Note: Please take some time to review the summary below before doing the survey. The survey will remain open until July 29th, 2025 so the results may be reviewed by the Advocacy committee in August. Thank you!
Survey: Kamloops Chamber Member Input Survey – Advocacy Priorities
Introduction
During the Kamloops & District Chamber of Commerce’s Members Advocacy Breakfast on May 29, 2025, chamber members shared key concerns and opportunities impacting Kamloops’ local economy, workforce, and overall livability.
The discussion was organized around eight key topics:
- Workforce / Talent / Housing
- Cost of Business / Finance / Taxation
- Transportation / Infrastructure
- Local Economy / Livability
- Innovation / Technology / Productivity
- Social / Reconciliation / Health
- Environmental / Sustainability / Climate
Throughout the conversation, several key themes emerged: the rising challenge of housing affordability, skilled trades and labour shortages, regulatory inefficiencies, and gaps in transit and infrastructure. Members also emphasized the need for stronger integration across sectors (particularly between post-secondary institutions and the business community), as well as a focus on community well-being, environmental safety, and improved healthcare access. There were consistent calls for smarter policy, better funding, and stronger collaboration to address systemic barriers across all areas.
Workforce / Talent / Housing
A strong, sustainable workforce is the foundation of a thriving community, and right now, Kamloops is facing critical challenges in attracting and retaining talent. A shortage of skilled trades workers continues to grow, driven in part by a cultural emphasis on university education over trades training. Entry-level job seekers also face barriers, with employers often requiring experience that’s difficult to obtain without initial opportunities.
At the same time, the process for hiring skilled foreign workers is slow, complex, and costly, creating additional hurdles for businesses trying to fill labour gaps.
Housing affordability compounds these issues. Without a clear, consistent definition of what “affordable” means, it’s difficult to align policy with the real needs of the community. As costs rise, even middle-income earners are finding it harder to maintain a decent quality of life.
Addressing these interconnected challenges will require coordinated action across education, immigration, and housing policy, ensuring Kamloops can grow with a workforce that’s both skilled and supported.
Cost of Business / Finance / Taxation
Maintaining a healthy business climate is essential for economic resilience, yet Kamloops businesses are facing increasing financial pressures. Rising property taxes and a limited, undiversified tax base are making it more difficult for local enterprises to stay competitive.
Concerns around the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) also surfaced, particularly regarding audit practices. Businesses are often left shouldering the costs of audits regardless of the outcome, and many find tax laws too vague to effectively dispute or navigate.
To support long-term business success, there is a need for greater accountability, clearer regulatory guidance, and tax reform that reflects the realities of small and medium-sized enterprises.
Red Tape / Regulation
Entrepreneurs and developers in Kamloops are growing increasingly frustrated with bureaucratic slowdowns that hinder economic activity. Business owners report that permitting and development approval processes routinely stretch beyond six weeks, with city reviews sometimes taking up to six months or longer.
This level of red tape not only delays growth but actively deters investment and innovation. In some cases, businesses are choosing to relocate to more responsive jurisdictions.
Streamlining municipal processes and improving communication with the business community will be essential to keeping Kamloops competitive and business-friendly.
Transportation / Infrastructure
Efficient, accessible infrastructure is vital to both economic activity and community well-being. In Kamloops, however, public transit remains significantly underdeveloped compared to the subsidies and prioritization given to private vehicles.
Members identified opportunities to enhance connectivity through improved transit systems, car-sharing programs, and more walkable neighbourhoods. Better linkages (such as between downtown and the North Shore) would reduce transportation barriers and improve access to local amenities.
And of course, the need to rebuild the red bridge was emphasized, as its loss has created a significant gap in connectivity and accessibility between key parts of the city. Replacing this critical piece of infrastructure is essential for restoring efficient movement for residents, businesses, and emergency services alike.
Local Economy / Livability
Kamloops has a unique opportunity to strengthen its local economy by leveraging the full potential of Thompson Rivers University (TRU). While TRU is a respected post-secondary institution, members feel it remains underutilized as a driver of business innovation and community development.
There is strong interest in having a deeper collaboration between TRU and the local business community. This positions the university as a hub for talent development, applied research, and entrepreneurship.
Better integration could unlock fresh ideas, resources, and solutions to support livability and long-term economic growth in Kamloops.
Innovation / Technology / Productivity
In an increasingly digital world, Kamloops businesses recognize the need to modernize. Technology offers significant opportunities to improve efficiency and reduce operating costs, but outdated or incompatible systems are slowing progress.
Many organizations struggle with tools that don’t communicate well with one another, leading to workflow delays and missed opportunities for optimization.
Embracing more integrated, scalable tech solutions will be crucial to enhancing productivity and keeping local businesses agile in a fast-moving economy.
Social / Reconciliation / Health
A healthy community depends on accessible, coordinated healthcare and meaningful social support systems. In Kamloops, members identified persistent gaps in communication between doctors and specialists, as well as the need for a more holistic, patient-centered approach to care.
Although centralized tools like My Health Portal exist, awareness and usage remain low. Meanwhile, addictions and mental health services are facing long waitlists, particularly in the transition from detox to rehabilitation.
Recruiting healthcare professionals and investing in integrated, well-communicated services will be vital to supporting individual and community well-being.
Environmental / Sustainability / Climate
Creating a safe and sustainable environment is top of mind for Kamloops residents and businesses. Maintaining air quality and managing wildfire risk were among the most pressing concerns raised.
Suggested actions include improved fire management strategies, relocating flammable vegetation such as cedar trees, and even mandating fire extinguishers in vehicles. However, access to adequate funding remains a key barrier to implementing these solutions.
To protect the region’s natural assets and quality of life, a proactive approach to sustainability and emergency preparedness will be needed, one that prioritizes funding, planning, and local engagement.
Conclusion
The insights shared during our Members Advocacy Breakfast reflect both the challenges and opportunities facing Kamloops today. From workforce development and housing affordability to infrastructure, health, and environmental resilience, it’s clear that our business community is deeply invested in shaping a more connected, inclusive, and sustainable future for our region.
These conversations are just the beginning. The Kamloops & District Chamber of Commerce remains committed to amplifying the voices of our members and working collaboratively with all levels of government and community partners to turn these ideas into action.
Together, we can build a stronger Kamloops where businesses thrive, people are supported, and progress is shared.
If you have any questions or comments, please reach out to us at hello@kamloopschamber.ca