Fortis speaks to council concerns over jobs being moved to Ootischenia; Jolly says economic landscape still very appealing
By Kyra Hoggan
Fortis BC spokesman Blair Weston appeared as a delegation at council’s regular meeting Monday night, in response to complaints lodged by councillors over the process.
Councillor Kevin Jolly said Trail was essentially presented with a fait accompli, bar the approval process through the BC Utilities Commission, in regard to the $16-million operations centre Fortis plans to build in Castlegar’s Ootischenia.
“My concern was around the consultation process and the method by which we found out what the impact may be,” he said. “Losing a minimum of 60 jobs is a significant impact to the economy of a small community.”
He said he was reassured to hear Weston publicly commit to keeping the Fortis call centre jobs in Trail … but he said council was disappointed to not be at least given the opportunity to offer Fortis options in regard to their operations centre.
“Had we known this sort of project was up for discussion, we could have put our best foot forward,” he said. “I would like to have seen a more open and frank discussion about what’s actually taking place.”
Weston addressed council’s concerns by explaining the decision wasn’t based on the cost of the property, but rather how central it was to the employees who will have to commute there, thus rendering a tender process irrelevant.
He also pointed to the jobs and economic development Trail is enjoying as a result of the Waneta Dam, and there may be more jobs coming after Fortis completes their $1.7-million expansion to warehousing in Warfield, not to mention the promise Trail will keep its call centre jobs, as proof of the ongoing positive and productive relationship between the City of Trail and Fortis BC.
Meanwhile, Jolly says Trail is enjoying a bit of an economic boon, Fortis jobs notwithstanding, pointing to moer than 30 new business licenses issued in 2012, “with more to follow”.
He said the city is working on a revitalization tax exemption to encourage renovation, expansion and new business for the city – Jolly said he hopes to see a bylaw in place for the 2013 tax year. He added the exemption is not in response to a similar bylaw awaiting third and final readings in Castlegar.
“This was a recommendation given to us by consultants a year ago,” he said. “It’s just taken us a while to get it up-to-speed while we’ve worked on the quicker wins, like the outdoor market, which has exceeded all expectations.”
In fact, he said, this council has been working to attract business for years.
“There’s a ton of activity going on here, like the Teck expansion and the Waneta Dam, and those require (tertiary) businesses to serve those workers,” he said. “It’s a cumulative effect, and I believe we’re just now beginning to see the fruits of our efforts.”
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