TIABC Voice of Tourism Newsletter – September 20, 2024

A couple of years ago, we joined some friends for an afternoon of cycling on the Vancouver seawall followed by dinner at Granville Island and dessert on the rooftop deck of my buddy’s spectacular False Creek townhouse. All was perfect until I was suddenly overcome by a severe bout of vertigo. Having experienced it before, I knew I needed immediate medical attention.

Somehow I managed to make it to the car so my wife could drive me to Vancouver General Hospital (VGH) for an injection of Gravol to stop the violent spinning of my brain. While lying horizontal in the back seat trying not to move a muscle to control the symptoms, I became acutely aware of how bumpy every street was. It felt like we were on decommissioned backcountry logging roads. At one point I pleaded with my wife to steer clear of construction zones and large potholes even though I learned there weren’t any on our short trip to VGH.

Since that incident, I’ve taken notice of the countless roads and highways in desperate need of repair no matter where in the province. And while I know there are many priorities that governments spend taxpayer dollars on, it’s painfully obvious that the paving of streets is not one of them.

This week at the Union of BC Municipalities (UBCM) convention , the topic of infrastructure was top of mind for mayors and councillors who claim that some $24 billion is needed to build or replace roads, bridges, tunnels, parks, sewer systems, water pipes, and other amenities to ensure communities are able to catch up, maintain, or stay ahead of the curve in view of population growth, increasing visitation, climate change impacts, heavy usage, and other factors that erode infrastructure over time. To that end, UBCM has called on the Province to commit to an annual transfer of $650 million for local infrastructure renewal because communities don’t have the money to do it on their own.

Speaking of funding, during the resolutions session on Wednesday, delegates approved the Town of Oliver’s motion for UBCM to lobby the Province to provide financial investments to local governments to identify how to diversify tourism in communities impacted by emergencies. Similarly, a resolution by the District of Sicamous that asked UBCM to petition the Province to develop economic recovery supports that focus on building resiliency for tourism-dependent rural communities, was also endorsed. Finally, a call by the North Central Local Government Association for the Province to significantly increase the funding and mandates for BC tourism to support communities in accelerating economic diversification, was also passed. Very positive developments indeed.

Even better, resolutions by the cities of Fernie and Revelstoke for government to initiate a comprehensive overhaul of the Municipal & Regional District Tax (MRDT) funding framework to expand the allowable usage of funds, including directing a portion towards essential infrastructure projects, and/or the ability to adapt the funds to the specific needs (i.e. projects) of the community, were rescinded on the floor at today’s session. This after both communities overturned their original motions at council meetings prior to the conference this week after lobbying by tourism leaders.

TIABC, BC Destination Management Organization Association (BCDMOA), and BCHA undertook significant advocacy efforts in recent weeks to help defeat both resolutions. However, we’re not stopping there given that this issue will likely surface again. Consequently, we’ll continue to educate civic officials on the efficacy of the MRDT program and the value that DMOs bring, as well as advocate provincially to ensure MRDT is retained for its original intended purpose of marketing, projects and programs specific to BC’s visitor economy, as per TIABC’s revised MRDT policy that we introduced last month.

To be clear, TIABC wholeheartedly supports further investment in priorities such as roads, bridges, and wastewater treatment plants, but through a dedicated, provincial infrastructure budget and not MRDT for reasons I alluded to in this space a few weeks ago.

To close the loop on the vertigo incident, the lineup to see an emergency room doctor at VHG was out the door so I endured a long, jarring, nauseous drive home where I was met by paramedics who administered the necessary medication that eventually stopped my brain from gyrating like a pinwheel. I hope and pray I never experience a car ride like that again…or if I do…there are no potholes or speed bumps along the way.

Walt Judas
CEO, TIABC