kelownaelections.ca

Ron Cannan

Ran for Mayor

Note: Cannan is an incumbent councillor running for mayor. His only Elections BC FRPC filing is 2022 as councillor; he has not previously served as mayor.

Background

Ronald D. E. Cannan, PC, was born May 8, 1961, in Edmonton, Alberta. He moved to Kelowna in 1990 and has lived in the city for over 35 years.

Cannan's professional background includes advertising, marketing, and business management, with roles at Coca-Cola, Hershey Foods, and Costco Wholesale. He later founded Cannan Consulting Corporation and holds the ICD.D director designation. In 2019 he was named Chamber Board Director of the Year.

He was first elected to Kelowna City Council in 1996 and served three consecutive terms (1996–2005) before running federally. He was elected as the Conservative Member of Parliament for Kelowna—Lake Country in 2006, 2008, and 2011, serving until 2015. He was defeated in the 2015 federal election by Liberal Stephen Fuhr.

After leaving federal politics, Cannan served as a board director for the Land Title and Survey Authority of BC (appointed April 2016, approximately three years). He returned to Kelowna City Council in October 2022, topping the polls with approximately 17,000 votes. His current council roles include RDCO Board Director and RDCO Hospital District Board representative.

2026 Campaign

Cannan launched his mayoral campaign on June 18, 2026, outside Evil Genius Tattoo in Rutland, attended by approximately 75 people. His campaign tagline is "Our city, our time, our future!" and his signature line at launch was: "We will clean up Kelowna one block at a time and take Kelowna back for the people who live here."

His platform rests on five pillars. (1) Responsible Growth — "Infrastructure first": smart, balanced growth that protects neighbourhoods, the environment, and Okanagan Lake; he argues growth has been approved before supporting infrastructure was in place, claims a roughly $600 million infrastructure deficit, and proposes municipalities front-load infrastructure then recover the cost from developers, arguing deferred development-cost-charge levies lose "20 to 25 per cent" of purchasing value. (2) Safe Streets & Communities — "Stronger enforcement and a campus of care model — compassion with accountability and results"; he calls current city safety initiatives "band-aid solutions" and cites roughly $20 million in annual social-services spending. (3) Housing That Works — "Homes for families, seniors, and our workforce. Livable density — done responsibly," including affordable units, small-lot homes, duplexes and townhomes, a review of development cost charges, and the North Glenmore area (roughly 13,000-home capacity) as a test case. (4) Lower Costs & Accountable Spending — "Taxes down. Fight tax dollar inflation. Deliver better value for every taxpayer dollar." (5) Open & Transparent City Hall — "Clear communications, open decisions, and putting residents back at the centre of every decision."

At launch, Cannan said incumbent Mayor Tom Dyas "is taking Kelowna in the direction that's not producing results people wanted or expected." He also unveiled B.A.T.M.A.N. (Bylaw and Threat Monitoring Action Network), a community safety platform developed with Evil Genius Tattoo owner Donovan Moore.

Endorsers include Larry Hollier (past president, IAFF 953), Steve and Ria Cipes (Summerhill Pyramid Winery), Dr. John Weisbeck (former two-time MLA), and Alli McNeill (McNeill Communications).

Closed-door meetings (October 2026)

In an October 1, 2026 story on an increase in Kelowna council business held in camera, Cannan said \"exceptions should never become the normal way of doing the public's business,\" and raised concerns about the crime-and-safety, performing-arts-centre, and economic-development committees meeting behind closed doors. He said the Audit Committee — chaired by the mayor with two mayor-appointed councillors, the city manager and staff — \"publishes minutes only once annually,\" and that \"Residents deserve greater transparency from a committee overseeing their tax dollars.\" He pointed to Prince George (agendas published five days before meetings) and Richmond (detailed Finance and Audit Committee reports and minutes) as models. The same article notes the even-handed context of former city clerk Stephen Fleming, who said he does not believe Kelowna uses closed meetings excessively compared with other local governments and attributed part of the trend to a province-wide shift toward confidential information. Cannan's transparency position also appears in his campaign's fifth pillar, \"Open & Transparent City Hall,\" and in a September 5, 2026 statement that \"I would lead a much more open, transparent government.\"

Campus of care proposal (October 2026)

In an October 4, 2026 One Foot Off Center podcast appearance (Castanet), Cannan elaborated on the "campus of care" safety-pillar in his platform, citing Project Nexus in Red Deer, Alta., as the model — a single campus bringing shelter, detox, treatment, and mental-health supports under one system — and said he has been meeting with Interior Health leadership on the approach. "We need to stop managing the crisis and come up with a comprehensive regional plan," he said, adding, "We haven't provided them an opportunity for hope, sense of purpose and a road to recovery." He said crime and safety is the top concern he hears while door-knocking.

