When he ended a state-of-the-city speech at a Kelowna Chamber luncheon in March this year with 91裸聊视频渢his could possibly be the last time I get to do this,91裸聊视频� former mayor Colin Basran likely had no idea that his words would come to be.
At the time, he was also asked if he would run for re-election in October91裸聊视频檚 municipal elections.
91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 a conversation I need to have with my kids and parents in particular,91裸聊视频� said Basran. 91裸聊视频淏ut at this point, I have no announcement to let the public know in terms of my political future.91裸聊视频�
It turned out to be a turbulent year for the two-term mayor.
One in which he dealt with pushback from residents on high-rise developments, homelessness and crime; lost his job as the city91裸聊视频檚 mayor; and was charged with sexual assault.
Basran, and city council, faced considerable criticism over two high-rise projects planned for the downtown core 91裸聊视频� a development proposed for 350 Doyle Ave., site of the former RCMP detachment, and the UBC Okanagan downtown campus.
Many residents were upset over the scope and height of the UBCO tower at 43 storeys, and the nearly doubling in size of the 350 Doyle Ave. project from 13 to 25 storeys. That change prompted the Legacy Project Group (LPG) to accuse council of falling for a 91裸聊视频榖ait and switch91裸聊视频� and to question the city91裸聊视频檚 transparency on the project.
91裸聊视频淭his whole bait and switch perpetrated about this project is so factually inaccurate, there91裸聊视频檚 no conspiracy going on just a fully committed developer,91裸聊视频� said Basran at a July 26 public hearing.
READ MORE: Kelowna council approves 25-storey Doyle Avenue tower amid controversy
READ MORE: Down-sized, downtown UBCO tower unveiled to Kelowna council
Homelessness and crime were not just issues Basran dealt with as Kelowna91裸聊视频檚 mayor in 2022, but also as co-chair of the BC Urban Mayor91裸聊视频檚 Caucus (BCUMC).
In January, he and co-chair, former Victoria mayor Lisa Helps, wrote a letter to the provincial government outlining the BCUMC91裸聊视频檚 concerns.
91裸聊视频淭ogether each of our communities is on the front lines experiencing the same impact of gaps in the health, housing, and justice system,91裸聊视频� said Basran. 91裸聊视频淥ur most vulnerable are falling through the cracks. Municipalities have invested in supportive housing, funded more police and bylaw officers, and created policies to increase inclusion in our communities, and yet more needs to be done and for that, we need the province91裸聊视频檚 support.91裸聊视频�
The letter also expressed frustration with 91裸聊视频渞epeat offenders91裸聊视频� criminal activity and the catch-and-release justice cycle.91裸聊视频� It noted the frustration of residents, police officers and municipal councils, and urged the province to find solutions to dealing with chronic offenders.
In May, the NDP government commissioned retired Vancouver police chief Doug LePard and Simon Fraser University criminologist Amanda Butler to explore solutions to prolific offenders. The report was delivered in September and made 28 recommendations including a greater focus on mental health and substance use supports, and more prosecutors and probation officers.
In August, Statistics Canada reported that the Central Okanagan (Lake Country to Peachland) had the highest crime rate in 2021 of census metropolitan areas (CMA) in Canada. It was an issue that would follow Basran through his re-election campaign.
READ MORE: Kelowna had Canada91裸聊视频檚 highest crime rate in 2021
Basran announced his bid for re-election on Sept. 8, just one day before the deadline for candidates to file. His opponents 91裸聊视频� Tom Dyas, David Habib, Glendon Charles Smedly, and Silverado Socrates 91裸聊视频� had filed weeks or months before.
Basran kicked off his election bid at the Red Bird Brewery, an event that was marred by an alleged incident involving now city councillor Ron Cannan. Other Kelowna media reported that Cannan had claimed Basran swore at him at some point during the event while telling him to leave.
Basran also addressed rumours about his interest in running for the provincial Liberals in a potential fourth provincial riding in Kelowna, but said he was committed to serving a third term as mayor.
