When it comes to capital projects in the city, the Mayor of Kamloops says a big part of the question comes down to what needs to happen now versus what can be deferred.

Ken Christian says things like flood protection and backup power to our water system would need to go ahead, but it is looking at what projects could be put off for the time being. “Things like flood protection and backup power to out water system, I think those were tow on the books, those need to continue to happen, but what are some of the project that could be deferred to perhaps allow us to not have such a financial crunch that we are anticipating.”

“The expansion project at Royal Inland Hospital is still ongoing. The construction continues. The Valleyview School project is still ongoing. Those things are still up and running. The question really is about our capital budget and what things do we need to do.”

Christian reiterated that there could also be issues with the supply chain, so we wouldn’t want to start something that we might not have the materials to complete. “There’s no sense starting a big project if you can’t finish. So you don’t want to take the roof off the Canada Games Pool only to find out you don’t have the supplies necessary to put it back together again. So all of those things need to be though through.”

Christian says he has directed staff to inform council what projects must go ahead and more detail on that is expected next week.