Kelowna's mayor says the city is standing firm in its belief that the province's attempt at a speculation tax isn't right.
Colin Basran says city staff have been told that building projects will be delayed due to the uncertain local economy.
He also says he's getting emails from people who like to vacation here, who are now saying thing like:
"We believe that we aren't welcome in British Columbia, therefore we are not coming to your city. They're very polite, they say 'hey, no offence Mr. Mayor, we know that you're not the one imposing this, but we're not coming back to your city. Because your provincial government has made it feel like we're not welcome here,'" he said.
"On the heels of this war on wine and oil, they're feeling like this is another way to have people feel like they're not welcome here."
Changes to the tax were announced on Monday, which focused on lessening the tax for people living in BC, and clearing up exemptions on long-term rentals.
Shortly after council approved Westcorp's major downtown hotel project, the company said the proposed tax would delay the process.
Basran says that's consistent with what the city is hearing from others.
"We know already for a fact that development projects are being put on hold, as financing them is becoming harder as a result of the uncertainty. Therefore jobs will potentially be lost as a result of these projects not moving forward."
Basran says he's still trying to get meetings with Finance Minister Carole James and Premier John Horgan, despite BC's stance that it will apply the tax to most of the Central Okanagan.
"Still trying to set up meetings with Minister James and the Premier. The message that I really want to be clear about getting out is that we believe that Kelowna can be a place for everybody. So that means that we do want to work with the provincial government on making homes available and affordable for all local residents. But we believe that this vacant home tax will have more negative impacts than it will in terms of increasing the availability and affordability of housing," he said.
Homes that are rented long-term, for at least three months this year, and at least six months next year, will be exempt from the tax.
So will property owners facing "special circumstances," such as people who are in hospital.
Basran maintained that if the province were taxing real estate speculators instead of empty home owners, the city would be in support.