qathet Regional District’s (qRD) board of directors has voted to allocate $12,000 to Sunshine Coast Tourism (SCT) for destination marketing.
At the May 26 regional board meeting, directors considered a recommendation from the regional district’s grants-in-aid process and economic development service.
The first vote was on whether the board should approve a grant of $1,880.13 from the Electoral Area B grants-in-aid service.
Electoral Area A director and board chair Patrick Brabazon said he was the regional district representative on the tourism board when the subject of the municipal and regional district tax (MRDT) came up, which is the two per cent tax charged on rooms and short-term rentals to raise money for tourism purposes.
“It was contentious and the discussions at times got downright bitter,” said Brabazon. “Those who were in favour of the tax carried the day. The basis, if memory serves me, is this would solve all of their financial problems. You look at the numbers involved, they are roughly around $400,000, and they are forecasting raising $425,000 in the next year. I don’t think we should be supporting [Sunshine Coast] Tourism.”
Electoral Area B director Gisborne, from whose grant-in-aid service the money would be coming from, said hearing those kinds of numbers, and the amount of money that the tourism organization has coming in from the taxation, he couldn’t support the resolution either.
“If this motion passes, but the second motion fails, I hope that we then revisit this motion, because I don’t think it would be fair for Area B to contribute if economic development doesn’t,” said Gisborne.
Following the Electoral Area B motion for $1,880.13 was a motion to provide a grant of $10,119.87 from the qRD economic development service, to make up the $12,000 contribution to Sunshine Coast Tourism.
Electoral Area D director Sandy McCormick said a lot has changed since Brabazon was on the tourism board.
“In that time there’s a whole new social media thing that has evolved that is requiring a lot of time and effort to do it well,” said McCormick. “There’s a new relationship now between Sunshine Coast Tourism and Tourism Powell River. It’s a much better relationship than it has been in the past.
“This is something that they are asking for us to partner with the lower coast in providing the funding and I think it’s good to give them the shot. They are trying to do things differently, so I truly believe we need to give them the shot and see how things evolve. It is measurable to see how we do.”
City director George Doubt said he is in favour of supporting SCT in its destination marketing.
“It’s an economic development gold mine for this area,” said Doubt. “Our industrial and our resource extraction businesses are sunset industries, and the hope of this community is going to depend in a large part on tourism.
“If we’re not part of the attraction of destination marketing, which draws people here from all over the world, the various things this board contributes to: the canoe route, the parks and trails, and the various industries here that cater to the tourists, if we’re not part of that, we will get left behind. This is an important economic development measure.”
Doubt said SCT comes to the regional board every year and reports on what is being done.
“Sunshine Coast Tourism, through the MRDT collected on short-term rentals, provides money this year, I think, of $80,000 to an affordable housing fund on behalf of the regional district,” said Doubt. “You have to recognize that Sunshine Coast Tourism is providing a valuable service with the MRDT income. I don’t think that’s a reason for the board to give up its support.”
Gisborne introduced a motion to table the vote on the Electoral Area B contribution. The board supported the motion.
There was then discussion about the board approving a grant of $10,119.87 to SCT from the regional district’s economic development service.
Electoral Area C director Clay Brander said it is a good time to support SCT. He said he hopes next year the organization can report to the board how the upper Sunshine Coast was featured in the marketing. The motion was supported.
The motion regarding the Electoral Area B contribution was put back on the table. It carried, with Gisborne opposed.
