Robert Cook

2026 Election Candidate

Environmental

A core principle of Vernon's Official Community Plan is to prevent sprawl and limit growth to within the urban containment boundary.

a) Under what conditions do you think Council should make an exception to this core principle?

b) Please give local examples of existing 'good' and 'not good' building development in Vernon, and explain why.

A) Council should make an exception if the project makes sense for the city and its residence. This would be after a study was made to make sure that it fits within the guidelines.

B) I got example would be the multi family dwellings that have been built recently in different parts of the city.

I think a bad example is all the development going on Anderson with the retail that we could actually include apartments on top of those buildings for more low-cost housing for residence.

Vernon has a Climate Action Plan (CAP) that aims to reduce GHG emissions in transportation, buildings and waste, and prepare for climate impacts like wildfires, heat domes, floods, severe weather events.

a) What aspects of this plan are most important and urgent and how will you ensure implementation?

b) The CAP will undergo a review process in 2027. What would you like to see in a revised CAP?

A) Water security is top of my list. It will not be a quick fix. We have to work with the RDNO as well as other surrounding communities.

B) I don’t I don’t think there’s much to revise other than possibly looking at the urgency of all the actions that are required. Making sure that we are doing what is needed when it is needed for the community.

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?

I don’t generally support public funds to acquire natural lands, unless there is a great need for the city to have to step in. Turning away, nacho lounge with high ecological value for urban expansion, would only be necessary if the city was having a severe growth spurt, and there was no other option. That being said, I think the smartest thing for the city to do is to keep trying to integrate retail spaces with living spaces in the same footprint to try to prevent that from happening.

Our water reservoirs are at critically low levels. No longer can we count on having the water resources we enjoyed even a few years ago. 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?

I as I said above water, security is top of my list. I don’t have all the answers, but we need to look into other sources rather than relying on one source for most of the city that is reliant on groundwater and snow runoff. We are surrounded by water and yet we’re in stage three water restrictions this year because one source was lacking in water. As for protecting the lakes creeks and aquifers, that is something that we’d have to work on together with the other communities in the DNO but we need more water.

Social

What personal and/or professional experience has most shaped your understanding of Truth and Reconciliation, and how would it influence your decisions as a municipal elected official?

The only personnel or professional experience I’ve had an understanding of truth and reconciliation are my personal interactions with native peoples that I have had over the years. The only way I would influence. My decisions is making sure that all people in the area are treated equally..

What is one action the municipality should take to strengthen our local food system and improve access to healthy, affordable food? Why that action?

But what action the municipality could take to strengthen local food system and prove access to healthy affordable. Food is to ensure water security so that the farmers in the area have enough water to actually grow the food.

What is one specific change you would make to better support local non-profits, and do you have personal experience (e.g. volunteer, board member, staff, and/or passion for a specific issue) that informs that action? Please include one brief example.

I don’t think there’s one specific change I would make. I don’t have any experience volunteering with a nonprofit other than sports leagues.

Should the municipality continue to secure and provide land for affordable housing projects? Why or why not? If yes, how would you handle any neighbourhood concerns brought forward to Council?

I think affordable housing is important, but the city is not the only player in the game and needs to work with the province and the federal government to ensure that we continue to have the ability to provide affordable housing. As for neighbourhood concerns, we need to hear the people out and make the decision that’s best for all.

Cultural

Vernon does not have a dedicated public art policy to guide how public art is selected, funded, maintained, or removed, while regional cultural direction sits with the RDNO through the Greater Vernon Cultural Plan. Do you support developing a public art policy for Vernon, and how would you coordinate the City's role with the Plan?

The city should have a public art policy, however, we have all seen the stories of cities and towns wasting large amounts of money on so-called art. We would have to make sure that the plan has some common sense to it

With more than 75 arts and culture groups active in the region, how would you work to remove barriers and strengthen City partnerships so that public spaces and facilities are accessible and equipped for community programming and gatherings?

To be honest, I didn’t know that was an issue that there were any barriers in place that keeps people from enjoying their arts and culture. If that is the case, I would look into what those barriers are and see if there was any way to remove them.

Arts and culture help shape who we are as a community. As Vernon continues to grow, how do you see our identity changing, and what kinds of arts and culture initiatives would you support to strengthen that future?

Again, to be honest, I would need to look more into this in order to have a better opinion. We have many different cultures in the city now with different types of art, different cultural ideas and that would have to be worked on together.

Artists make up as much as 12% of the North Okanagan population and the sector generates over $126 million in direct economic activity and $46 million in GDP, how will you strengthen the role arts and culture play in our local economy, tourism, and community wellbeing?

I think the best way to strengthen the role of our and culture in our community and tourism and our economy it to let people know that it is there. More advertising when we’re putting out come to Vernon to shop and play, but also to enjoy our art and culture.

Economic

The business tax base is critical to the provision of services at the municipal level. How would you support business retention and expansion in the City of Vernon?

I don’t know the business retention is an issue as we have many new retail buildings being built currently. Supporting small business and large business with proper infrastructure.

Finding employees has consistently been identified as a top challenge by Vernon businesses in the City of Vernon Business Walks surveys. How should the City support businesses in meeting their workforce needs?

If we had more affordable housing it would retain more of the young people as they have to leave in order to find someplace affordable to live and we would encourage more people to move to the area, which would increase the amount of available people to work

What role does the City have with supporting growth-oriented sectors like manufacturing and agricultural processing?

Best way to support manufacturing agriculture is by having proper infrastructure housing that people can afford so there are employees to work in them and water security, especially for the agricultural

Considering the recent water and fire crisis, how should the City assist businesses to become more resilient to future risk?

We could have incentives for businesses that reduced their water usage and help them to be more fire smart to prevent the risk of wildfire damage

Health

As Mayor / Councilor, how would you work to attract and retain medical professionals in Vernon?

This is a tough one. Most people go where the money is. With our system of healthcare doctors make the same, no matter where they go. We we could look at recruiting from outside of Canada and have contracts where they have to stay for a certain number of years.

If elected, what specific actions would you take within the authority of your municipal office to improve access to in-person mental health supports and services in our community, and how would you work with other levels of government to strengthen support for those services?

Mental health is a complex issue. Ultimately it falls under healthcare was provincial and federal jurisdiction. Having said that we would work with the provincial government to improve access within the city to possibly more care providers and make sure that we are making people aware those services are available.

How will you ensure that our planning of our built environment, our programs and our policies are accessible, and support the physical and mental health needs of our population?

Again by working with the provincial government to ensure that these needs are being met, and also to work with the city management to ensure that they are providing necessary means for the population

What would you do to support the physical and mental health of members of our community against the effects of climate change, especially those who are most vulnerable?

Again, we need to work with the province and the federal government, or to ensure that climate change targets are being met as far as mental health of members in our community that are affected by that again make sure that there are means available for them to get help