Wayne Lippert

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) When considering development in or around existing communities, Council must ensure appropriate infrastructure and resources are available, including water, sewer, roads, and essential services. Any exception should be carefully considered to ensure development is sustainable and does not place undue financial or infrastructure pressure on existing property owners, developers, or Vernon taxpayers.

b) A good example is higher-density development in and around Vernon’s downtown core, close to existing services, businesses, transit, and infrastructure. This is smart growth because it makes better use of infrastructure taxpayers have already funded.

Development is less desirable when it creates unnecessary urban sprawl or requires significant new infrastructure and water capacity at taxpayers’ expense. I am pro-development, but growth must fit our Official Community Plan, respect water limitations, and make financial sense. The goal should be responsible growth that benefits Vernon over the long term.

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)One of the most important parts of the Climate Action Plan is education. By educating our community, especially our youth, we can build greater awareness of the challenges we face and the actions we can take locally. This also helps ensure that future generations can continue to improve upon the work we are doing today.

b) As Mayor, my job would be to work collaboratively with Council, staff, and the community to determine what amendments are practical and beneficial. Council needs to have the information necessary to properly study the plan, evaluate what is working, identify what can be improved, and make informed revisions that balance environmental, social, and economic considerations.

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 believe development and environmental protection can often work together rather than being treated as mutually exclusive. During my previous terms as Mayor, Council worked to enhance and protect wetlands as development occurred. Wetlands can play an important role in flood protection, water management, and the health of our natural environment.

Where public funds are being considered, Council must look carefully at the ecological value of the land, the benefit to the community, and the cost to taxpayers. Good development should find ways to protect important natural features while still allowing our community to responsibly grow.

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?

As Mayor, I would work with Council and our regional partners to expand the strategic use of reclaimed and recycled water, reducing unnecessary demand on our drinking water supply and helping protect Vernon’s water resources for the future.

We also need to better prepare for drought, make the best use of our existing water licences and regional resources, and explore opportunities to increase our available water supply where appropriate. This work needs to be done collaboratively with Greater Vernon Water, the RDNO, agricultural users, and other partners. Water security must remain one of our highest priorities.

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?

I have good friends who are Indigenous, and those friendships have helped me better understand different experiences and perspectives. I also recognize that there is always more to learn. As Mayor, I would continue listening, building relationships, and working toward a better understanding of how we can move forward together respectfully and constructively.

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

I would like to see greater promotion of the 100-Mile Diet concept by encouraging residents, businesses, and institutions to purchase food produced within approximately 100 miles of Vernon whenever practical.

Supporting local farmers strengthens our food security and our local economy while reducing transportation distances, fuel use, and associated emissions. When we support our agricultural community, we are supporting the community as a whole.

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.

Local non-profits are constantly working to raise money and rely heavily on volunteers and community events. From my experience with the Lions Club, I saw organizations participate in events such as Creative Chaos and other community activities, but rising costs and regulations around the use of public spaces could sometimes make participation difficult.

Mayor and Council should look at ways to reduce unnecessary costs and barriers for legitimate community organizations such as the Vernon Farmers Market using City facilities and public spaces. We also need to consider the return on investment these organizations provide. Their events bring people together, raise money for important causes, attract visitors, and contribute to our local economy.

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?

Yes, but projects need to be strategically located and evaluated on a case-by-case basis. Council should ensure developments fit within the surrounding community and can take advantage of existing infrastructure and services, including water, sewer, roads, and transit.

Neighbourhood concerns should be heard and considered through the public process. The objective should be to provide needed housing while ensuring developments fit into and, wherever possible, enhance the neighbourhoods in which they are located.

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?

Yes, I would support developing a public art policy for Vernon. Any proposed policy should be carefully reviewed and studied by Council, with consideration given to the Greater Vernon Cultural Plan and the roles of both the City and RDNO. Council can then determine the best approach and ensure there is clear accountability around selection, funding, maintenance, and the use of public spaces.

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?

When I was Mayor previously, I had a vision of bringing different arts and cultural organizations together and encouraging them to share spaces, audiences, and resources.

Spirit Square is a good example. Imagine Civic Sounds taking place while local artists line both sides of the area displaying and selling their work, creating a free art walk alongside the event. Multiple organizations could use the same public space at the same time, share costs, attract larger crowds, and create a more vibrant experience.

