West Kelowna and Kelowna are both worried about the effect the province香蕉视频直播檚 new speculation tax will have not only on their housing markets but also their local economies.

And at least one West Kelowna city councillor had choice words for B.C. Finance Minster Carole James when the issue came up at Tuesday night香蕉视频直播檚 council meting.

香蕉视频直播淲e were blindsided by this,香蕉视频直播� said Councillor Rick De Jong. 香蕉视频直播淲e found out about this with the general public when it was announced by the finance minister (in this week香蕉视频直播檚 provincial budget). It香蕉视频直播檚 disgusting.香蕉视频直播�

And he added sarcastically 香蕉视频直播淲ell done Carole James.香蕉视频直播�

Several other councillors voiced their concern, describing the tax as being very bad for the city. James said the new tax will only be applicable in the Metro Vancouver, the Fraser Valley, the Capital and Nanaimo Regional Districts on Vancouver Island and the cities of Kelowna and West Kelowna in the Interior

香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 a total market distortion,香蕉视频直播� said Coun. Rusty Ensign. 香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 unfair.香蕉视频直播�

Meanwhile, Kelowna香蕉视频直播檚 mayor, Colin Basran, said he香蕉视频直播檚 concerned about what he called the 香蕉视频直播渦nintended negative consequences香蕉视频直播� the tax could create in his city.

香蕉视频直播淚nvestment from other parts of the country is a good thing,香蕉视频直播� said Basran, adding it helps stimulate the economy through development, tourism, job creation and helps small business. But that could all be impacted by the implementation of the new tax here.

Both Basran and his West Kelowna counterpart Doug Findlater questioned why other Central Okanagan municipalities were not included, such as Lake Country, one of the fastest growing municipalities in the province and the one with the highest house prices in the area.

香蕉视频直播淲hy were Kelowna and West Kelowna singled out?香蕉视频直播� asked Basran.

The new tax imposes a $5 levy for every $1,000 of assessed value this year and will rise to $20 per $1,000 of assessed value in 2019. It targets what the province calls foreign and domestic 香蕉视频直播渟peculators香蕉视频直播� but could catch Canadians from other provinces who own homes here, either vacation property or homes they intend to retire to in the future.

Long-term rentals, even if owned by out-of-province residents, are not affected by the tax.

West Kelowna Coun. Carol Zanon questioned if the tax was even constitutional, saying mobility rights are guaranteed in the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms and to her, the tax appears to limit that.

Coun. Duane Ophus and Bryden Winsby agreed with their colleagues that the tax is bad news for West Kelowna, with Winsby saying the city needs to get serious with its reaction to the province香蕉视频直播檚 move. He moved a motion香蕉视频直播攕upported unanimously by council香蕉视频直播攖hat a report be prepared immediately by the city on the impact of the tax to West Kelowna.

City chief administrative officer Jim Zaffino said he will have that report in council香蕉视频直播檚 hands next week. Basran said Kelowna city staff are also preparing a report on the potential impact of the tax on the city.

In the meantime, Findlater said West Kelowna will raise its concerns at the upcoming Southern Interior Local Government Association convention.

Kelowna will look at 香蕉视频直播渢weaks香蕉视频直播� and alternatives that can be used to achieve the same goals香蕉视频直播攎aking housing more affordable for mid- and low-income earners香蕉视频直播攕aid Basran.