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Brian Andrews

Independent for Kamloops Council

Climate Change, Heat, & Fires

Energy-Efficient Buildings

I will support stronger efficiency standards and incentives so new and existing buildings cut emissions, lower utility bills, and stay comfortable in extreme heat.

Flooding

I will invest in flood mitigation and smarter land-use planning to protect homes, businesses, and infrastructure as climate emergencies become more frequent.

Green Space

I will protect and expand parks and green space, recognizing them as essential to livability, cooling, and climate resilience.

Private Vehicles & Parking

I will balance parking needs with safer streets and transit options, ensuring car access without sacrificing walkability or affordability.

Urban Heat

I will prioritize shade, tree canopy, and cool-surface strategies in high-heat areas so vulnerable residents stay safe during extreme weather.

Walking & Cycling

I will build a complete, connected, and safe network of walking and cycling routes that makes active transportation a practical choice for everyday trips, not just recreation.

Zoning

I will support zoning that encourages housing affordability, climate resilience, and mixed-use neighbourhoods where people can live, work, and play close to home.

Housing & Homelessness

Affordability

I will ensure that housing costs stay within reach by tying public investment to real public value, such as affordable rentals and starter homes.

Building Maintenance & Occupant Health

I will push for stronger enforcement of maintenance standards so that every rental is safe, healthy, and dignified.

Homelessness

I will treat homelessness as a crisis requiring coordinated housing-first solutions with wrap-around supports, not just temporary fixes.

Housing Accessibility

I will require that new housing and retrofits meet accessibility standards so that people of all ages and abilities can live independently.

Indigenous-Led Housing

I will support Indigenous-led housing initiatives that respect self-determination and meet the specific needs of First Nations residents.

Property Taxes

I will work to keep property taxes predictable and fair while protecting the services residents depend on.

Public & Assistive Housing

I will advocate for increased investment in public and assistive housing so that low-income and vulnerable residents have stable, affordable homes.

Rent & Rental Stock

I will support policies that increase the supply of secure, purpose-built rentals and protect tenants from unfair rent increases and renovictions.

Zoning

I will support zoning that encourages housing affordability, climate resilience, and mixed-use neighbourhoods where people can live, work, and play close to home.

Human Rights

Physical Accessibility

I will make sure public buildings, sidewalks, and services are physically accessible to everyone, so no resident is shut out of civic life.

Recent Immigrants

I will support settlement services and remove barriers so newcomers can find housing, work, and community connections quickly.

Sex Work

I will approach sex work as a health and safety issue, supporting harm reduction and protections for workers rather than stigma or punishment.

Trans Rights & Access to Public Services

I will ensure trans and gender-diverse residents can access city services, facilities, and programs safely, respectfully, and without discrimination.

Local Government & Democracy

Budgeting

I will ensure every budget dollar delivers real public value, prioritizing affordability, climate resilience, and the services residents rely on.

Good Governance

I will champion transparent, consistent decision-making with clear public reporting and accountable explanations for every council decision.

Public Engagement

I will expand accessible ways for all residents to shape city decisions, from clearer information sharing to genuine opportunities for input.

Youth Engagement

I will make sure young people have a real voice in council, because decisions made today shape the Kamloops they will inherit.

Mental Health, Drugs, & Addiction

Mental Health Crisis Response

I will push for a coordinated crisis response that pairs police, health professionals, and community supports so no one in crisis is met with force alone.

Overdoses & the Contaminated Drug Supply

I will treat overdoses as a public health emergency, supporting harm reduction, safe supply, and naloxone access to save lives.

Treatment for Addiction

I will advocate for diverse, accessible, and stable treatment options, so recovery is within reach for everyone who needs it.

Public Safety & Policing

Non-Police-Based Public Safety

I will support community-based crisis response teams so that mental health and wellness calls are answered by trained health workers, not police.

Police Funding

I will ensure police funding is tied to measurable outcomes and accountability, directing resources toward proven approaches rather than ineffective ones.

Police Wrongdoing & Accountability

I will champion independent civilian oversight and transparent reporting so that misconduct is investigated fairly and trust is rebuilt.

Upstream Causes of Crime

I will invest in the root causes of crime, such as poverty, addiction, housing, and mental health, because prevention is cheaper and more humane than reaction.

