Scot McNair
2026 Election Candidate
Environmental
Coldstream's Official Community Plan focuses on directing growth to designated “growth areas” while limiting development in “rural protection areas.”
a) Under what conditions do you think Council should make exceptions to this growth strategy?
b) Please give local examples of 'good' and 'not good' building development in Coldstream, and state why.
Preserving Coldstream’s rural character, agricultural strength, and fiscal stability requires strict adherence to our Official Community Plan (OCP). At this point in time, no exceptions to growth boundaries should be made.
Enforcing firm boundaries prevents urban sprawl and keeps infrastructure costs manageable. If Council evaluates an exception in the future, it should only do so under rare circumstances:
Essential Public Infrastructure: Critical municipal or utility projects that physically cannot fit in urban growth areas.
Net Environmental Benefit: Projects securing permanent ecological protection or agricultural covenants elsewhere in the District.
Provincial Mandates: Unavoidable statutory compliance overriding local land-use designations.
Development Patterns in Coldstream
Aligned ("Good") Development: Infill in designated growth areas (such as the Lavington core) utilizes existing water, sewer, and road networks while keeping contiguous farmland intact.
Misaligned ("Not Good") Development: Spot-rezoning in rural, ALR, or hillside areas increases long-term servicing liabilities, generates farmland-urban edge conflicts, and degrades viewscapes.
Coldstream has experienced significant climate impacts for the last few years. How do you propose to address these crises, both in preparing ahead for disasters like drought, wildfires, heat domes and floods, as well as reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions that lead to climate change?
1. Disaster Preparedness
Wildfire: Expand FireSmart assessments, clear fuel buffers at Kalamalka Lake Provincial Park, and upgrade emergency warnings.
Drought: Partner with Greater Vernon Water on smart metering and municipal xeriscaping. Explore rain/snow storage, work with RDNO on affordable rain barrels, promote drip irrigation for farmers, and review fines for water theft.
Heat Domes: Equip Coldstream Community Centre as an emergency cooling center with backup power and air filtration; expand urban tree canopy.
Flooding: Upgrade Coldstream Creek culverts, restore riparian buffers, and enforce Flood Construction Levels near Kalamalka Lake.
2. Reducing Emissions (Mitigation)
Transportation & Transit:Complete active transit lanes connecting to the Okanagan Rail Trail, install public EV chargers, electrify municipal light fleets, and improve bus routes for easier transit.
Buildings:Adopt advanced BC Energy Step Code tiers and retrofit civic facilities.
*Waste & Land Use:Partner with third parties for regional organics collection to cut landfill methane, protect ALR boundaries, and support regenerative farming.
Do you support the use of public funds to contribute to acquiring natural lands for environmental conservation purposes? Under what conditions would the perceived need for more housing, businesses, roads and other infrastructure prompt you to trade away natural lands with high ecological value for urban expansion?
The District and all levels of Government have a responsibility to be fiscally responsible so we should review all of the options available to the district and determine if we have the funds to contribute. If not we should investigate other potential partnerships or funding options that may be available.
Trading or developing high-value ecological land for infrastructure, housing, or commercial use carries significant long-term risks, including loss of biodiversity, increased vulnerability to climate disasters, and degradation of water quality.
Converting or trading high-value natural land should only be considered under strict, exceptional conditions
Drought, contamination, increasing demand are just some of the water issues. What actions would you prioritise to protect our creeks, lakes, aquifers, and groundwater for home and agricultural water sources, habitat for fish and wildlife, and human recreation?
The OCP has set out very specific guidelines for answers to the question. The OCP has a plan under natural resource protection category with a very clear plan.
Social
In smaller communities, we need to be creative in how we help one another; how do you see the role of local government in this?
In small towns and tight-knit regions, local government works best not as a distant service provider, but as a community convener and enabler. When budgets are lean and administrative capacity is limited, the municipality’s role shifts from doing everything itself to unlocking the energy, ideas, and grassroots capacity that already exist among residents and local businesses.
Engaging the community in the decision making process is very important by listening , consulting, and learning . As a community we need to work together.
Get to know your neighbours!!!
How do we tackle misinformation and growing distrust in local government as well as uncivil behaviour on social media and in person?
1. Stop Misinformation Before It Starts
Pre-bunk rumors: Publish clear FAQs before rolling out controversial projects.
One source of truth: Keep a dedicated, easy-to-read webpage for official facts.
Don't feed trolls: Answer honest policy questions with factual links; avoid endless online arguments.
2. Fix Public Meetings & Social Media
Set rules of conduct: Clearly post expectations for respectful behavior in council chambers and online.
Change the format: Swap hostile "open mic" nights for structured roundtables or digital feedback forms.
Show how input was used:Explain why decisions were made and how community feedback was considered.
3. Humanize Government & Protect Staff
Ditch the jargon:Speak in plain language about budgets, zoning, and delays.
Show the people behind the desk: Spotlight frontline staff to remind residents that local government is made of neighbors.
Protect staff: Provide de-escalation training, physical safety protocols, and mental health support.
We are all neighbors in beautiful Coldstream. Disagreement opens the door to healthy conversation. Be part of the solution, not the problem.
Cultural
Describe what arts and culture are in the Coldstream area from your perspective, and how do you think local government should support these features of our community?
Currently Arts and Culture are in the district of Coldstream and we share with other areas such as Vernon and the other North Okanagan communities as there is a rich shared history.
Is the current structure of funding for arts & culture and recreation, which is currently through the RDNO, working for Coldstream? Why or why not?
I am not in disagreement with the current structure and I can't comment on whether or not it is working for Coldstream, but I am open to discussing potential opportunities with groups in our area. I would encourage Community groups from from the Coldstream/Lavington areas to apply. This would potentially allow for different events in our parks and Community hall.
Economic
What is your understanding of how small local governments can support our economic development, including the success of our small local businesses?
Local government has a very small and specific role in supporting small business. While government cannot be seen as supporting businesses ,they can have internal policies and processes that make the development process quick and painless and they are able to engage with local businesses to learn about what resources they need to stay and grow in the region. Growing the commercial tax base takes pressure off the residential tax base. I would be in favour of initiatives that enhance business retention and expansion.
What is one action the municipality should take to strengthen our local food system and improve access to healthy, affordable food? Why that action?
Water is our most important resource. How do we protect it. To ensure food security it is important we should look at farming and irrigating in the most efficient ways. We can support our farmers to look at new technologies and farming methods for continued food production.
Health
As Mayor / Councilor, how would you work to attract and retain medical professionals in Coldstream?
To attract medical professionals they have to have a place to practice. At present there is not clinic at which they can practice. I would work to promote our region as a whole to attract medical professionals and create a business model that works for them.
How will you ensure that our planning of our built environment, our programs and our policies support the diverse physical and mental health needs of our population?
I believe the councils role is about creating opportunity for all of our citizens. This can be done by creating connectivity with other jurisdictions in our region. allow for greater accessibility as not all of the community is able to participate because of disabilities, low income. We can be facilitators.
