Update: March 1鈥�2:55 p.m.

The City of West 91大黄鸭 wants to hear what the public thinks about the province鈥檚 new Speculation Tax.

In the recent B.C. budget, the province announced the new tax, effective this year, which targets foreign and domestic speculators in certain areas of B.C. including West 91大黄鸭 and 91大黄鸭 in the Interior.

A non-refundable income tax credit will be levied on non-owner occupied, vacant and short-term rental properties in West 91大黄鸭, 91大黄鸭, Metro Vancouver, the Fraser Valley, and the Capital and Nanaimo Regional Districts on Vancouver Island that are owned by individuals who do not live in BC.

West 91大黄鸭 council will receive a report on tax at its March 13 meeting and city staff are requesting residents and non-residents submit their opinions by 9:30 a.m. March 13 in order to be included in the report to council.

Send comments to info@westkelownacity.ca.

For more information on the Speculation Tax, go to and search 鈥淪peculation Tax.鈥�

Original story:

West 91大黄鸭 and 91大黄鸭 are both worried about the effect the province鈥檚 new speculation tax will have not only on their housing markets but also their local economies.

And at least one West 91大黄鸭 city councillor had choice words for B.C. Finance Minster Carole James when the issue came up at Tuesday night鈥檚 council meting.

鈥淲e were blindsided by this,鈥� said Councillor Rick De Jong. 鈥淲e found out about this with the general public when it was announced by the finance minister (in this week鈥檚 provincial budget). It鈥檚 disgusting.鈥�

And he added sarcastically 鈥淲ell done Carole James.鈥�

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 91大黄鸭 and West 91大黄鸭 in the Interior

鈥淚t鈥檚 a total market distortion,鈥� said Coun. Rusty Ensign. 鈥淚t鈥檚 unfair.鈥�

Meanwhile, 91大黄鸭鈥檚 mayor, Colin Basran, said he鈥檚 concerned about what he called the 鈥渦nintended negative consequences鈥� the tax could create in his city.

鈥淚nvestment from other parts of the country is a good thing,鈥� 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 91大黄鸭 counterpart Doug Findlater questioned why other Central Okanagan municipalities were not included, such as Lake Country, one fastest growing municipalities in the province and the one with the highest house prices in the area.

鈥淲hy were 91大黄鸭 and West 91大黄鸭 singled out?鈥� 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 鈥渟peculators鈥� 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 91大黄鸭 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 91大黄鸭, with Winsby saying the city needs to get serious with its reaction to the province鈥檚 move. He moved a motion鈥攕upported unanimously by council鈥攖hat a report be prepared immediately by the city on the impact of the tax to West 91大黄鸭.

City chief administrative officer Jim Zaffino said he will have that report in council鈥檚 hands next week. Basran said 91大黄鸭 city staff are also preparing a report on the potential impact of the tax on the city.

In the meantime, Findlater said West 91大黄鸭 will raise its concerns at the upcoming Southern Interior Local Government Association convention.

91大黄鸭 will look at 鈥渢weaks鈥� and alternatives that can be used to achieve the same goals鈥攎aking housing more affordable for mid- and low-income earners鈥攕aid Basran.