The City should help bring organizations together and make our public spaces as accessible and affordable as reasonably possible.

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?

As Vernon grows, we need to maintain the sense of community that makes our city special while creating opportunities for new residents and younger generations to participate in our cultural life.

I would support initiatives that bring different arts and cultural organizations together, make better use of existing public spaces, and create accessible community events. Initiatives such as art walks, Civic Sounds, public performances, and collaborative events can strengthen our identity while making arts and culture accessible to everyone.

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?

Arts and culture contribute to our quality of life, but they can also be an important economic and tourism asset. We have invested in cultural facilities and public spaces, and now we need to make sure people know about them and use them.

I would support better promotion of our cultural facilities, local artists, murals, art tours, performances, and community events. By better marketing what Vernon already has and encouraging organizations to work together, we can attract visitors, support local artists and businesses, and get greater value from the investments our community has already made.

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?

Public safety is essential to business retention and growth, particularly in our downtown core. I would work with Council on a strong public-safety strategy and ensure the RCMP and Bylaw Compliance have the appropriate tools to help residents, employees, business owners, and customers feel safe. I would also like our bylaw officers to be more than simply ticket writers. They should be ambassadors for the City of Vernon, helping residents and businesses navigate City rules and contributing to a welcoming and business-friendly environment, particularly downtown.

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?

Council needs to continue working toward making Vernon a community where employees, particularly young people, can afford to live.

Housing availability and affordability are directly connected to workforce retention. The City should continue encouraging attainable housing options while working with senior levels of government and community partners on solutions that allow people to live in the same community where they work, for example we should promote a similar program like Murphy’s Landing (Affordable Housing for Intern Doctors) for other professions and trades because if young workers can build a life here, our businesses will have a stronger workforce.

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

Compared with some neighbouring communities in the North Okanagan and Okanagan Valley, Vernon has limited industrial and agricultural land available for expansion.

Council should look beyond municipal boundaries and work collaboratively with neighbouring municipalities and electoral areas to attract and support agricultural processing, manufacturing, and industrial businesses. Economic development does not stop at the city boundary. Growth elsewhere in the North Okanagan can create employment, investment, and opportunities for Vernon residents and businesses as well.

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

The City needs to help businesses prepare before emergencies happen. This includes educating businesses and residents about water conservation, emergency preparedness, FIRESMART and available resources.

When extraordinary events such as wildfire or severe water restrictions directly affect businesses, Council should also be prepared to examine reasonable forms of temporary relief or assistance. Our priority should be keeping businesses operating, protecting jobs, and ensuring Vernon remains economically resilient during emergencies.

Health

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

I would look at expanding partnerships with organizations such as Community Futures and programs that provide temporary or subsidized housing for doctors, nurses, and other medical professionals completing internships, residencies, or placements in Vernon.

An excellent example is the housing opportunities at Murphy's Landing. If we can make it easier and more affordable for medical professionals to come here for training or placements, we have a better opportunity to encourage them to establish roots and remain in Vernon permanently.

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?

During my previous experience as Mayor, I had opportunities to meet directly with provincial ministers from a variety of portfolios and work alongside Council to advocate for provincial and federal support for local organizations and community needs.

Municipal government cannot solve the mental-health crisis alone, but it can be a strong advocate and partner. I would work with Council, local service providers, Interior Health, and senior levels of government to identify gaps in services and advocate for the funding, facilities, and resources necessary to provide people with the in-person support they need.

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?

We already have many excellent public amenities available to residents, including the walking track at Polson Park, the walking track at Kal Tire Place, trails, parks, beaches, and cycling paths.

I would task Council and staff with doing a better job of educating and encouraging residents to use these facilities. Many are free and provide significant physical and mental-health benefits.

Above all, we need to address public safety so families, seniors, youth, and all residents feel comfortable and safe using our parks, trails, and public facilities.

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?

We need to support the services and organizations already working within our community while doing a better job of educating residents about preparing for and adapting to a changing climate.

The City can help connect vulnerable residents with existing resources, communicate clearly during extreme heat, wildfire smoke, drought, and other emergencies, and work with community organizations and other levels of government to ensure support reaches the people who need it most.