Despite a meeting with B.C. Finance Minister Carole James last week, West Kelowna Mayor Gord Milsom said he doesn香蕉视频直播檛 expect much to change regarding the speculation and vacancy tax in the city.

Since the tax香蕉视频直播檚 implementation in early 2018, the mayor has been vocal about his opposition to it. While meant to target vacant properties and properties owned by real estate speculators, Milsom said that neither are prevalent issues in West Kelowna.

香蕉视频直播淚 don香蕉视频直播檛 think they really did their due diligence,香蕉视频直播� he said. 香蕉视频直播淲e knew, by individuals filing their property taxes, as to whether or not they were foreign owners. We realized very quickly that this tax would impact mainly Canadians.香蕉视频直播�

The mayor said there has been little explanation as to why West Kelowna was included in the tax in the first place.

香蕉视频直播淭hey never really gave us any details as to why,香蕉视频直播� he said. 香蕉视频直播淭hey just added us in.香蕉视频直播�

Milsom said in West Kelowna the tax is mainly taking its toll on B.C. residents, those with summer homes and the job market.

香蕉视频直播淚香蕉视频直播檓 not surprised by the numbers,香蕉视频直播� he said, citing that about two-thirds of those who pay the tax province-wide are foreign owners or satellite families.

香蕉视频直播淏ut in West Kelowna香蕉视频直播檚 situation, that香蕉视频直播檚 not the case. We have very few foreign owners and very few satellite families.香蕉视频直播�

He cited a Canadian Home Builders of the Central Okanagan report which said a 17 per cent reduction in jobs related to residential construction in West Kelowna came at the hands of the speculation tax.

As the tax is mainly affecting 香蕉视频直播済ood West Kelowna citizens,香蕉视频直播� Milsom joined several other mayors in asking James to implement an opt-in/opt-out system.

香蕉视频直播淚 don香蕉视频直播檛 think it香蕉视频直播檚 fair to tax Canadians in that way,香蕉视频直播� he said.

Several mayors at the meeting were supportive of the tax, coming mostly from the larger cities, including Vancouver and Victoria.

香蕉视频直播淢any homes are unaffordable in those areas,香蕉视频直播� Milsom said. 香蕉视频直播淭he spec tax fit with other programs that help to reduce home costs in those areas.香蕉视频直播�

Milsom said James is taking the feedback from all of the mayors present at the meeting into consideration but is unsure if any changes will be made. She said if any changes need to be made, they would be done before the end of the year.

香蕉视频直播淲hat does that mean? When are we going to hear from her?香蕉视频直播� he said.

香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 hard to say what she香蕉视频直播檚 going to come back with.香蕉视频直播�

According to the Ministry of Finance, revenue from the tax totalled $115 million for the 2018-19 fiscal year and just over $1 million came from West Kelowna.

READ MORE: Central Okanagan to have childcare needs assessed by study

READ MORE: 香蕉视频直播業t hasn香蕉视频直播檛 gone well香蕉视频直播�: Kelowna Mayor on speculation tax

michael.rodriguez@kelownacapnews.com
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