Core review and supervised-consumption-site position (October 2026)

In an October 7, 2026 Castanet one-on-one interview, Cannan said a "core review" of city operations would be among his first priorities if elected — an outside review of programs, staffing, procurement and contracts for potential savings. He pointed to the roughly $1.1-billion city budget and said budget reviews in similarly sized cities have found efficiencies of up to five per cent: "That's $30 to $50 million." He also said "our city manager's got a 55 per cent wage increase in the last five years." The "55 per cent" and "$30 to $50 million" figures are as stated by Cannan and have not been independently verified.

He also said the supervised consumption site downtown should be relocated, while acknowledging the service has saved lives and calling its current location a significant issue for nearby businesses. He reiterated his "campus of care" model and said he has been speaking with Interior Health officials about expanding detox capacity in Kelowna. In the interview Cannan also stated — by way of explaining his focus on this area — that he lost a brother to a fentanyl overdose five years ago; this is self-disclosed and appears only in the interview.

Communications staff (October 2026)

At the Chamber of Commerce forum reported by Castanet on Oct. 8, Ron Cannan said he would cut the communications budget, telling the audience "The line I would cut is the communications staff," and that "when we first got on council in 2023, we only had 12. One of the first items that the mayor approved was hiring two more communications staff members and having one full-time for himself." By Cannan's account that grew the team to 14 people for roughly 1,200 employees — figures Cannan asserted but that are not confirmed city staffing data.

Campaign site: https://roncannan.ca/

Record in Office

Council Tenure (1996–2005; 2022–present)

Cannan served four terms on Kelowna City Council across two non-consecutive stints: three terms from 1996 to 2005 and the current term beginning in 2022.

35% Pay Raise Opt-Out

In 2024, Cannan was the only councillor to decline a 35% pay raise that would have increased his salary from approximately $43,000 to $58,000. He wrote to the city clerk to decline before the opt-out deadline of May 14, 2024, stating: "This is taxpayers' hard-earned money." His 2025 remuneration was $43,134, compared to the standard councillor salary of $57,748.

Federal Parliament (2006–2015)

Cannan served three terms as Conservative MP for Kelowna—Lake Country, winning with 49.17% (2006), 55.94% (2008), and 57.40% (2011) of the vote. He served on the Treasury Board Sub-Committee on Government Administration. He was defeated in 2015 with 39.75% of the vote.

Notable Items

Faith-Based Opinion Column (January 2024)

In January 2024, Cannan published an opinion column on KelownaNow that predicted the re-election of Donald Trump and referenced a "Bible in a year reading app." The column used phrasing that CBC News reported "some have interpreted as homophobic," including the term "man-friend." Mayor Tom Dyas and Coun. Luke Wooldridge publicly disavowed the column; Wooldridge said it "doesn't promote the inclusivity that the City of Kelowna continues to strive for," and Dyas said council was "disappointed that he has used his elected position as a city councillor in this way." Cannan responded: "I am sorry if some may be offended," and stated that the prediction of Trump's re-election "should not be interpreted as support."

Climate-Emergency Vote (October 2023)

During an October 2023 council debate on declaring a climate emergency, Cannan cast the sole dissenting vote. He stated: "If you do some research the earth is actually cooler than it was 700 years ago by about two degrees on average, so it isn't true to say it's warming" and "While humans influencing climate is real, climate emergency is not."

Budget Voting Record and Colleague Criticism (2023–2026)

Cannan voted against four consecutive annual budgets (2023, 2024, 2025, and 2026) and has "continually voted against housing developments, saying the city lacks the infrastructure to support those projects." Colleagues criticized his record on the floor: Mayor Dyas called his questions "theatre," and Coun. Wooldridge said: "to vote against the financial plan year after year and still attend ground breakings."