READ MORE: Kelowna mayor will seek re-election
During the election campaign, Basran faced criticism over appearances in sponsored ads on the city91裸聊视频檚 Facebook page. In a media release, Dyas said he was 91裸聊视频渃oncerned the City of Kelowna has used taxpayer dollars to promote the mayor in the lead-up to the municipal election.91裸聊视频�
Basran responded with his own statement, saying 91裸聊视频渁s a spokesperson for the city, the mayor will regularly be the face of its communications on social media.91裸聊视频�
Dyas also took Basran to task over what he claimed was a lack of city support for Kelowna RCMP.
91裸聊视频淎s Kelowna91裸聊视频檚 RCMP continues to face mounting mental health-related calls, we need to ensure that the city takes a leadership role in demanding that our RCMP officers are partnered with nurses, who have the experience in helping those facing mental health,91裸聊视频� Dyas said in an August news release.
On his personal Instagram account, Basran responded there will be plenty of finger-pointing as the municipal election gets closer. He disputed Dyas91裸聊视频� comments that little has been done to help RCMP with mental health supports. 91裸聊视频淎nyone who really wants the job of mayor should have been paying attention over the past four years, and if they had, they would have noticed a tremendous amount of work has been done locally and provincially,91裸聊视频� Basran said.
There were no fireworks between Dyas and Basran at the first of two mayoral forums, hosted by UBC Okanagan and Okanagan College.
It was a different story at a second forum hosted by the Kelowna Chamber of Commerce, at which allegations of misinformation and trying to mislead voters were levelled by Dyas and Basran. They clashed over the city91裸聊视频檚 crime rate, and further rumours Basran would run in the next provincial election.
91裸聊视频淚 get this question every time I run for office,91裸聊视频� said Basran, adding he was committed to serving another term if he was elected. Dyas challenged Basran on that commitment.
91裸聊视频淵ou can91裸聊视频檛 have one foot in and one foot out. You need to have two feet into this job and not be afraid to communicate to those levels to move the dial on things that are important to this community,91裸聊视频� Dyas charged.
READ MORE: Kelowna mayoral candidates clash over crime and integrity
It was clear from the outset on election night that Basran would not return to the mayor91裸聊视频檚 chair.
Dyas opened an early lead and never looked back. He finished with 21,328 votes to Basran91裸聊视频檚 10,905. In the wake of the stunning defeat, Basran took questions from the media about his future.
91裸聊视频淭he people have spoken and in light of the results, I am disappointed,91裸聊视频� he said. 91裸聊视频淚 have come to terms with what has happened and I respect what the wishes of our residents are.91裸聊视频�
Basran was asked what his future political plans might be. 91裸聊视频淚 have not given it one thought. There are going to be amazing things ahead for me and my family, and I91裸聊视频檓 looking forward to finding out what those are.91裸聊视频�
He acknowledged those who voted may have taken issue with the rapid growth of Kelowna in the last few years, but said there isn91裸聊视频檛 anything he would change in regard to his time as mayor.
91裸聊视频淚 have slept very well at night as your mayor because I made decisions based on what I thought was best for everyone in our community.91裸聊视频�
Basran added that he knew Rutland residents were angry over his stance on supportive housing.
91裸聊视频淭here is homelessness and people without homes in their neighbourhood and that would have happened whether there was supportive housing in their neighbourhood or not because we know people in our community and across the country need homes. So, to say it91裸聊视频檚 more prevalent because I helped people get a roof over their heads and the supports that they need that is the reason it91裸聊视频檚 worse?91裸聊视频�
On Dec. 7, Basran was charged with sexual assault stemming from an alleged incident on May 11, 2022, while he was still mayor.
An investigation was conducted by the Kelowna RCMP Investigative Services Department and the findings were independently reviewed by the Nelson Police Department. The report was then handed to Crown counsel, which forwarded it to special prosecutor Brock Martland, who was appointed to the investigation on Oct. 13, two days before municipal elections.
Martland, a senior Vancouver lawyer in the private practice, was given the mandate to provide legal advice to the RCMP as necessary, as well as conduct any related charge assessment and assume conduct of the prosecution if charges were approved. The name of the alleged victim and details of the incident are protected under a publication ban. Basran91裸聊视频檚 first court appearance will be Jan. 24, 2023.
READ MORE: Former Kelowna Mayor Colin Basran charged with sexual assault
