LETTER – Chamber urges City to carry on with infrastructure projects

According to a report in Kamloops This Week, two major City of Kamloops projects – the $13.5-million Canada Games Pool maintenance project and the $13.5-million sewer main upgrade work on Tranquille Road – are on hold as the city assesses its capital projects in the wake of the novel coronavirus pandemic.

A further report in Kamloops This Week notes that “In the first quarter of 2020, the city’s building stats outpaced last year’s record-breaking numbers. What the next months look like amid the novel coronavirus pandemic, however, remains to be seen.”

In this time of crisis for the local economy, it is critical that public bodies do what they can to generate economic activity, and in a time of lower public activity it is an ideal time to do these projects with minimal disruption to the public and maximum efficiency.

The Kamloops Chamber of Commerce therefore urges the City of Kamloops to proceed with as many scheduled infrastructure projects as possible, and strongly requests the City consider all qualified and available local businesses and workers in the completion of these capital projects.

The Kamloops Chamber also calls on the provincial and federal governments to do whatever is required to facilitate the City’s ability to execute these projects, following the direction of any applicable public health orders.

TYSON ANDRYKEW
President, Board of Directors
Kamloops Chamber of Commerce