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Affordability is Whistler's number one challenge

Incomes of 27 per cent of permanent residents below cost of living

The number of residents with trouble making ends meet has increased by 10 per cent over the last year, reported Dan Wilson from Whistler 2020.

“Essentially quality of life remains strong, but one of the challenges is affordability,” Wilson told council last week.

Approximately 27 per cent of Whistler’s permanent residents earned an income below the cost of living in 2007, up from 18 per cent in 2006. And 70 per cent of seasonal workers are living below the affordability line, also up from 66 per cent the previous year.

Wilson did point out that some of the seasonal workers choose not to work full time. However, almost half of seasonal employees (49 per cent) are still making less than the cost of living involuntarily.

The three areas Whistlerites spend the most on are accommodation, recreation, and food, he added.

Despite these numbers, Wilson also said that total income in Whistler is trending upwards.

“Total income is still less than in 2001, when you account for inflation, but it is the highest it has been in the last five years,” he said.

Other highlights from the presentation include that the number of employees living in Whistler is just over 11,000, both permanent residents and seasonal residents are extremely satisfied with Whistler’s recreational opportunities, and summer tourist accommodation occupancy increased between 2006 and 2007.

On the environmental side, Whistlerites are using less water annually, only 520 litres in 2007, down from 566 litres in 2006. But the development footprint has also increased from 1,014 hectares in 2006 to 1,070 hectares in 2007, which Wilson said this was largely due to the Cheakamus Crossing and Rainbow developments.

The number of unlawful incidents in Whistler also increased in 2007 compared to previous years, with a record number of reported incidents in 2007 at 2,383, said Wilson.

  “This is a tremendous report and it is a great way to keep track of the community,” said Mayor Ken Melamed following the presentation.

“It tells the good side and the bad side and shows where we need to expend more effort.”

The Whistler 2020 Monitoring Report is available to the public at www.whistler.ca .

 

Passenger vans get a boost, literally

The municipality’s controversial multi-passenger vans for children’s summer activities are now equipped with booster seats. The booster seats are required for all children under the age of nine, which is the majority of children transported, said Roger Weetman, recreation coordinator for the municipality, during a report to council last week.

He added that the seats are part of several steps the Resort Municipality of Whistler is taking to make sure the municipality’s two 2003-04 Ford 250 extended wagon vans are safe for kids.

Van drivers will also have to take an Advanced Driver Training Program, endorsed by the Safety Council of B.C., and vehicles will be maintained frequently, following strict standards.

Municipal staff are also looking into upgrading the vans’ headlights, using European fog lights and reverse cameras, said Weetman.

The updates come after a decision last year to continue using the vans for field trips and extra-curricular programming, despite parent concerns following a fatal van crash in New Brunswick that killed seven students.

The van service is optional, and Whistler-Blackcomb has also offered a local discount day care rate for parents of kids that still do not feel comfortable having their children ride in the vans.

“I think we have done a level of due diligence, and I know that we have received correspondence on this,” said Mayor Ken Melamed following the report.

“I think this is a good compromise for now.”

 

Advance voting days more inclusive

Anyone who can’t wait for the Nov. 15, 2008 election can now vote ahead of time in three advanced voting days, following a change to local bylaws.

Also, anyone absent from the municipality during voting days can vote via mail, said Shannon Story, chief election officer for the municipality.

Council gave first three readings to a series of 2008 Municipal Election Bylaws last week.

Voters used to have to provide evidence that they would be absent from the municipality on general voting day to go into the advanced polls, or that they were ill, injured or disabled to qualify for the mail ballots.

Two of the advanced voting days will be held in Whistler this year, on Nov. 5 and 8. A special advanced voting booth will be set up in West Vancouver, also on Nov. 5.

The Resort Municipality of Whistler will also use the Provincial Voters List this year, instead of Whistler’s own list. Story said this change was done after concerns were raised that a number of people who no longer live in Whistler or who are deceased are still on the voter list.

The nomination packages will be ready for distribution on Aug. 22, with the nomination period running from Sept. 30 to Oct. 10. Nomination documents and campaign financing disclosure statements will also be made available electronically to the public this year.

Story added that while online voting is still not available, the City of Nanaimo is doing a test run of online voting this year.

“I am hoping that is going to go well, and next election online voting will be available,” she said.