Commitment secured to work on policing plan; Province fails to address officer shortfall

Date of Issue: Sept. 24, 2025

At the Union of British Columbia Municipalities (UBCM) Conference, the City of West Kelowna secured a commitment from the RCMP and Province to work closely together with West Kelowna, Peachland, and Westbank First Nation to address the concerns regarding the splitting of the area’s policing into smaller units, including providing a financial plan.

However, the City is also walking away without a commitment from the Province to hire more provincial officers for the Westside, failing to address the significant officer shortfall. There is an identified shortfall of seven to eight provincial officers and the Province is not fairly contributing to the policing needs on the Westside.

The City of West Kelowna requested the provincial government and the RCMP present a clear financial and operational plan regarding the split of the area’s policing into smaller units, as well as for the provincial government to fund an additional seven to eight provincial members to address a substantial officer shortfall.

On Wednesday, Sept. 24, 2025, West Kelowna Mayor Gord Milsom and Council met with Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General Nina Krieger as part of the UBCM Conference. Mayor Milsom and staff also met with the RCMP and provincial government staff on Wednesday to discuss these requests.

“We’re at UBCM to advocate for the needs of West Kelowna and I feel that our concerns are being heard. We’ve made clear our expectations and we have a strong commitment from the RCMP to work together towards a solution and answering our questions,” said Mayor Milsom. “However, it’s extremely disappointing that Minister Krieger did not commit today to funding additional provincial officers to address the shortfall. This is something Council has been advocating for, for years and hiring enough provincial police officers for the Westside needs to be addressed before they move ahead with splitting up the area’s policing.”

Mayor Milsom said the City of West Kelowna will remain vigilant as the new policing model is implemented and Council will continue to call on the Province to pay their fair share of policing services on the Westside.