Alberta/BC friendship
Dear editor: Being an Albertan, we are fortunate enough to own a second home in West Kelowna, in the province of British Columbia.
We do treasure this fact very much. Speculation factors were never a focal point when purchasing our West Kelowna property, many years ago. In most cases, we Albertans are not by any means extravagant people.We consider ourselves to be hard working people just as the British Columbians are. The only difference between the provinces is the kinder weather that British Columbia’s region is endowed with, and in retrospect the abundance of orchards, vineyards and lush gardens, that coincide with the weather. Therefore for this reason we are fortunate enough to be able to enjoy your province and yet cherish our own in the process, during our retirement years.
Comparing Albertans or British Columbians for that matter, who buy second homes in your province, with people from “abroad,” who have for the most part, purchased their homes, strictly having speculation in mind, and in the process paralyzing the province’s real estate market, is truly unfortunate.
Permit me to underscore the fact, that we Albertans as is our case, in the process of owning a property in the Kelowna region, do leave a great deal of money in the province. Whether it be; by proudly updating our home and its surroundings, furnishing our home, grocery shopping, filling up our cars with your fuel, buying clothing, eating in your restaurants, and buying your delicious fruits, vegetables, or wine, and paying much greater share of property tax than the British Columbians do, we do contribute generously to your economy.
As proud owners of our second home in West Kelowna, we strongly feel, we are a positive asset to this region. To add to this analogy, when British Columbians are in crisis, weather its helping to fight the fires, floods, etc., Albertans do respond in a assertive manner.
The B.C. government’s proposed new “speculation tax plan,” regrettably has not taken some of these aspects under their consideration. If their plan is successful, we, and many more Albertans will be forced to re assess our decision in this situation.
As a result, I suspect, West Kelowna and Kelowna will be left with many empty homes, closed stores and to some degree an economic fall out. We truly do hope, the government of British Columbia will rethink its proposed decision in regards to this matter. Jane Kruszelnicki Edmonton