Photography by John Lehmann
The MLA for Kamloops South Thompson says his party is calling on the NDP Government to implement a proposal to set up a fund, to help shoulder the costs faced by small businesses dealing with crime, which has spiked in recent years.
The proposal from the Business Improvement Association of B.C. is to have the province set up a fund to help businesses that are being hit hardest by vandalism, crime, and social disorders.
BC United Todd Stone says his party supports the proposal from BIA B.C.
“We support it, we’re calling on the NDP to to implement something along those lines. So far all we’ve heard from the NDP is crickets on it, which is very disappointing,” said Stone.
“We’re not talking about you know, tens of millions of dollars, but you might start with five or $6 million, and what the fund would be would be made available for would be to assist small businesses that are being hardest hit in neighborhoods and downtown cores.”
Stone points to a recent incident at his office in Downtown Kamloops.
“In fact, I went through this in my office recently, and so did the store at the store next door to me. we both had a big one big pane of glass in our storefront, smashed that pane. of glass was, was, $4,000 plus taxes.”
What is troubling, as Stone explains, is that many of the small businesses are having to shoulder 100 per cent of those costs.
“Now, a lot of people say; ‘Well, don’t, don’t, small businesses have insurance?’ Well yeah, of course, they do, but this vandalism and these costs are happening with such frequency that businesses are maxing out on their insurance coverages, deductibles are going through the roof, and in some cases, insurance companies are actually backing away, and saying, ‘we’re not any longer going to cover vandalism and broken glass and those kinds of things.”
Also, part of the issue, as Stone explains, is some of these businesses are struggling as fewer customers are coming into their stores due to safety concerns.
“Same thing with your employees not feeling safe, so your revenues might be down a bit and you’re also getting hit on the other side with a big spike in your expenses, through no fault of your own.”‘
BC United is calling on the NDP government to bring in this fund to help support local businesses across the province.
