West Kelowna and Kelowna are both worried about the effect the province害羞草研究所檚 new speculation tax will have not only on their housing markets but also their local economies.

And at least one West Kelowna city councillor had choice words for B.C. Finance Minster Carole James when the issue came up at Tuesday night害羞草研究所檚 council meting.

害羞草研究所淲e were blindsided by this,害羞草研究所� said Councillor Rick De Jong. 害羞草研究所淲e found out about this with the general public when it was announced by the finance minister (in this week害羞草研究所檚 provincial budget). It害羞草研究所檚 disgusting.害羞草研究所�

And he added sarcastically 害羞草研究所淲ell done Carole James.害羞草研究所�

Several other councillors voiced their concern, describing the tax as being very bad for the city. James said the new tax will only be applicable in the Metro Vancouver, the Fraser Valley, the Capital and Nanaimo Regional Districts on Vancouver Island and the cities of Kelowna and West Kelowna in the Interior

害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 a total market distortion,害羞草研究所� said Coun. Rusty Ensign. 害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 unfair.害羞草研究所�

Meanwhile, Kelowna害羞草研究所檚 mayor, Colin Basran, said he害羞草研究所檚 concerned about what he called the 害羞草研究所渦nintended negative consequences害羞草研究所� the tax could create in his city.

害羞草研究所淚nvestment from other parts of the country is a good thing,害羞草研究所� said Basran, adding it helps stimulate the economy through development, tourism, job creation and helps small business. But that could all be impacted by the implementation of the new tax here.

Both Basran and his West Kelowna counterpart Doug Findlater questioned why other Central Okanagan municipalities were not included, such as Lake Country, one of the fastest growing municipalities in the province and the one with the highest house prices in the area.

害羞草研究所淲hy were Kelowna and West Kelowna singled out?害羞草研究所� asked Basran.

The new tax imposes a $5 levy for every $1,000 of assessed value this year and will rise to $20 per $1,000 of assessed value in 2019. It targets what the province calls foreign and domestic 害羞草研究所渟peculators害羞草研究所� but could catch Canadians from other provinces who own homes here, either vacation property or homes they intend to retire to in the future.

Long-term rentals, even if owned by out-of-province residents, are not affected by the tax.

West Kelowna Coun. Carol Zanon questioned if the tax was even constitutional, saying mobility rights are guaranteed in the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms and to her, the tax appears to limit that.

Coun. Duane Ophus and Bryden Winsby agreed with their colleagues that the tax is bad news for West Kelowna, with Winsby saying the city needs to get serious with its reaction to the province害羞草研究所檚 move. He moved a motion害羞草研究所攕upported unanimously by council害羞草研究所攖hat a report be prepared immediately by the city on the impact of the tax to West Kelowna.

City chief administrative officer Jim Zaffino said he will have that report in council害羞草研究所檚 hands next week. Basran said Kelowna city staff are also preparing a report on the potential impact of the tax on the city.

In the meantime, Findlater said West Kelowna will raise its concerns at the upcoming Southern Interior Local Government Association convention.

Kelowna will look at 害羞草研究所渢weaks害羞草研究所� and alternatives that can be used to achieve the same goals害羞草研究所攎aking housing more affordable for mid- and low-income earners害羞草研究所攕aid Basran.