Employment challenges and opportunities, as well as their intersection with affordable housing, took centre stage Monday in a discussion between members of Parliament met and the Revelstoke Chamber of Commerce.
Kamloops-Shuswap-Central Rockies MP Mel Arnold, along with Sherwood Park-Fort Saskatchewan MP Garnett Genuis, joined the Chamber June 23 to discuss what reforms the federal government must take to help local Revelstoke businesses strengthen their operations.
The event, open to business owners in the city and hosted at the Quartermaster Eatery, welcomed the elected officials into the economic hardships facing small-town businesses, and opened the conversation to bigger-picture solutions.
鈥淢embers of our chamber shared some deep pain points that are creating barriers to workforce housing project completion and pathways to permanent residency,鈥� Chamber CEO Caroline Lachapelle said in a release. 鈥淭he chamber has been advocating for the evolution of the current federal systems that are causing these issues to our community.鈥�
In addition to federal reform, Genuis, who serves as the Conservative shadow minister for employment, said "red tape and other barriers driving the national housing crisis are impacting the ability of resort communities like Revelstoke to recruit unemployed people from other parts of the country.鈥�
Though for at least 10 years Revelstoke's employment rate of about 65 per cent has remained at least five percentage points higher than B.C.'s, unemployment in the city has also remained a couple percentage points higher than provincially, at seven or eight per cent.
As well, close to 1,000 more people in Revelstoke work only part time and part of the year than those who work full time and all year-round.
鈥淲hile we face a major youth unemployment crisis, employers continue to see challenges recruiting the people they need,鈥� Genuis added, saying housing and skill development policy could offer key solutions.
On the housing front, Revelstoke is already projected to gain about 240 owner homes and 240 renter homes between 2023 and 2028. However, this comes after average home sale values in the city already climbed nearly 120 per cent over the previous six years, while median incomes rose by less than 30 per cent.
鈥淩evelstoke is truly one of the best places in the world and local employers need employees to achieve optimum operations,鈥� Arnold emphasized. 鈥淚nput received today from Revelstoke business operators helps me understand the challenges and opportunities of the local labour market and what government policies are needed to help local employers flourish."