Public Spaces & Services

Fitness & Sports Facilities

I will invest in accessible recreation facilities that support our status as the Tournament Capital and keep residents active year-round.

Green Space

I will protect and expand parks and green space, recognizing them as essential to livability, cooling, and climate resilience.

Health Infrastructure

I will strengthen partnerships with Interior Health and local nonprofits to keep health and social services accessible, stable, and well-located.

Public Washrooms

I will work toward clean, safe, and accessible public washrooms in high-traffic areas so all residents and visitors can enjoy the city with dignity.

Sidewalks & Bike Paths

I will prioritize safe, connected sidewalks and bike paths that make getting around easier for everyone, regardless of age or income.

Zoning

I will support zoning that encourages housing affordability, climate resilience, and mixed-use neighbourhoods where people can live, work, and play close to home.

Reconciliation & Indigenous Nations

Indigenous Languages

I will support local efforts to revitalize Secwepemctsín and other Indigenous languages through partnership with Tk'emlúps te Secwépemc and community organizations.

Indigenous-Led Housing

I will support Indigenous-led housing initiatives that respect self-determination and meet the specific needs of First Nations residents.

Land Title & Governance

I will respect Indigenous land rights and governance, ensuring the city consults meaningfully and partners on decisions affecting traditional territory.

Place Names & Commemorations

I will support renaming and commemoration efforts that reflect Indigenous history and presence, and I will consult directly with affected communities.

Residential Schools

I will honour survivors and the legacy of residential schools through meaningful commemoration, education, and ongoing reconciliation with Tk'emlúps te Secwépemc.

Transit & Getting Around

Private Vehicles & Parking

I will balance parking needs with safer streets and transit options, ensuring car access without sacrificing walkability or affordability.

Sidewalks & Bike Paths

I will prioritize safe, connected sidewalks and bike paths that make getting around easier for everyone, regardless of age or income.

Walking & Cycling

I will build a complete, connected, and safe network of walking and cycling routes that makes active transportation a practical choice for everyday trips, not just recreation.

Biography

submitted by the candidate or their team
From Ireland to Kamloops by hard work and an unconventional path. Union rep, Red Seal Electrician, and proud Canadian citizen since 2022. Running for City Council because when you truly care about a place and its people, you never sit on the sidelines.

Trades Knowledge

Brian has worked as a construction electrician in hospitals, mines, oil and gas, and in the film industry. When council debates infrastructure, permits, or capital spending, he brings practical and lived knowledge that is currently missing from the Kamloops council table.

Adaptability and Hard Work

Foraging wild foods in remote BC and delivering mail through the Kamloops streets are worlds apart. What they share is the same thing every job in Brian's life has demanded: show up, adapt, and do the work. That resilience is built through experience, and it is exactly what stable and strong representation needs.

Negotiation and Labour Leadership

Working as a representative with IBEW Local 993 and Second Vice President of the Kamloops and District Labour Council, Brian has spent years negotiating between parties that do not see eye to eye. He knows how to hold a position, find common ground, and get things done.

Roots in This Community

Brian came to Canada from Ireland and moved to Kamloops with his partner Lara in 2019. He proudly became a Canadian citizen in 2022. In 2023 Lara and Brian bought their first home and are committed to calling Kamloops the place where they want to stay and grow.

See Brian Andrews's election promises

Reason for running

submitted by the candidate or their team
I came to Kamloops eight years ago for stable work with my partner Lara. Life has gotten harder since then, and workers deserve a stronger voice at City Hall. I want to sit at that table for the people who build and keep Kamloops moving.

I have lived in Kamloops for eight years. While that may not be as long as some candidates, I chose to make this city my home because it was the first place where my partner Lara and I could both find good, stable, sustainable work.

This is a big part of why I am running for Kamloops City Council. Friends and community members have made it clear that life has changed significantly, especially since the COVID-19 pandemic. Job opportunities, quality of life, and sustainable incomes are not what they were when we first moved here.

Still, I know Kamloops is a great city with real potential, and I want others to have the same basic opportunities now, four years from now, and beyond. That is why I believe workers, who make up the majority of Kamloops voters, need a stronger voice at City Hall.

Council decisions affect everyday life in ways that can be easy to miss for those who have never had to stretch a paycheque. I want to be someone at the table who understands the lives of the people who build, run, and keep Kamloops moving.


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