In a 5-1 vote, Banff council defeated a motion to implement a quota system for chain stores in the mountain town and, for now, ended the debate surrounding an issue that has been ongoing for the last 30 years.
In a 5-1 vote, Banff council defeated a motion to implement a quota system for chain stores in the mountain town and, for now, ended the debate surrounding an issue that has been ongoing for the last 30 years.
Council held a meeting Monday (March 11) afternoon to debate and vote on proposed bylaw 314, which would have set a cap on the number of corporate or formula-based chain stores within Banff.
A public hearing was held in January, where numerous business owners and members of the public provided feedback on the proposed bylaw. The majority of those who spoke at the hearing or wrote letters to council in advance were not in favour of bylaw 314.
Prior to the actual vote on the motion, each councillor made a statement regarding his or her position on the bylaw.
Citing his own research after travelling to other towns where tourism is the main economic driver, Councillor Stavros Karlos indicated he would not support the motion.
“Competitiveness breeds innovation, ” he said. “I encourage locals to support the great local businesses. The consumer shares the responsibility to shop at places they support. ”
Karlos also pointed that, if the bylaw was approved, it would be difficult to make changes to it in the future due to the fact it would require ministerial approval.
“The whole concept is ridiculous, ” added Coun. Paul Baxter, who also vowed not to support the motion. “We are a thriving unique community. We will continue to do so and not be restricted by bylaws that are a kneejerk reaction. ”
Coun. Grant Canning noted having a “true economic strategy ” is a topic that must be addressed before a bylaw of this nature is approved.
“We don’t know what we’re working towards, ” Canning said. “There has to be much further debate as to what the larger strategy is they want to accomplish and how retail fits in there. ”
Describing the matter as a “reaction to community discussion about community care, ” Coun. Leslie Taylor echoed Karlos in mentioning how the bylaw would be difficult to change and also said it could have unintended circumstances and therefore stated she would not support it.
Coun. Brian Standish was the only member to vote in favour of bylaw 314 and said he is concerned with what Banff will look like in 30 years if a quota system is not implemented for chain stores.
“We have a unique collection of qualities and characteristics, ” Standish said. “The more a community looks like the others, the less inclined people will be to visit. ”
In the closing comment, Mayor Karen Sorensen indicated she was unsure of what a cap will do the town’s commercial sector and also noted that many of the formula-based stores within Banff are locally owned.
Just before voting on the motion, Taylor proposed an amendment to make formula-based businesses discretionary, citing a responsibility to monitor and respond to balance.
Commenting on the amendment, Karlos indicated the Town does monitor through a few different mechanisms and that “opening the door this much and allowing unfettered discretionary input into the bylaw is a risk. ”
The amendment was defeated with only Taylor and Standish voting in favour.
Coun. Chip Olver was the only councillor not present for the meeting as she had previously missed the public hearing process and was not permitted to vote on the motion.
