary Sean Sookochoff says the provincial government needs to pay for a new school in Lake Country. Sookochoff says checking where the school is in the planning process would be an early task. Sookochoff wants the school placed where it is convenient for parents, and says the site needs discussion.
The provincial government needs to step up and provide money for a new school for Lake Country.
Summary Wilbur Turner says the budget should fund front line staff properly and avoid a heavy administration. Turner would look at whether administration staffing costs are too high and move money to the front lines. Turner wants capital money spent where needed, on class sizes and supports, with student needs first.
something I would be looking at is to ensure that the administration staffing budget is not heavy and that the money should be going toward the front lines
Summary Tricia Brett says council needs to explain its decisions better and share its successes with residents. Brett says sharing those successes builds trust and accountability. Brett wants to keep holding the ward meetings that council brought back.
the part that we need to do is communicate out those successes. That's what builds trust and that would build accountability.
Summary Lynn Bursaw says the first priority, if elected, would be to learn and understand the job. Bursaw says education has always been important and compares it to training in the medical field. Bursaw wants to move forward together and spend tax dollars to bring the most economic value back to the community.
to move forward cohesively to provide Lake Country with the most efficient use of community tax dollars to ensure every dollar will be spent to bring the greatest economic value back to the community
Summary Kristi Reich says anyone can drive up to the house and knock on the door. Reich says there is no hidden agenda and no secrets. Reich would stay accountable by listening and fighting for what residents need.
So that is the way I'd be accountable to you is by listening, applying, fighting for what you need
Summary MaryEllen Buhler says affordability is the biggest challenge facing Lake Country. Buhler wants to review city hall spending to find savings and to plan for road costs that come with growth. Buhler says Lake Country should put needs before wants and choose practical over fancy.
I think we can also find money and the efficiencies in our city hall I think it starts with reviewing what we're spending why we're spending it
Summary Rodi Gorrell says affordability is the biggest challenge, along with infrastructure. Gorrell says many new units are coming and people need to be able to get around town. Gorrell wants a water plant, better drinking water and sustainability.
So what we need to do is we need to get our water plant, get a better drinking water, sustainability, and just get everything back in order.
Summary Michael Lewis says Lake Country needs a water treatment plant because Beaver Lake water quality is poor. Lewis says the $86 million plan depends on development charges and money from new users as homes are built. Lewis says people dislike growth and traffic, but the community needs clean water.
Yes, people are nervous about growth. I know that. People don't like it. They hate the traffic. They hate the growth. But we need clean water.
Summary Priscila Brunetto says infrastructure is a top priority. In the first year, Brunetto would build a relationship with senior government to get funding for water and roads. Brunetto wants Lake Country's funding requests to stand out from other communities competing for the same money.
In my first year, what I would try is to build a relationship with senior government. All that we need for water, for streets and roads, we need funding.
Summary Kent Johnson's top priority is finishing Main Street and connecting it to the highway. Johnson says traffic is the biggest issue and wants it to flow better.
I'd like to see Main Street finished, personally. Get it moving through, get it connected to the highway. Make traffic better.
Summary Ian Scromeda says infrastructure is the top priority and needs a lot of work and money. Scromeda also wants to diversify the tax base, which Scromeda says is 87% residential and not sustainable. Scromeda wants smart development that attracts businesses, so residents can shop locally and businesses pay more tax.
Lake Country's tax base is 87% residential, which is shocking to me. That is completely unsustainable. We need to do something about that.
Summary Blair Ireland says that during the 2023 fires, the city manager left and Ireland took the lead. Ireland says nearby governments blocked residents' return, and Ireland told the regional district the community's people would leave its emergency centre. Ireland also led emergency responses at a ski resort and says these skills are very important.
I took that lead and found the regional district and told them we're going to take all of our people out of their EOC until they paid attention to the needs of our community
Summary Heather Irvine says one example is helping a resident get permanent accessible parking for a truck and trailer. Irvine says the effort took two and a half years. Irvine says the goal is to help people across the whole community and wants to be re-elected to keep advocating.
I tried to help Jim just recently obtain permanent handicap parking for his truck and trailer. It's unique for his mobility.
Summary Bib Patel says the first motion Patel made on council was to diversify the tax base, and council passed it. Patel says relying on residential taxes is not sustainable and wants less reliance on them. Patel supports small business growth and serves on the Chamber of Commerce.
I identified that early on with our large tax increase that this isn't sustainable as a community. We have to find different ways.
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.
Summary Sean Sookochoff wants a balance on personal tech like cell phones in schools, which are useful but distracting. Sookochoff says provincial policy is weakened by the time it reaches classrooms, leaving teachers to enforce it. Sookochoff says AI adds to the challenge and wishes it would find a place where it belongs and is useful.
I'd sure like to see some sort of balance achieved around tech, personal tech in the schools. It's a huge distraction
Summary Wilbur Turner says math and literacy results in grades 7 and 10 are below the provincial average. Turner wants the district to look into why, so students graduate with proper results. Turner also wants students to have more say and learn real-life skills, like budgeting and using AI properly.
I really want the district to focus on those kind of things that are meaningful when it comes to having graduates turn out with the skills that they need to participate fully in life.
Summary Jeff Schall says the community plan should guide growth and would not support bending rules for high-density projects. Schall wants new developments to pay for infrastructure and would seek grants to fix the east side water system. Schall says residential taxpayers carry too much and wants less red tape to attract light industrial and commercial businesses.
Our official community plan is our neighborhood roadmap, and we need to stick to it. I will not support bending the rules for high-density projects that ruin our rural charm.