Kamloops a Good Place for a Headquarters?

(Aired on May 13, 2010)

The provincial headquarters for forest fire fighting was officially opened in Kamloops today.  Starting this year, all co-ordination of forestry fire suppression operations in the province will take place out at Fulton Field.  This, of course, only makes sense. But give credit where credit is due; the provincial government finally did something that makes sense.

Kamloops - in the heart of the province and a major transportation hub - really should be more of a base of operations than it already is.  We've already spoken about oversight of Royal Inland Hospital being transferred to Kelowna.  While that may not be as much of an issue as first feared, it's not a great omen either.  And what really concerns me is the situation over at the BC Lottery Corporation.  Kamloops is still the headquarters for BCLC.  That hasn't changed.  What has changed is the location of its leader.

When Michael Graydon was hired to lead the Lotto corporation, the initial thought was of course that he would move to Kamloops.  It hasn't happened.  Graydon still essentially works in Richmond.  It's curious, really.  After all, why would the president and CEO not reside and work in the same city as the headquarters?  In fact, what is a headquarters if not the place where the leader is?  While there's nothing more than this situation to substantiate it, my gut tells me if it's allowed to continue like this, the BCLC home base is not long for Kamloops.

Maybe it's a good thing I'm not a betting man.