Episode 122: Matt and Taylor are joined by Gavin Dew.
Gavin is the MLA for Kelowna-Mission from Kelowna, BC, who was elected in October of 2024, and is also the Conservative Critic for Jobs, Economic Development, and Innovation (JEDI) & AI.
Born and raised in British Columbia, he is driven by a passion to renew and rebuild BC’s economic potential. Gavin’s career spans two decades at the intersection of business, public policy, and technology. He has played a key role in building public understanding and support for complex policies and projects across Canada, including affordable housing, energy infrastructure, and tech clusters. Most recently, Gavin served as Chief Strategy Officer for a $5 billion agricultural innovation and food security project in BC. He also has a strong academic background, with a BA from UBC and an MBA from the University of Oxford, where he focused on corporate social responsibility.
Prior to being elected, Gavin served on the boards of the Business Council of British Columbia and Resource Works. He has also served in governance roles with organizations like UBC, Kwantlen Polytechnic University, and Community Futures. Gavin continues to volunteer as chair of the Veterans Transition Network, a national mental health charity that played a crucial role in evacuating Afghan interpreters at risk from the Taliban. His community efforts have earned him recognition, including being named a “Forty Under 40” by Business in Vancouver for his leadership.
Gavin and his wife, Erin, recently launched Play Area, Kelowna’s newest indoor playground, to serve the growing number of young families in the Okanagan.
Gavin is here to discuss:
→ What his role is in the government as the Conservative Critic for Jobs, Economic Development, and Innovation (JEDI) & AI and holding the NDP accountable, and who he thinks will be the next leader of the BC Conservative Party.
→ If AI will help Canada's productivity crisis, the difference between digital immigrants & digital natives, and the considerations needed from government as it widens the wealth gap.
→ The integral role small businesses play in the community, and why we need to combat youth unemployment and hopelessness among gen Z to provide them a better future.
→ What would help Kelowna's economy, the importance of tourism to our ecosystem, and how getting the short-term rental (STR) exemption on June 1st is progress, albeit too little, too late for summer 2026.
→ Why "capitalism is a coward", how the lack of consumer confidence in the BC government is killing Kelowna, and if the damage can be reversed or if it's already been done.
→ Why every MLA should be made to learn economics, how governments create their own problems that they then have to fix, and the big issue of new public sector jobs outpacing new private sector jobs for years.
→ BC's provincial budget and their proposed cuts to health care, how hospitals around the province are in crisis due to terrible systems and mismanagement, and advocating for new leadership in interior health.
Gavin Dew's Website: https://www.conservativebc.ca/mla/gavin-dew
Gavin Dew's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gavindew/
Gavin Dew's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gavindew/
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CHAPTERS
0:00 Intro
2:20 Today's Guest: Gavin Dew
3:52 Being the Opposition Critic for AI
8:14 Will AI Help Canada's Productivity Crisis?
10:21 Focusing on Small Businesses, Youth Unemployment, & Combating Hopelessness in Gen Z
14:27 Getting Back STR & What Else Would Help Help Kelowna's Economy & Tourism
20:39 "Capital is a Coward" - Lack of Consumer Confidence Killing Kelowna
24:46 Government's Create Their Own Problems by Not Understanding Economics
28:53 Proposed Provincial Budget Cuts to Healthcare
34:53 Advocating for New Leadership & Allocating Funds Properly
38:06 Who Will Be the New Leader of the BC Conservative Party?
41:11 Wrap-Up
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CONNECT WITH THE SHOW
🎙️ Kelowna Real Estate Podcast: https://www.kelownarealestatepodcast.com
📺 Kelowna Real Estate Podcast YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@KelownaRealEstatePodcast
📸 Kelowna Real Estate Podcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kelownarealestatepodcast/
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CONNECT WITH MATT
🌎 Matt Glen's Website: https://www.venturecommercial.ca/our-team/matt-glen
📬 Matt Glen's Email: matt.glen@venturecommercial.ca
📸 Matt Glen's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/realmattglen/
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CONNECT WITH TAYLOR
🌎 Taylor Atkinson's Website: https://www.venturemortgages.com
📬 Taylor Atkinson's Email: taylor@venturemortgages.com
📸 Taylor Atkinson's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/venturemortgages/
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