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Intended Outcomes |
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Before an emergency measure such as a travel ban is ordered, we are asking that the Ministry of Emergency Management and Climate Readiness create an enhanced set of criteria and advanced analytical tools before
implementing an emergency measure as serious and significant as a travel ban, including but not limited to:
• Determining how many evacuees require shelter / hotel rooms by analyzing information provided by
evacuees on the Evacuee Registration and Assistance (ERA) site, and at physical evacuation centres;
• Identifying where evacuees work, such as neighbouring communities, in order to tailor any travel ban
to those areas most likely to be used by evacuees;
• Contacting the local governments and tourism associations in communities that may be required to
house evacuees in order to determine their current capacity/occupancy;
• Utilizing large public facilities for initial evacuee shelter space before moving into privately owned
accommodations such as hotels and motels so that demand can be more accurately measured;
• Providing market-value compensation to privately-owned accommodators for any and all room nights
affected by emergency measures that are not subsequently occupied by evacuees or emergency
personnel. This would ensure that private operators do not suffer financial hardship and adds a level of
accountability for the government.
Last August's economically devastating travel ban throughout the South Okanagan did not see any significant number of evacuees utilize accommodations that were forced into vacancy because of the travel ban, resulting in millions of dollars in lost revenues, including the cancellation of the world-renowned Ironman Triathlon.
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Development or enactment of any regulation, including the enactment of a regulation for the purposes of amending or repealing a regulation
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Economic Development and Trade, Emergency Preparedness, Employment and Training, Small Business, Sports and Recreation, Tourism, Transportation
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Concerns with B.C.'s Bill 7, Economic Stabilization (Tariff Response) Act, 2025, at first reading.
While we recognize and support the Government of British Columbia’s efforts to address unjustified trade barriers and tariffs imposed by the United States, we believe that certain provisions of this bill, in its current form at first reading, could have unintended and negative consequences for the business community and investment in British Columbia.
The Penticton Chamber, like many others, has long advocated for the removal of interprovincial trade barriers. These barriers hinder economic growth, limit business expansion, and reduce opportunities for investment in British Columbia. We appreciate the government’s commitment to tackling these challenges and recognize the importance of swift action in response to international trade disputes. However, we are deeply concerned about the broad scope and reach of the powers granted to the Lieutenant Governor in Council (cabinet) under Part 4 of Bill 7.
The sweeping authority provided by this section, even if temporary, raises significant uncertainty for the business community. Predictability and stability in regulatory frameworks are essential for companies to make informed investment decisions. If passed in its current form, Bill 7 may inadvertently undermine business confidence by creating an unpredictable regulatory environment. This uncertainty could deter investment at a time when economic stability and growth should be our top priorities.
The Penticton Chamber, therefore, urges the British Columbian government to adopt a legislative model similar to Nova Scotia’s, or the Private Members Bill introduced by Leader of the Opposition John Rustad, both of which provide more measured and focused solutions. In contrast, the lack of clear guardrails in Bill 7 leaves businesses vulnerable to unpredictable regulatory shifts, which could impact their ability to operate effectively.
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Introduction, amendment, passage or defeat of any Bill or resolution in or before the Legislative Assembly
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Economic Development and Trade, Internal Trade, International Relations, International Trade, Municipal Affairs
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Send a letter to Ministers' Farnworth, Popham, Bailey, and Alexis, as well as local MLA Dan Ashton and local MP Richard Cannings to recommend changes to legislation relating to the British Columbia wine industry, including:
1. Given the 58% reduction in grape production last year, and now a forecasted 97-99% reduction in
2024’s vintage, suspend the minimum fermenting requirements and temporarily allow B.C. land-based
wineries the ability to purchase and utilize non-B.C. grapes in order to keep B.C. wines in production
and on our shelves.
2. Permanently allow a single license for land-based wineries to conduct tastings anywhere on their
property, as is already done successfully in Ontario. The current B.C. requirement of hiring consultants
and meticulously planning changes to tasting areas is unnecessarily excessive and stifles growth.
3. Consolidate the various licenses (tasting, picnic, lounge, special endorsement) into one license, with a
streamlined approval process of 30 days or less. The current system, which can take up to 12 months
for approval of additions to your existing manufacturing license and involves hiring consultants and
engineers, is burdensome and impedes business development.
4. Commit to recognizing B.C. wine tourism as a strategic marketing priority equivalent to that of British
Columbian ski hills in order to drive visitation through wine tourism programming.
5. Advocate to the Government of Alberta the proposal of B.C. wineries of collecting and remitting to the
Albertan government the $2.75 per bottle tax for direct-to-consumer (DTC) sales in order to restore a
B.C. winery’s ability to also sell through liquor retail shelves and restaurants.
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Development or enactment of any regulation, including the enactment of a regulation for the purposes of amending or repealing a regulation
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Agriculture, Economic Development and Trade, Liquor Control/Alcohol, Tourism
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Send a letter to Ministers Mike Farnworth, Ravi Parmar, Brittny Anderson, and MLA Amelia Boultbee, regarding the urgent need to create and maintain a secondary route from Penticton to Kelowna to maintain transportation connectivity when highway 97 is closed due to events like landslides, wildfires, vehicle accidents, and deliberate acts.
