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Amar Varma

Name: Amar Varma Campaign slogan: Affordability Age: 46 Occupation: Accountant Volunteerism: Whistler-Blackcomb Mountain Safety Volunteer 2001-02 Skier Other hobbies: Hiking, Canoeing, Sailing Web site: www.listen.

Name: Amar Varma

Campaign slogan: Affordability

Age: 46

Occupation: Accountant

Volunteerism: Whistler-Blackcomb Mountain Safety Volunteer 2001-02

Skier

Other hobbies: Hiking, Canoeing, Sailing

Web site: www.listen.to/amar

Last book read: Time is An Illusion by Chris Griscom

Why are you running for council?

I want to live here hopefully for the rest of my life and I want the community to grow in a good way so it’s affordable. It should be a place where people who work here can live here because that’s what I want to do.

A lot of people have left Whistler because of the lack of affordability. They have to move to Pemberton. If they cash out on their houses, they can’t buy back here.

If we keep going on this cycle basically most of the people that built the community, that are the heart and soul of the community, are going to be gone. All you’re going to have is that transient workforce that comes here for two or three years, if that, and leaves and the soul will be gone.

To me, the soul encompasses the people that made Whistler from the early ’80s, late ’70s and ’60s, all of those people are the soul. In the ’90s a lot of people came up and they too are the soul. People in the service industry and the transient population also make up the colour and the soul. They are all part of the whole process. But if we keep going, those people will have to leave and only the people with lots of money can live here.

I’m running because I want to create an atmosphere and find strategies to keep the soul of this community here.

What are the major accomplishments of council since the last election?

I personally think the council did a good job in getting all the Olympic legacies that they did get and I support them for doing that. I applaud them. It’ll put Whistler on the world stage even better than it is now.

This is also the same council that basically started the WHA (Whistler Housing Authority) and that’s a good start. I support that concept. They have created additional living spaces, which should bring down or hold down some prices.

Still, there is more to be done. We’re not done yet.

What are the major failures of council since the last election?

I have very little negative to say about anybody.

Affordability should have been on the minds of the old council. The main focus hasn’t been on affordability. It’s been on sustainability, whatever that means. I know what it means to me.

It should have been more focused because then we wouldn’t be in this situation.

What are the key issues facing the next council?

There needs to be more affordable housing created. We need to work on a strategy of how we’re going to do that and I want it done within Whistler, within the current boundaries of Whistler.

I don’t want it to grow like Aspen or places like that where you have satellite communities to service the resort. And I don’t like the idea of having a 9-kilometres down the road community for workers. It basically turns into a ghetto. You know, bussed in, work, bussed out. I just don’t think that’s what I want this place to be like. It’s important for me that they play in the village after they work in the village. I mean, why else would you be up here? Being shuffled off to the Callaghan after you finish work is not what I see for a future for here. The backbone of the community needs to live here instead of having to drive here. I think that’s the major issue that the council should look at. It should be at the forefront.

Affordable housing will also address the amount of money that people in Whistler pay in property taxes.

You shouldn’t have to pay the taxes just because the prices are going up.

The length of time that residents lived or owned here should somehow reduce your tax. It’s a strategy to look into.

There are also little things that you can do that will make people happy, that will make them feel that the community is looking out for them.

It wouldn’t hurt us to give them free parking permits so that when they park on Main Street they don’t get ticketed or they don’t have to put in $2 every time.

If the municipality initiated a program like a local’s card program with deals on services, that would be nice.

It’s something to look at. You have to give back to the community too just so that they don’t feel alienated. I find a lot of people are alienated with the municipality.

We live in a tourist town. We need to get the money from the tourists but you don’t have to charge the residents tourist prices.

Anther issue is the sustainability process. We haven’t finished yet. It’s again a start but right now the definitions of sustainability are all over the place.

Sustainability is a good theory but it still remains to be seen whether it will accomplish anything.

This gist of sustainability is known. We can study it and study it. We need action. Most people like to talk about things but it’s when you do something that it’s an accomplishment.

Why should people vote for you?

I’ll work hard for their best interests. I’m part of the people. I want this place to be an affordable, nice place to live. That would be my focus if I’m part of the council.

The most important thing is affordability. I rent. I have to share a place with somebody else for the first time since moving here a year and a half ago. I can’t afford a place by myself.

We need to address the needs of the people of Whistler. My main thing is to provide services to the people who live here.

I think Whistler is a great place to live and I want to encourage people to stay here and live here. It’s a great place for kids to grow.