Vernon Votes: Council candidates talk post-pandemic economic recovery

Photo: Gordon Cole

Castanet asked all candidates in Vernon's municipal election for their thoughts on five local topics. Today, they talk about the local economy's recovery from the pandemic.

We've separated comments from council and mayoralty candidates. Note that not all candidates responded.

KELLY FEHR: Vernon’s recovery from the impacts of the pandemic is requiring a coordinated, people-centred approach. The following five pillars will help Vernon emerge stronger, improve service levels, and manage critical resources – lead economic recovery to drive the economy; establish a smart health community focused on prevention; incorporate resilience into recovery planning and execution; reimagine the relationship with people through digitization and data; enable a secure and inclusive recovery.

ROSS HAWSE: It was nice to have a warm summer without any heat domes, atmospheric rivers or wildfire smoke, a return to normal for our local economy. It will be interesting to hear from local businesses how that translated financially in light of rising costs due to inflation and supply chain issues, along with higher interest rates. Those higher interest rates have already had a visible impact on the real estate industry, with average home prices dropping 10% and expected to fall further over the next few quarters.

The city will need to work with all stakeholders to make sure we have the proper support and programs in place. It is important to note that the current housing shortage also contributes directly to our labor shortage, which has also been a challenge for local businesses.

KARI GARES: Many local businesses have shown their resiliency post COVID by adapting and pivoting their business plans and models to reflect new market and labor conditions. With that said, the City of Vernon/council can continue to partner with the DVA and the Chamber of Commerce to ensure that we are mindful of the issues and that we are willing to address and advocate for change where and when appropriate.

Some previous initiatives we employed last term was to reduce taxation on our small businesses in the BIA1 and BIA2 areas. We made adjustments to our current bylaws to allow for onsite/extended patios as a way to support their business in a changing COVID environment. We also created drop off and pick up zones during times of COVID closures as a way to support our local entrepreneurs. Post COVID may require less involvement of this nature, but now we need to be mindful of the issues around labour markets and supply chain issues.

BRIAN GUY: Vernon must become more attractive and competitive to business, and more economically diverse. We need to attract younger workers and their families, and we also need to attract more physicians.

We need to ensure that existing businesses are well supported by the city. Many have suffered through the COVID-19 pandemic, and the city should actively work to promote their prosperity.

STEPHANIE HENDY: Everything related to improving the local economy relates to improving housing. When there is enough housing supply for low and middle-income earners to rent and buy, less people stay in abusive relationships, we have space to attract more skilled workers, we have housing for people seeking to live, work, and play in the same city.

We need to make it easier for people to do business in Vernon. We should also be following the Vernon Climate Action Plan to retrofit commercial buildings, so that the cost of utilities is decreased. Retaining our existing businesses can involve less organizational barriers to acquiring signage or business permits and improving the walkability of commercial streets.

AKBAL MUND: The local economy is doing great for the most part, yes some businesses are still suffering depending on their models and affect to the pandemic, but most are flourishing.

Why? Because construction is booming and all the related jobs, there is a lot of income to be spent.

ED STRANKS: Many businesses are still in recovery mode from the pandemic, labour shortages, higher prices and reduced availability of just about everything.

It is important that the city continues to support and promote local business and work actively to provide more housing that would enable a larger workforce and increased customer base.

DAWN TUCKER: I support continuing to follow our province's direction in respecting public health orders. As per the Local Government Act, our city is prohibited from directly assisting businesses, but we can continue to support and promote the efforts of business groups and advocates such as the Downtown Vernon Association, the Chamber of Commerce, and Vernon’s Tourism Commission, to name a few.

PATRICK VANCE: I believe the post-pandemic economy is going to be a challenging time for some time to come. The global macro environment is experiencing decline that many believe could last several years.

The city should do its best to support local economic drivers with an eye towards long-term survivability. The success of Vernon depends on the success of our neighbours, friends, and family to be able to provide a livelihood for themselves.

TERESA DURNING: I recently had the opportunity to sit beside BC Labour Minister Harry Bains at a UBCM event and took the opportunity to share with him the current situation being faced by many businesses, primarily the critical labour shortage that Vernon businesses are facing.

Housing is what I believe to be a critical factor contributing to businesses not being able to find staff, and I look forward to working with our community organizations and fellow council members in finding and supporting solutions for this problem should I be re-elected. Inflation is also negatively impacting business. The cost of doing business has increased impacting revenues and sustainability.

Mayoralty candidates' responses are below.

VICTOR CUMMING: City leadership must maintain an environment for sustainable business operation and economic growth.

In the last four years, much of the retail, tourism, restaurants and personal services sectors of the community's economy was hit head on by the COVID-19 pandemic, causing many in those sectors to struggle to hang on. Other sectors including residential construction, the forest industry, health care, auto repair, outdoor recreation and many others have been stretched to the limit by the upsurge in demand. Vernon's tourism industry has fared much better than most others in B.C.

The city must continue to improve staff capacity in planning and engineering, and development approval systems to minimize time as well as the cost of planning and implementing development projects. Continue assisting tourism operators with diversifying their tourism markets, increasing their marketing and developing enhanced products. Continue collaboration with Community Futures on implementation of the immigrant skilled workers pilot program. Enhance linkages between Okanagan College and UBCO graduates with local employers. Secure land for the construction of non-market housing for those working in the community while encouraging the development industry to construct attainable housing for those who choose to live and work in our community.

ERIK OLESEN: We need to build plans highlighting our community but also creating opportunities for people to move here, call Vernon home and invest locally.

I will focus on five objectives: retaining businesses and providing resources to help them expand; securing new investment; preparing residents for new careers connecting them to businesses in need of skilled workers; developing economic resilience; facilitating relationships among stakeholders.

This work can only be done in collaboration with regional and provincial partners, Chamber of Commerce, DVA, and around the table at council.

SCOTT ANDERSON: My heart goes out to anyone who lost a loved one because of the virus. Our medical and economic responses to the pandemic, for good or ill, took a heavy toll on our collective mental health, crushed entire sectors of our economy, flooded the monetary system, and resulted in high inflation and many job openings but a dearth of job seekers.

Those companies that made it through are strong and resilient, and in spite of rising inflation and high energy prices they still open every day. Some are even thriving.

However, those that are struggling still need what help we can give them.