Editorial: Still no support for Valemount businesses
By Spencer Hall
When PG-Valemount MLA Rosalyn Bird rose to speak in the legislature on March 13th, she took issue with the Provincial government’s slow response to the economic fallout following the devastating Jasper wildfire last summer. She informed her colleagues that up to 70 per cent of Valemount businesses are considering closing their doors if they don’t receive the estimated $1.5 million they need to keep the lights on until the summer tourist season and then asked one question:
“Will the Finance Minister commit to setting this right before the fiscal year ends in 18 days?”
Well folks, the fiscal year came to an end on March 31st and lo and behold, no recovery funding from the Province has materialized. Perhaps we need to stand outside the BC Legislature and jiggle a change jar.
Bird’s question was essentially met with a non-answer from Emergency Management and Climate Readiness Minister Kelly Greene, who stated that her ministry is working with the Ministry of Jobs, Economic Development, and Innovation to and others to help Valemount in its recovery.
“Our thoughts are with everybody impacted by the fires last year, particularly the residents of Valemount who so courageously stepped up to support people in need,” Greene said.
This was a nice sentiment, but unfortunately kind thoughts and words don’t pay the bills.
EMCR provided over $56K in funding to the Village of Valemount to hire Strategies North to aid in the village’s economic recovery, so it’s not like they’ve given us nothing since the Jasper wildfire, but it should be crystal clear to the Province by now that we need more. Especially after Strategies North released a report over four months ago stating the Village needs to work with the provincial and federal governments for funding support.
Now is the time for government collaboration. Perhaps the Province could split the cost of economic recovery with the Government of Alberta, though I find it hard to believe the B.C. government is that strapped for cash. In the grand scheme of things, $1.5 million is not that large of a sum of money to governments. This modest figure was calculated by Strategies North after consulting with impacted businesses and reviewing survey data. When I spoke to mayor Owen Torgerson last week, he equated the amount to a rounding error within a government budget.
Tourism businesses should not face bankruptcy due to government actions, such as highway closures and inaccurate signage, as was the case in the Jasper evacuation.
Torgerson also stated his concern that if Valemount doesn’t receive this funding, it may deter other communities from helping their neighbors during a natural disaster, something that has crossed my mind as well. Though I also agree that if it came down to it, Valemountians would open its doors to evacuees once again, despite the economic hardship they would face. However, with natural disasters becoming more common, all eyes are on government to ensure there aren’t any barriers that come with helping one’s neighbors when they’re in need.
Someone in government — whether it be federal, provincial, Alberta or B.C. — please step up and provide this crucial funding. This would be such an easy win for you and it would save many people’s livelihoods. Help Valemount businesses get back on their feet and show us that when disaster strikes, someone has our back.
