Bal Grewal

Council · Kelowna

6 yrs

About

Bal Grewal calls Kelowna home—it’s where he lives, works, and runs his business as Managing Partner of BSG Law Corp. Beyond his legal practice, Bal is an active community advocate who believes City Hall works best when it truly listens to the people

Policy commitments

Buildings

We all want healthy, affordable, and comfortable homes. These policies will help to lower energy bills, cut pollution, and improve indoor air quality.

~ Support electrification of new buildings. Neutral

✓ Incentivize electric heat pumps and air filtration systems. Supportive

~ Incentivize renewable energy, battery storage, and smart-grid technologies in new and existing buildings to improve energy security. Neutral

✓ Scale up energy retrofits for existing homes, businesses, and public buildings. Supportive

~ Implement a 'right to cool' bylaw to protect tenants during extreme heat events. Neutral

Climate Justice

Our community is already experiencing the harmful impacts of climate change caused by fossil fuel pollution, and taxpayers are on the hook to upgrade and repair critical infrastructure.

~ Endorse the fossil fuel treaty and commit to phase out fossil fuels. Neutral

✓ Enact a moratorium on AI data centres to protect our energy and water resources. Supportive

~ Pursue available legal options to recover a fair share of the climate costs facing our community from fossil fuel companies and other big polluters. Neutral

✓ Collaborate with Indigenous peoples as partners in the stewardship of the land, air, and water, and work towards reconciliation. Supportive

Ecosystems

The air we breathe, the water we drink, and the food we eat all rely on healthy ecosystems. Nature can also help protect our community from extreme weather by controlling floods, protecting shorelines, and cooling neighbourhoods. Access to nature improves the health and well-being of residents, and supports biodiversity.

✓ Protect and restore ecosystems, which are essential to human survival, health, and economic well-being. Supportive

✓ Expand and protect tree canopy, parks, and green infrastructure to cool neighbourhoods, clean air, and manage stormwater. Supportive

✓ Prioritize native tree planting in all areas, especially those with low tree cover, higher population densities, and more vulnerable residents. Supportive

✓ Create connected urban greenways for people and wildlife. Supportive

Land Use

We envision vibrant, walkable communities that protect nature and improve food security.

✓ Build affordable homes near jobs, schools, shops, and transit. Supportive

✓ Upgrade critical infrastructure for heat, fire, flood, and storm resilience. Supportive

✓ Increase food security by supporting local agriculture and community gardens. Supportive

Transport

Connecting neighbourhoods through public transit and active transportation networks will cut pollution, improve public health, and make our communities more affordable (and fun!).

✓ Deliver reliable, frequent, affordable local transit. Supportive

✓ Advocate to improve regional public transit between communities. Supportive

✓ Build bike and roll networks that are safe for everyone. Supportive

~ Expand EV charging infrastructure. Neutral

Watersheds

Climate change, increasing populations, and overconsumption threaten our water security. Healthy watersheds and forests are critical to support clean drinking water, stormwater management, climate resilience, and biodiversity for future generations.

✓ Implement water conservation plans and educate the public to conserve drinking water. Supportive

✓ Protect and restore watersheds as vital municipal infrastructure. Supportive

✓ Develop and implement a water security plan. Supportive

Zero Waste

Zero waste policies reduce pollution, keep waste out of landfills, build resilient local economies, and safeguard public health by shifting society away from a disposable culture toward a sustainable circular economy.

~ Implement zero waste bylaws to divert organic waste and recyclables from disposal. Neutral

✓ Support the development of a circular economy to eliminate waste and improve resilience. Supportive

~ Implement bylaws to eliminate waste from new buildings, renovation, and demolition projects and to use existing buildings as efficiently as possible. Neutral

✓ Supportive

~ Neutral

× Opposed

– No response

Climate action

How have you contributed to climate action in your community through advocacy, past work, advisory committees, volunteer work, and/or reducing your personal carbon footprint?

