The issues facing Kelowna are not unique to Kelowna, nor are they unique to the 2026 election. Every community in BC is facing the exact same issues and have been for the last 3 elections. You need to go back to the 2014 Municipal Election before you see an appreciable difference in the hot topics. We either finally address these topics directly and find solutions, or we accept them as chronic talking points and move on.

As a long-time resident deeply invested in the region's success, I will bring a pragmatic, solutions-oriented approach to local government, rooted in accountability, fiscal common sense, and community collaboration.

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A Platform Built on Common Sense:

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• Fiscal Responsibility: Resources are finite. With spending out of control at both the provincial and federal levels, local government must set the standard for efficiency and respect for taxpayer dollars. But fiscal responsibility does not equate to cutting valuable social services, it means ensuring tax dollars are spent wisely, efficiently and there are measurable results.

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• Collaboration: Many of the decisions impacting Kelowna residents are made upstream by other levels of government. Effective communication, strong advocacy through the Union of BC Municipalities (UBCM), and genuine collaboration are critical to ensuring our city's voice is heard and our interests are protected. Again, the challenges we are facing are not unique to Kelowna and we cannot solve complex problems in isolation.

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• Safer Streets: The biggest issue facing Kelowna today as it hits residents in two significant ways – It fundamentally disrupts families and businesses AND Emergency Services currently consumes over 50% of taxpayer revenue. Simply throwing more money at the fallout while not addressing systemic challenges is a double disservice to Kelowna residents. 

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       I advocate for:

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       -Pressing upstream levels of government for meaningful judicial reform to break           the revolving-door justice cycle

       -Pushing for medical, community, and structural support frameworks, including a         practical framework for involuntary care, needed to tackle severe substance                 abuse and mental health concerns head-on. 
       -Ensuring current resources (Police, Fire and Bylaw) have the tools and are                     adequately equipped to address the safety concerns of the community
       -Review of the current policing model and if the evidence suggests, replacing the         RCMP with a municipal force.

       Like I always say - if solving one problem creates another - you still have a         

       problem. We must focus on the source rather than just managing the fallout.
 

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• Affordability: While housing dominates the conversation, taxation in all forms – PST, GST, corporate tax, property transfer tax, fuel tax, liquor tax, tobacco tax, property tax – all paid in “after tax” dollars – is most people’s greatest living expense. Obviously, taxes are a necessary part of a civilized society, but they cannot go unmentioned when discussing the topic of affordability. Leaving more money in the pockets of taxpayers goes a long way in addressing the affordability issue.

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• Housing: There is a delicate balance between trying to bring down the cost of housing while protecting equity that current homeowners increasingly rely on for retirement savings. By controlling Development Cost Charges (DCCs), tax incentives, zoning bylaws and reducing red tape we can provide a wider range of housing options for first time buyers, seniors downsizing, and those looking for ground level homes in the middle market. We must also aggressively lobby other levels of government for common sense programs such as extending mortgage amortizations available and permitting interest on targeted entry level principle residential mortgages to be tax deductible. Improving the cashflow of homeowners at a time they need it most – when starting out and raising young children – will have a huge impact on the health of young families in our community.

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• Responsible Growth: Kelowna has the enviable problem of being a city many people want to live in. While growth is inevitable, how we manage it directly impacts existing resident’s quality of life. Council needs to strive to keep infrastructure ahead of the growth, rather than always playing catch up.

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I am committed to addressing the root cause of issues, having the tough conversations and delivering practical results for every resident of this great city.

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Vote Brian Pinter for City Council—Practical Leadership for Kelowna's Future.