Top Stories – Dec 5 – 4% Tax Increase?

Kelowna Council will get the first look at next year’s proposed budget later this week. In a nutshell, it’s looking at a 4 percent increase for property owners, or an average 91 dollars for a single detached home. The details are online at kelowna.ca/budget .

From 6-9pm, residents in communities served by the Wilson’s Landing fire department can watch for the flashing lights for the annual Santa Run food drive. Firefighters and Santa will be going door to door collecting food and cash donations for the West Kelowna branch of the Central Okanagan Food Bank. Residents should turn on their outside lights and leave donations on their doorstep, porch or at the end of their driveway for firefighters to pick up.

The Bank of Canada is expected to conclude a year marked by high inflation and boosted interest rates with one more rate hike on Wednesday. The central bank will likely raise its key interest rate, which is currently at 3.75 percent, by either a quarter or half a percentage point. Even the smaller hike would bring the rate to the highest it’s been since 2008.

Kelowna’s unemployment rate was recorded at 4.9 percent in November. That’s up from the 4.3 percent in October and more than the provincial rate of 4.4 percent, which is the lowest in Canada.

Nobody likes paying taxes, but a Richmond man found out the hard way that you still have to pay them. Eric Ho avoided the tax man to the tune of 120 thousand dollars for more than a decade saying that if people declare themselves as a ‘natural person’ they do not become a taxpayer under the Income Tax Act. Canada Revenue disagreed and a judge sentenced him to 30 months and fined him the amount that he owes.

Sad to say that Bob McGrath has died. At least 3 generations of kids grew up watching him as the character Bob Johnson on Sesame Street from 1969 to 2016. He had been married to Ann since 1958 and had 5 kids. Bob McGrath was 90.

Once again this year, West Kelowna Firefighters are pitching in to help the food bank. They’ll be going door to door tomorrow and Wednesday between 5 and 8pm taking non-perishable donations. If that’s not convenient, they can be dropped off at a collection bin any of the 4 firehalls in the city. It’s the 25th year for the food drive on the west side.

Alberta government is planning changes to be debated this week to reverse the section of a bill that gives cabinet unfettered power to rewrite laws behind closed doors without legislature approval. It was introduced by Premier Danielle Smith as the signature legislation of her new administration, and has faced widespread condemnation. It would grant her and her cabinet sweeping authority to change any federal policy, law or program it deems harmful to Alberta.

A report by DesRosiers Automotive Consultants says light vehicle sales in November rose 4.1 percent at 115,000 compared with last year. The group says sales for the year to date stand at 1.38 million, making it likely that sales for 2022 will finish the year below 1.5 million which will be first year sales have fallen below that threshold since 2009.

Sports

The Kelowna Rockets did not have a stellar weekend south of the border, but did pick up a 5-2 win yesterday in Everett after losses in Spokane and Tri Cities.

It’s a later start for the Canucks tonight as they have Montreal at Rogers Arena at 7:30.

Meantime, Canucks goalie Thatcher Demko will miss approximately six weeks after leaving Thursday’s game against the Florida Panthers due to a lower-body injury.

Monday Night Football is in Tampa Bay as the Buccaneers host New Orleans.