At this week’s council meeting, Mayor Hamer-Jackson asked MP Frank Caputo directly about federal funding for Kamloops’ major upcoming projects—including Build Kamloops and the new RCMP facility, which together total nearly $500 million dollars.

Caputo’s response was both eye-opening and alarming: he hasn’t received a single grant application to write a letter of support for—in months, maybe even a year.

That means Kamloops may be missing out on federal support simply because we haven’t asked.

He even joked about chasing down ministers in elevators to advocate for funding. That’s the kind of hustle we need—and the kind of collaboration we’re not getting.

(Radio NL was the only local media outlet to cover the meeting—and left this exchange out entirely.)

In 2024, while Kamloops received just $375,000 in federal grant funding—Kelowna received $7.4 million. Kamloops, despite having a dedicated grant writer, had only 3 successful applications. Kelowna had 18.

The city is applying for $7 million in grants to support the Performing Arts Centre. While any funding helps, the total project cost is $140 million.

With such a large financial commitment, residents might reasonably ask whether the city is doing enough to pursue substantial federal and provincial support—as well as seeking updates on the status of private donor and related society fundraising.

City officials claim they can’t apply for grants until after public approval. That’s not always true—and even if it were, preparation is still possible—and necessary.

We need leadership that actively seeks funding—Kamloops taxpayers shouldn’t be footing the entire bill while other cities secure millions.

Leadership means knowing where to knock—and knocking often.

Watch/listen to the discussion here: Video