Jason Reynen

Through my automotive business, I support practical climate action by helping customers maintain their vehicles, improve fuel efficiency and address exhaust or emissions-related problems. We responsibly recycle used oil, coolant, batteries, tires and scrap metal while properly handling hazardous automotive materials. Repairing vehicles and extending their usable life also helps reduce unnecessary waste.

If we want people to drive less, we need to give them transportation options that actually work. I will continue pushing BC Transit for more routes, better frequency and longer service hours. People need reliable transportation to get to work, school, medical appointments and the grocery store—not a bus that only works for part of their day.

We should listen to the people who use transit and identify which neighbourhoods, employment areas and services are being missed. Bus stops should also be safe, accessible, well-lit and protected from the weather.

I support walking and cycling routes where they are safe, practical and make sense. However, road designs must also account for traffic volumes, winter conditions, emergency vehicles, delivery trucks and working people who depend on their vehicles and tools to earn a living.

More EV chargers and better carpooling options can also help, but there is no single solution. My approach is straightforward: invest in transportation choices people will actually use, track whether they are working and make changes when they are not. Climate action must be practical, affordable and safe for everyone using our roads.

A plan sitting on a shelf does not reduce emissions. We need to review the Community Climate Action Plan, identify what has been completed and be honest about what is affordable and achievable.

I would prioritize practical actions that provide measurable results, including better transit, reducing energy use in City buildings, cutting waste and replacing City vehicles or equipment with lower-emission options when it makes financial and operational sense.

Every action should have a clear cost, funding source, person or department responsible and realistic completion date. Council and the public should receive regular updates showing what has been done, what it cost and whether it delivered the expected results. If something is not working or costs more than the benefit it provides, we need to adjust our approach.

We should also pursue provincial and federal grants so local taxpayers are not expected to carry the full cost. At the same time, grants should not be treated as free money because taxpayers fund every level of government.

I support climate action that produces real results without making life less affordable for families, seniors or local businesses. My approach is simple: set priorities, do the work, measure the results and be accountable to the public.

Being prepared means doing the work before an emergency happens. Penticton should continue expanding FireSmart work, removing dangerous fuel loads and maintaining defensible space around neighbourhoods, critical infrastructure and evacuation routes. Residents also need clear information and support to protect their own properties.

We must make sure our water system, hydrants and firefighting resources can handle a major wildfire. Backup power should be available for critical City facilities, water and wastewater systems, emergency communications and designated reception centres.

We also need to maintain roads, culverts, drainage systems and storm infrastructure so they can handle severe rain, flooding and changing weather conditions. Evacuation plans must account for seniors, people with disabilities, families without vehicles and neighbourhoods with limited access. Routes should be tested through regular emergency exercises, not simply drawn on a map and forgotten.

New development must consider wildfire risk, drainage, emergency access and the ability of our infrastructure to support it. Existing neighbourhoods should not be left behind.

My approach is practical. Identify the risks, prioritize the most important work, assign responsibility and report publicly on progress. Resilience is built through regular maintenance, sound infrastructure and planning ahead. We cannot wait until smoke, fire or floodwater is already at the door.

Housing, jobs, healthcare and environmental responsibility should not be treated as competing priorities. Good planning can address them together, but every decision must be practical and affordable for the people paying the bills.

We need more housing that working families, seniors and young people can afford. That means cutting unnecessary delays, improving the permitting process and supporting responsible development near jobs, services and transit. Building closer to existing infrastructure can reduce costs, shorten trips and limit unnecessary expansion.

Supporting local businesses and skilled trades is also important. Environmental policies should produce measurable results without driving up costs, creating unnecessary red tape or pushing jobs out of the community. Energy efficient buildings, better transit, waste reduction and lower emission City equipment should be pursued when they are effective and financially responsible.

Healthcare is primarily a provincial responsibility, but Council must continue advocating for doctors, nurses, treatment services and the facilities our growing community needs.

As a father, business owner and councillor, I want Penticton to remain a place where our children can afford to live, find good work and raise families. My approach is common sense. Deal with today’s problems while making decisions that do not leave the next generation with failing infrastructure, excessive debt or avoidable environmental damage.