Dyas campaign allegation about his voting record (September 2026)

Dyas's campaign has alleged Cannan voted against public-safety funding. In a Sept. 23, 2026 Facebook post, Dyas wrote that "Kelowna's past four budgets funded 33 additional RCMP positions and 18 firefighter positions. Ron Cannan voted no every single time," and that Cannan "chose not to" fund the positions "he says he supports." In a separate campaign video, Dyas said of Cannan: "He voted against the RCMP officers. He voted against the bylaw. He voted against the firefighters" (as reported by Global News). Cannan disputes the characterization — "It's disingenuous in my mind to make that comment" — and, per Global News, says his vote was against overall budget spending rather than public-safety resources specifically. "Just adding more officers maybe is not the best answer. It's how they're deployed, and looking strategically at where those resources are best allocated," Cannan said. (Dyas Facebook post, Sept 23 2026 — https://www.facebook.com/MayorTomDyas/posts/kelownas-past-four-budgets-funded-33-additional-rcmp-positions-and-18-firefighte/1077868638315803; Global News, Sept 28 2026 — https://globalnews.ca/news/12076491/kelowna-businesses-safety-concerns-mayoral-candidates-debate-public-safety/) The "33 RCMP / 18 firefighters" figures are as stated by Dyas and have not been independently verified.

July 27, 2026 Meeting — Sole Dissenter on Three Items

At the July 27, 2026 council meeting, Cannan was the only councillor recorded as opposed ("Councillor Cannan-Opposed") on three items: a rezoning of 554–574 Coronation Avenue to the UC1r "Downtown Urban Centre Rental Only" zone (Z26-0002); a development permit at 1508 Highland Drive North (DP26-0086); and a motion to receive, for information, the Highway 97 right-of-way protection report (item 5.5). All three items were carried.

Revitalization Tax Exemption Vote (September 21, 2026)

At the September 21, 2026 council meeting, councillors Ron Cannan and Gord Lovegrove were recorded as opposed ("Councillors Cannan and Lovegrove-Opposed") to the Revitalization Tax Exemption Agreement for 135 Barber Rd, a 144-unit purpose-built market rental; the motion (moved by Stack, seconded by Hodge) carried. The staff report pegs the estimated annual tax impact at $166,275 — foregone municipal property-tax revenue under the Revitalization Tax Exemption program, not a grant or a new spending item.

Notes

Campaign finance: 2022 council run — income $29,870 / expenditures $29,870 / surplus $0 (Elections BC FRPC). No 2018 filing (Cannan was not a 2018 candidate). (Elections BC FRPC)

Questionnaire responses

Did not respond to the Kelowna Elections questionnaire (deadline October 2, 2026).

Follow-up responses

Answers to the Kelowna Elections follow-up questionnaire on three live community issues, sent in identical form to every candidate. Published verbatim; received 2026-10-05.

1. Audible bird-scare devices ("bird cannons")

I support agriculture and recognize farmers need effective tools to protect their crops, but we also need to respect neighbouring residents. I would support reasonable limits on hours, frequency and setbacks, developed in consultation with local farmers, residents and Kelowna's Agricultural Advisory Committee. We can learn from Abbotsford's experience while developing an approach that works for Kelowna.

2. Prospera Place / MNP Place future operator and transparency

Major decisions involving public facilities and taxpayer dollars should be as transparent as legally possible. I would fully support releasing the evaluation criteria, financial implications, reasons for the selection and contract details once finalized, while protecting legitimately confidential or proprietary information. Residents deserve to understand how and why these significant decisions are made.

3. Highway 97 right-of-way protection

I support protecting reasonable future transportation options, but we need practical congestion solutions now. Transit expansion is constrained by the lack of space for additional buses, and a new operations facility requires significant senior-government funding, so we cannot simply rely on adding more buses as the immediate solution. We need to work with the Province on Highway 97, improve signal synchronization and bottlenecks, and ensure any future widening or land acquisition is based on clear costs, benefits and impacts to property owners. (I have an innovative idea but it would take more than 2-4 sentences to explain.)

Registered campaign links

From the official candidate registration record; presence here is not an endorsement.

Financial agent: Juanita Gomes

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