Maxine DeHart

Kelowna council forum #3 at Revelry

Castanet and Revelry, with ForChange Kelowna · Oct. 1, 2026 · Full video of this forum on YouTube (opens in a new tab)

1. Opening statement

   because we are going to have new seats on council, as we all know, I would like to be their mentors if they're willing to take me as a mentor. I've got a lot of experience, I think continuity is really good in some respects

2. There is talk about a different model for policing. What is your position, and why?

   So the models are, do we keep the RCMP? Do we have a city police force? Or do we have a hybrid type of police force? [...] So it's just not as simple as people think we should just, you know, get rid of the RCMP, get rid of the 10% we get. So we really have to dive into this and I think that'll be for council next term.

3. What role can the city play in making Kelowna more affordable and livable for families?

   We were mandated by the province to put housing, a lot of housing on the market. We actually exceeded our housing by 150%. [...] if you went to try and find a rental house, the rental was below 1%. You could not. All of you know you couldn't find a house to rent. Now we're at 7%. That has given families and people a bigger choice.

4. What role can the city play in making Kelowna more affordable and livable for families?

   The city does partnerships, and that's another thing. We have to start partnering more. And guess what? Every one of the people that are going to be going into that, that residence, all get bus passes.

5. Her turn to ask a question (she spoke to all candidates instead)

   Don't over-promise and under-deliver [...] Don't say that a dog park was $2 million when it wasn't. Don't say that that road of infrastructure was $696 million when it wasn't.

6. Question from Brady Rogers: When do you keep the status quo, and when do you take a bold stand?

   I won't talk about the Eldorado because we are in, I can talk about personal, but we are in legal right now. [...] I made that decision to go as a personal friend. [...] It had nothing to do with the boardwalk, which I really can't talk about.

7. How would you help make Kelowna livable 365 days a year?

   Bus tours, bus tours bring in off-season business. [...] we got to nurture that bus tour.

8. What one or two issues are top of mind for you?

   I'm going to talk about the people that really want to get off of homelessness in the street. The city has done a great job with our tiny homes. That was our initiative.