The concept of a single business licence throughout the Okanagan isn’t getting Vernon’s support quite yet.
Council was asked Tuesday to support a valley-wide mobile business licence program in principle. But instead, it opted to have a session to discuss the issue further. “We don’t have enough information. There are so many unanswered questions,” said Coun. Barry Beardsell. Regional districts and municipalities have been considering whether a single licence for businesses that cross boundaries, such as contractors, would be a more efficient than requiring separate licences for each jurisdiction. “It’s a pilot project that will be well accepted by the business community,” said Jerry Oglow, Armstrong’s mayor who is part of a committee overseeing the issue. But some council members are not convinced.
“Adding to my cost is not a benefit for me,” said Coun. Pat Cochrane, who is a locksmith.Presently, a mobile licence for all North Okanagan jurisdictions is $100. The valley-wide proposal would add an extra $50.“There is no need to expand it past the boundaries of the North Okanagan Regional District,” said Cochrane. “This initiative benefits the huge construction companies based in Kelowna. There is very minimal benefit for people based in the North Okanagan.”Coun. Juliette Cunningham is also concerned that a single licence could make it easier for out-of-town businesses to work in Vernon, negatively impacting local firms. But Oglow dismissed those concerns, stating that the goal of the initiative is to make it easier for businesses to comply with licensing regulations. “You can talk about the big businesses and hiring local but I’m not sure it has anything to do with business licences,” he said.Oglow would like to see single business licence for the entire Okanagan in place by Jan. 1.
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By Jennifer Smith - Vernon Morning Star - November 18, 2007
A chance for businesses to operate under a valley-wide business licence isn’t up to code for Coldstream. Council disregarded a draft resolution Tuesday from the steering committee for the Okanagan-Similkameen single business licence pilot project. The project is looking to establish a system for mobile businesses to obtain one licence valid throughout the valley, instead of the two or three currently needed to operate between north and south Okanagan. “It’s basically the transient, the trades people that sign up,” said Bob Bibby, who is the municipality’s bylaw enforcement officer. “They get really frustrated because they work in Armstrong, Penticton, Kelowna and Coldstream, so they have to buy all these licences.”There is currently a system in the North Okanagan, where, for example, a Coldstream business purchases a licence in the district and can pay an extra $100 for a mobile licence. That grants access to Armstrong, Enderby, Lumby, Vernon, Spallumcheen and Salmon Arm. The proposed valley-wide project would be similar, but for $150 a business could gain access to all these markets plus Lake Country, Osoyoos, Westbank, Kelowna, Peachland, Keremeos, Oliver, Penticton, Princeton, Summerland and Sicamous.
But there are concerns that this could result in a loss of revenue for the district. “A lot of people come from Kelowna and have to buy a licence here,” said Wendy Kay, Coldstream’s chief administrative officer. “We’ll lose a number of those types of people that come out of our immediate area.” While the project makes it cheaper and easier for businesses, the number of additional fees that Coldstream normally collects would likely take a major dive. The program states that any losses will be offset in the first year, but it is unclear if those losses would continue to be offset. Coldstream also has concerns about how conditions of the licence may vary in different municipalities and how that might translate if the pilot project goes ahead.
The program is hoping for involvement of all participants, but it will go ahead without partners.The Okanagan is a test pilot for the mobile business licence project, which is set to take place for 2008. The project is planned to span across B.C. The steering committee working on the project stems from the ministry of small business and revenue.
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