Mayor Tom Dyas and Kelowna city councillor Ron Cannan mixed it up early during 2026 budget deliberations.

An attempt by Cannan to scale back funding for Kelowna’s official outdoor homeless camping site was rejected during 2026 budget deliberations.

Cannan said he didn’t believe the encampment in the downtown north end along the Rail Trail was having the desired effect of reducing homelessness in other parts of the city. There are often more bylaw and security guards at the site than there are homeless people, Cannan said.

He proposed a motion for council to hear from RCMP Supt. Chris Goebel if police believed the city’s investments in the outdoor sheltering site were valuable. But only Coun. Gord Lovegrove supported the motion.

“That’s the end of that,” Mayor Tom Dyas said.

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