Kelowna posted Mar 11, 2025 @ 04:00pm by Kent Molgat

Kelowna MLA puts Premier Eby on blast over crime

Kelowna-Mission MLA Gavin Dew has painted a bleak picture of the crime situation in Kelowna in the BC Legislature.

In question period Monday, Dew dug into some Statistics Canada numbers to make his point.

MLA puts Premier Eby on blast over crime.

Kelowna Mission MLA Gavin Dew says Rutland has been thrown "to the wolves." pic.twitter.com/SKfde6O80N
— KelownaNow (@KelownaNow) March 11, 2025

"Firearm offences are up threefold in Kelowna, sexual assaults are up threefold, robberies are up 50 percent," said Dew.

"My constituents in Rutland, in particular, are sick of dealing with drug induced chaos on their streets."

He continued: "Will the premier, himself, stand up and show up, and tell the people at the Rutland Residents Association and the Uptown Rutland Business Association why he has thrown their community to the wolves."

Dew's comments come on the heels of a comparatively rosy summation from Kelowna's Acting RCMP Supt. Chris Goebel in his year-end report presented to council on Monday as well.

Goebels's presentation pointed out a 7% reduction in Kelowna's Crime Severity Index.

He reported a 17% decrease in property offences, a 35% decrease in auto theft, a 55% drop in break-and-enters and a 49% drop in bike thefts from 2022 to 2024.

"And currently in 2025 we're seeing a reduction compared to the same period in 2024," said Goebels. "We are optimistic that these reduced property crime rates can be sustained."

KelownaNow has reached out to the Kelowna RCMP about the firearm and sexual assault numbers referenced by Dew.

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