Through my legal practice and community involvement, I prioritize practical environmental stewardship. At BSG Law, I spearheaded a transition to digital-first, paperless operations to minimize our office footprint. As a community leader, my advocacy centers on protecting Agricultural Land Reserve (ALR) lands and local watersheds from urban sprawl, supporting FireSmart wildfire mitigation, and promoting smart growth policies that preserve Kelowna’s green spaces and secure long-term water protection for our region

Questions for Kelowna

Would you accelerate Kelowna's adoption of the Zero Carbon Step Code, and what other measures would you support to improve building efficiency and resilience to extreme heat?

To improve building efficiency and heat resilience without driving up construction costs, I support streamlining municipal permitting for BC Energy Step Code compliance. I will advocate for City Hall to help local homeowners and landlords navigate provincial and federal rebates for insulation and cooling upgrades. For new developments, I support practical passive-design standards—including exterior solar shading, reflective roofing, and integrated shade trees—ensuring homes stay cool efficiently during severe Okanagan heatwaves.

What policies would you support to protect mature trees, expand Kelowna's tree canopy, and increase shade on both public and private land?

To protect mature trees and expand Kelowna’s canopy, I support a practical approach combining strong municipal guidelines with developer incentives. I support strengthening our Tree Protection Bylaw to preserve mature trees during site planning, paired with clear replacement requirements. The City has been destroying way too many old mature trees in new development zones and areas.

On public land, City Hall should accelerate tree planting along streets, parks, and high-heat urban corridors. On private land, we can encourage tree retention through flexible site-design incentives. Crucially, canopy expansion must align with FireSmart standards and water-wise landscaping—selecting fire-resistant, climate-resilient species that provide natural shade while safeguarding our neighborhoods and water supply.

What would you fund or change over the next four years to improve public transit, walking and cycling, and reduce transportation emissions?

Over the next four years, I will prioritize funding to improve transit frequency, coverage, and rapid bus corridors connecting key hubs like Rutland, UBCO, and Downtown. I will focus active transportation investments on closing critical network gaps— and safe sidewalks near schools and urban centers. By fixing major traffic bottlenecks to reduce idling emissions and ensuring infrastructure keeps pace with housing growth, we can make transit and active travel practical choices for Kelowna residents.

Would you support expediting composting programs and invest in the required facilities in Kelowna? If so, what would you do to make it happen sooner?

Yes, I support expediting municipal composting programs to divert organic waste from the Glenmore Landfill, extend landfill lifespan, and reduce greenhouse emissions.

To accelerate facility development, I will advocate for regional co-investment with the Regional District of Central Okanagan (RDCO) and actively pursue federal and provincial green infrastructure grants. Leveraging public-private partnerships (P3s) can further speed up processing facility construction without placing an undue burden on local property taxpayers.

What two climate actions would you champion during your term, and what measurable progress should Kelowna residents expect within four years?

1. Proactive Wildfire Mitigation & Water Security

• Action: Accelerate FireSmart interface fuel clearing and upgrade municipal water storage infrastructure.
• Measurable Progress: 100% of high-risk urban-wildland interface neighborhoods assessed and treated under FireSmart plans, with upgraded water storage securing drought-proof supplies for farming and homes.

2. ALR/Canopy Protection

• Action: enforcing strict ALR and tree protection.
• Measurable Progress: Zero net loss of ALR farmland.

Campaign contributions

Public records from Elections BC — 6 contributions totalling $6,200.00.

2022 GENERAL LOCAL ELECTIONS

6 contributions · $6,200.00

Contributor	Date	Amount	Office	Jurisdiction
BAL GREWAL	Sep 6, 2022	$2,500.00	COUNCILLOR	KELOWNA
RAJINDER GREWAL	Oct 7, 2022	$1,250.00	COUNCILLOR	KELOWNA
SATINDER GREWAL	Oct 7, 2022	$750.00	COUNCILLOR	KELOWNA
MANRAJ GREWAL	Oct 1, 2022	$700.00	COUNCILLOR	KELOWNA
MANRAJ GREWAL	Sep 6, 2022	$500.00	COUNCILLOR	KELOWNA
SATINDER GREWAL	Aug 31, 2022	$500.00	COUNCILLOR	KELOWNA

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Vote4Tomorrow is an independent voter guide to evaluate where local candidates stand on climate and environmental policies that will affect our future.

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