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Gavin DewConservative Party

Candidate for Kelowna-Mission

Elected — unofficial result

In their own words

This candidate hasn’t listed a campaign website or social account with the Town. That says nothing about them as a candidate — it just means less of their material is published online for us to summarise.

Where they stand

Every candidate in this race is shown against the same 12 issues, in the same order, whether or not we’ve found something for each one. Why we do it this way.

Healthcare

Will there be a doctor, a hospital, and care when we need it?

This candidate has spoken about this issue more than once. Each statement is shown with its own source.

PRE-WINDOW: Dew calls Eby's $30M KGH sixth-floor pledge 'a step in the right direction' for patients, families and caregivers.

  • PRE-WINDOW (2026-10-20): verified never extracted — Castanet is policy-blocked for text fetch; surfaced only via live browser
  • Responding to Eby's $30M pledge to complete Kelowna General Hospital's sixth floor (33,000 sq ft sat unfinished for a decade, per article)
  • Also attacked the pledge as a last-minute promise made out of desperation; this row carries his on-the-record welcome of it
“Bottom line, this is a step in the right direction to make things better for patients, families, and all of the amazing folks who provide care at KGH.”

(reported remarks)

Source: Castanet: 'BC Conservative reacts to Eby's $30M pledge for Kelowna hospital funding' · October 20, 2026

Confidence:High

Dew demands stable leadership, retention strategies and accountability at Interior Health.

  • Wants stable leadership, real retention strategies and accountability for performance at Interior Health.
  • Cites overwhelmed ERs, surgical backlogs and entrenched staffing shortages.
“Interior Health needs stable leadership, meaningful retention strategies, and real accountability for performance.”

(several paragraphs)

Source: 2025 IN REVIEW - Gavin Dew - The DEW Line · December 30, 2025

Confidence:High

Dew said the KGH pediatric closure shows NDP mismanagement is driving away health professionals.

  • Called the six-week pediatric unit closure at Kelowna General Hospital deeply troubling.
  • Blames NDP mismanagement for driving away frontline professionals.
“As a Kelowna parent, I find it deeply troubling that pediatric care is being reduced in one of the province’s fastest-growing regions. Even as the NDP run victory laps on health recruitment, mismanagement is driving away frontline professionals.”

(a few sentences)

Source: Kelowna Conservative MLAs Demand Action Following Pediatric Closure at Kelowna General Hospital · May 29, 2025

Confidence:High

Dew commits Conservatives to opening 33,000 unused sq ft at Kelowna General Hospital.

  • Conservatives committed to opening the 33,000 unused square feet of space at Kelowna General Hospital.
  • Distinct commitment from his Oct 23 AM row, which was a reaction to Eby's $30M pledge — this is a Conservative pledge in its own right, same issue, different source.
“Conservatives are very committed to getting the 33,000 unused square feet of space at Kelowna General Hospital opened”

(reported remarks)

Source: Global News (Okanagan): Kelowna-area candidates make final push before election day (via republisher mirror) · October 23, 2026

Confidence:High

Think we’ve got this wrong?

Housing

Will I be able to afford to live here?

Dew opposes blunt Victoria-imposed short-term rental rules; wants local flexibility for Kelowna.

  • Says blunt, one-size-fits-all short-term rental rules from Victoria ignore tourism-driven communities like Kelowna.
  • Wants smart regulation with local flexibility and genuine consultation.
Show their words & source (several paragraphs)
“Housing affordability remains a defining challenge, and short-term rental policy has been a particular point of contention. I’ve been clear that blunt, one-size-fits-all rules imposed from Victoria ignore the realities of tourism-driven communities like Kelowna.”

Source: 2025 IN REVIEW - Gavin Dew - The DEW Line · December 30, 2025

Confidence:High

Cost of living

Can I afford groceries, hydro and insurance?

Dew attacked the NDP record on deficits, jobs, healthcare and a cost of living 'crushing people'.

  • Attacked the NDP record: $13.8B deficit, worst private-sector job creation, crumbling healthcare, street crisis, crushing cost of living.
Show their words & source (reported remarks)
“British Columbians will judge him on his record: a deficit of $13.8-billion and growing, the worst private sector job creation in Canada, a health care system that’s crumbling, a crisis on our streets, and cost of living that is crushing people,”

Source: ‘Eby’s top priority in snap election is self-preservation’: Local BC Conservative | Kelowna’s 103-1 Beach Radio · September 23, 2026

Confidence:High

Economy & jobs

Will BC's economy create good jobs where I live?

Dew wants a competitiveness agenda and policies backing people who create paycheques.

  • Calls for a serious competitiveness agenda, investment certainty, and pro-growth policies.
  • Cites Kelowna's 11% unemployment (Nov 2025) and 16,200 people looking for work.
Show their words & source (several paragraphs)
“Underlying all of these issues is the question of jobs and economic growth. Families in the Okanagan are feeling the pressure of higher costs, slower growth, and fewer opportunities. When Kelowna has thousands of people looking for work and businesses are nervous about what comes next, it should be a wake-up call for Victoria: we need a serious competitiveness agenda, investment certainty, and policies that back the people who actually create powerful paycheques.”

Source: 2025 IN REVIEW - Gavin Dew - The DEW Line · December 30, 2025

Confidence:High

Education

Will my kids' schools be properly funded?

Not reviewed yet. Know something?

Environment & climate

Is the province protecting forests, water and climate?

Not reviewed yet. Know something?

Public safety

Will repeat offenders stay off my street?

Dew raised concerns about repeat offenders, court delays and uncoordinated crime policy in Kelowna.

  • Raised concerns about repeat offenders, court delays, and poor coordination between housing, mental health and policing policy.
  • Says compassion and safety are not competing values.
Show their words & source (several paragraphs)
“Residents are rightly worried about crime, disorder, and the erosion of confidence in their own neighbourhoods. Throughout the year, I raised concerns about repeat offenders, court delays, and the lack of coordination between housing, mental health, and policing policy. Compassion and safety aren’t competing values. When government pretends they are, it fails at both.”

Source: 2025 IN REVIEW - Gavin Dew - The DEW Line · December 30, 2025

Confidence:High

Transportation

Will the highways, ferries and transit keep up?

Not reviewed yet. Know something?

Mental health & addictions

How will the province handle the toxic-drug crisis?

Dew commits Conservatives to mandatory care at Okanagan Correctional Centre.

  • Conservatives committed to mandatory care at Okanagan Correctional Centre.
  • Pairs with his healthcare row from the same final-push article.
Show their words & source (reported remarks)
“We're very committed to mandatory care at Okanagan Correctional Centre.”

Source: Global News (Okanagan): Kelowna-area candidates make final push before election day (via republisher mirror) · October 23, 2026

Confidence:High

Seniors & long-term care

Can seniors age with dignity in BC?

Not reviewed yet. Know something?

Indigenous relations

How will the province work with Indigenous peoples?

Not reviewed yet. Know something?

Government & taxes

Is the province spending my money wisely?

Not reviewed yet. Know something?

Think we got something wrong?

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