- It is the Chamber's request that the 201 Forest Service Road be immediately upgraded and maintained as a viable, year-round emergency alternative.
- Provincial investments in health care, post-secondary education, and transportation infrastructure have increasingly centralized critical services in Kelowna, making access to that city more essential than ever for residents, businesses, and emergency services across the South Okanagan.
- Reliable transportation is essential for the movement of goods, employees, and customers. Without a secondary route, closures to Highway 97 create cascading financial impacts for businesses already contending with economic uncertainty. The unpredictability of travel between Penticton and Kelowna hinders regional commerce, deters investment, and places unnecessary strain on local businesses and their employees.
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Development, establishment, amendment or termination of any program, policy, directive or guideline of the government of British Columbia or a Provincial entity
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Economic Development and Trade, Emergency Preparedness, Forestry, Health, Industry, Infrastructure, Municipal Affairs, Small Business, Transportation
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Send letter to the The Honourable Randene Neill, Minister of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship urging the following actions by the provincial government:
1. Immediate Funding for the Invasive Mussel Defence Program – $5.5 Million Investment
The IMDP has been underfunded for years, and its effectiveness has been compromised by budget reductions and staffing shortages. The number of watercraft inspections has declined by 60% since 2019, despite an increasing threat from neighboring jurisdictions like Idaho. We urge the provincial government to allocate at least $5.5 million to the IMDP in 2025 to restore and expand inspections.
2. Mandatory Inspections for All Watercraft Entering B.C.
Unlike Alberta, which is introducing mandatory watercraft inspections in 2026, B.C. currently only inspects boats that pass an open station, leaving significant gaps in coverage. We recommend amending the Wildlife Act and Water Sustainability Act to require mandatory inspections for all incoming watercraft.
3. Federal Support for Prevention, Not Just Detection
Federal funding has been largely focused on mussel detection rather than prevention. As we have seen in Lake Winnipeg and are witnessing in Idaho’s Snake River, once mussels are detected, the infestation and damage is irreversible. We urge you to advocate for federal funding that prioritizes early prevention and border screening programs, as well as a moratorium on out-of-country watercraft given that the copper-based chemical treatments in Idaho’s Snake River were unsuccessful in eliminating quagga mussels but did kill between 6 and 7 tons of fish, including 48 white sturgeon.
4. A Western Canada Invasive Mussel-Free Zone
The province should collaborate with Alberta and Saskatchewan to establish a regional invasive mussel prevention strategy, including shared policies, inspection stations, and penalties. Aligning with Alberta’s AIS Task Force recommendations will create a more effective defense against mussel contamination across Western Canada.
5. Aligning Penalties to Deter Non-Compliance
Currently, B.C.’s fines for non-compliance with inspection programs are far lower than Alberta’s. We recommend increasing penalties to at least match Alberta’s $4,200 fine for failing to stop at an inspection station and implementing higher fines for larger, high-risk watercraft.
6. Clear Policy to Limit Chemical Use in “Rapid Response” Strategies
While some jurisdictions propose chemical treatments as a last resort for invasive mussels like in the Snake River, history shows that these measures are often ineffective, costly, and harmful to other aquatic species, including salmon populations. The best strategy remains prevention through mandatory inspections and proactive funding.
Public and Business Community Support
This issue is not just an environmental concern—it is an economic imperative. In March 2024, the Okanagan Basin Water Board (OBWB) convened a multi-stakeholder working group of over 100 representatives, including local governments, First Nations, marinas, tourism associations, and chambers of commerce. The overwhelming consensus was that B.C. must take stronger action now to protect our waters, economy, and way of life.
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Development, establishment, amendment or termination of any program, policy, directive or guideline of the government of British Columbia or a Provincial entity
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Agriculture, Arts and Culture, Conservation, Economic Development and Trade, Emergency Preparedness, Energy, Environment, Finances and Budgets, Fisheries, Health, Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation, Industry, Infrastructure, Tourism, Transportation
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With recent changes to short-term rental regulations, a local motel currently providing long-term rentals at below market-value rates is applying to rezone their property to tourist commercial in order to capitalize on demand that has been redirected from "AirBnB's" to commercial accommodators.
As a known tourist destination with 10% of the City's workforce employed in the tourism and hospitality industry, the City of Penticton applied for but was denied an exemption to the new regulations, and was also denied recognition as a resort community.
Given that the changes made by the provincial government have resulted in the market shifting demand back to hotels and other short-term stay commercial operators, we believe that the responsibility to create and provide alternative housing solutions those tenants at risk of being displaced should also lie with the province, and ask the Ministry of Housing to provide the resources for its Crown Corporation B.C. Housing to act upon our advocacy requests in order to support development in our community while also protecting those who are vulnerable to displacement resulting from the provincial government's regulatory changes to short-term rentals.
As a stopgap measure, the Penticton & Wine Country Chamber of Commerce has specifically asked B.C. Housing to provide rental supplements until such time as more affordable housing becomes available, and has requested that phase one of B.C. Housing's Skaha Assembly Redevelopment project's timetable be expedited by one year.
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Development, establishment, amendment or termination of any program, policy, directive or guideline of the government of British Columbia or a Provincial entity
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Economic Development and Trade, Housing, Poverty, Tourism
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