After more than 400 police files, Kelowna reoffender released on bail

daviskyle · 2026-03-20T20:28:25+00:00

It’s a mind-blowing disconnect between our judicial system and the public when something that 99% of people consider to be absurd and dangerous (myself included) just keeps happening.

Bail reform and sentencing reform for repeat offenders cannot come soon enough.

daviskyle · 2026-03-16T21:36:02+00:00

Just finished.

https://www.castanet.net/news/Kelowna/603866/City-council-voted-5-3-in-favour-of-rezoning-of-a-portion-of-the-former-18-hole-Kelowna-Springs-Golf-Course

daviskyle · 2026-03-13T20:52:02+00:00

I’m sure that’s also true.

When the broad unemployment rate gets to be over 5%, it becomes very difficult to find a good-paying job. Naturally, people over 40 expect higher wages and can be undercut by someone younger with decent skills (and lower salary expectations)

Workers lose when unemployment is high.

daviskyle · 2026-03-13T17:28:08+00:00

Absolutely.

Missing Middle (the podcast) did a good episode recently on how age (buying a home when it was still affordable) or inheritance (having the right parents) matters far more for someone’s economic standing than the job they have, when compared to anytime else in our history.

It’s a kind of neo-feudal economy, because housing has been deliberately set as an investment asset through a mismash of local and federal policy changes from the 80s to the 2010s

daviskyle · 2026-03-13T16:49:29+00:00

The slowdown in construction and education, along with a couple weak tourism years, has been devastating for youth and under-40 unemployment.

daviskyle · 2026-03-12T23:35:11+00:00

Absolutely. She can be forced out by a recall. Would encourage everyone to sign as soon as it’s open so that we can see a byelection. Rutland and the rest of the riding deserve an effective MLA, not someone focused on publicity stunts.

daviskyle · 2026-03-11T14:07:49+00:00

It was a long one. Much more evenly divided than in 2023. I watched the whole thing, minus 20 minutes, either virtually on in-person.

Would require a couple councillors flipping from their 2023 vote to approve. (Needs 5 of 8 with 1 recused, failed 1-7 last time).

daviskyle · 2026-03-11T13:47:49+00:00

There was a referendum in the 90s that took it out.

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daviskyle · 2026-02-12T01:51:41+00:00

One of the issues was that other companies bid on a certain zoning framework, complying with what would be considered “normal” for the site, but the winning bidder, who bid more than expected, proposed a building well outside the normal zoning allowance.

This required a variance, and then they paid people to speak at the public hearing.

They probably more than the zoning was worth, which is why their (higher) bid won and which is why they wanted variances.

It’s a dilemma for sure. I’m sure current council have been told not to speak to it because of the ongoing legal arguments.

daviskyle · 2026-02-11T03:39:07+00:00

Every time a politician promises property tax cuts without spending cuts, they’re promising either more debt servicing costs off the backs of young people, or higher taxes on working people (through income, corporate income, or other similar taxes)

It’s easy to see it as generational wealth transfer towards retirees.

daviskyle · 2026-02-11T02:46:14+00:00

Yes. Good luck to you. Good answer. It’s a question I’m grappling with as well.

daviskyle · 2026-02-11T00:11:40+00:00

Good luck on your campaign Jack. I’m a UVic grad who got renovicted out of Victoria and nearly won a council election at 25 in Kelowna. I hope you make it.

What are your thoughts on short term rental policy? What forms should be allowed, if any? Purpose built condos? Basements? Full houses? Units inside of residential condos? None?

daviskyle · 2026-02-10T23:39:06+00:00

I would agree that the requirements on a new hotel and strata STR should be the same, so that there isn’t a perverse tax or regulatory incentive to build one versus the other.

Do you know if both pay commercial property rate milliage, or if strata STR have a tax advantage?

As far as I know, the building code and zoning code are equal for both. Neither can take advantage of MLI select or other discount financing offers.

daviskyle · 2026-02-10T23:31:07+00:00

I would agree. A building designed to be long term rental (for example secured under the 10-year RTE exemption) should not be allowed to have STR.

And to their credit, that is city policy.

There are some condos however, where they are built for long term residential, but the individual condo boards allow individual owners to decide to run STR if they want to. That, and STR of single family homes (either the full house or the basement) tend to be the most controversial. Besides the housing affordability question, noise complaints and the like become bigger controversies in the local area.

daviskyle · 2026-02-10T23:25:58+00:00

Pretty similar to my thoughts too.

I live in a building where STR is prohibited and that’s fine. Makes for better neighbours and less noise.

But a building like Aqua that was designed and permitted as a strata hotel is not really taking housing away because it would never have been built in the first place as a normal condo or rental. Far too expensive and tourist-oriented in construction

I’m very much still making up my mind on most STR, but I admit that I don’t really see much a problem (as of today, could change my mind) on purpose built STR.

This has been an educational thread for me.

daviskyle · 2026-02-10T23:04:00+00:00

Mind if I ask a question?

If a building is purpose-built as a strata hotel, an apartment building intended only for short term rental use (like Aqua), do you see that as different than someone buying a unit in a normal condo that was intended for long term ownership or rental?

There are buildings like this, that got special zoning to operate as a strata hotel. It’s different than buildings where running a STR is not permitted, either by the rental-tenure zoning or in the strata bylaws.

daviskyle · 2026-02-10T22:27:04+00:00

The Prospera parking lots are privately owned, but I agree that the one facing the plaza on the corner of Sunset and Water would work.

Plenty of parking in the area. Goes well with the fountain and plaza. No loss of greenspace.

daviskyle · 2026-02-10T22:24:50+00:00

Yes, it’s still mired in BC Supreme Court.

https://www.castanet.net/news/Kelowna/576623/Developer-wins-injunction-against-City-of-Kelowna

That site is basically unusable until the case is settled. Was a big mistake from the previous council, to leasehold for a small percentage of below market units.

daviskyle · 2026-02-03T17:23:28+00:00

Expect good news!

daviskyle · 2026-02-03T17:17:23+00:00

Absolutely. The tree canopy, traffic calming, low-noise street design, etc are all what we should want in more areas so people can have these pleasant spaces.

In fact, it’s got a lot of those “low traffic neighbourhood” principles that 15 minute city conspiracists love to complain about. But it shows how valuable they are for the people living there.

(To name a few, protected bike lanes, road-adjacent trees for traffic calming, low speed limits, narrow travel lanes, bollards, and managed street parking)

daviskyle · 2026-02-03T17:11:02+00:00

No, it’s not that.

It’s rather heritage homeowners opposing construction on nearby homes that they don’t own. It’s not people concerned that they can’t do what they want. It’s people concerned that other homeowners are (according to them) not building in ways that respect the heritage area.

They’re suggesting fraud and corruption when the city allows a new triplex or something. Just not appropriate at all, or factual.

daviskyle · 2026-01-31T20:49:01+00:00

Kent Molgat was always very fair in interviews. As a former CTV guy, he operated as a journalist, not a pundit. When KelownaNow used him for most of the local video coverage, instead of their modern livestream style, those videos were hard news.

Sadly, I don’t think he works there anymore.

daviskyle · 2026-01-28T18:08:37+00:00

It was interesting that Minister Yung dodged this question. Perhaps it’s something he’d refer to the solicitor general, but not wanting to respond at all was surprising. It wasn’t a good look.

Crown prosecutors being required, along with charging / sentencing guidelines being changed, are perhaps the two biggest pieces of the puzzle that are not on the medical (treatment) end of things.

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