[Editor’s Note: This letter was originally sent to Whistler’s mayor and council, and is shared here with the author’s permission.]
I am writing to you today to request your help or information with an issue that has arisen recently. I have been informed by the WHA [Whistler Housing Authority] that my current employer does not meet the requirements for me to be eligible to stay on the rental list for the WHA and in the near future this may also effect the purchase list. I changed employers back in November last year, and wasn’t aware that this would be an issue until renewing my application for the WHA. I am employed by Epic Rides, as their operations manager for the Whistler area. This position is full time, 40-plus hours a week, physically located in Whistler, and as a company Epic Rides serves tourists and locals alike, providing a bus service to both Downtown [Vancouver] and the airport. There is no doubt in my mind that 100 per cent of our operations support Whistler.
The section in policy K-01 that is causing the issue is as follows: Qualified Whistler business is defined as one that: a. holds a valid RMOW business license, which is not a ‘non-resident business license’, or is legislatively exempt from business licensing requirements (e.g. schools); and b. has an office or premises that are physically located in Whistler or at the Whistler Olympic Park. Epic Rides is based out of Vancouver, and we have the correct license to operate in Whistler, but that is a non-resident business license. I don’t quite understand why this should affect the staff based in Whistler.
Although I’m writing to you concerning myself, I feel like getting Epic Rides on the qualified business list will also help us in hiring and retaining staff to provide this service. I’m sure you’re all aware of the challenges every company is facing concerning this. I also think that the requirement for a physical office in Whistler is a little restrictive; there are many services and operations available online that can be managed without a physical space and still provide service to residents and tourists. For example, with Epic Rides, I’m either on the road driving a bus or able to plan and set everything up from my cell phone; I essentially use my vehicle as an office. I understand the need to have a certain set of criteria and to limit certain people and/or businesses from taking advantage of the system. However, there must be a process for accepting requests for exceptions to these rules.
I’ve been living in Whistler for 11 years and believe that as an individual I meet the criteria for this list: I’ve been on the rental list for almost seven years [and] although losing a spot on the rental list would only be annoying for me and not really cause any hardship, the risk to losing my place on the purchase list would probably change my whole outlook on this. I’d either have to find a different job, or possibly leave town, which would appear a little dramatic considering that this work should meet the requirements for eligibility.
I am happy to provide any information you require and have the support of the business ownership to figure this out. I hope that you can provide some insight and help into my situation, and if not, maybe you can point me in the direction of someone who can.
