The RMI provides provincial funding - $6.35 million for Whistler in 2012 - to eligible B.C. resort communities to help develop tourism initiatives.
Instead of creating two separate committees with similar analysis, planning and representation, Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) Mike Furey broadened the RMI committee s mandate, creating the EPI in order to prevent what he called, process fatigue. I think this is great because there s no point in duplicating the work, said Coun. Duane Jackson.
In addition to the four members of the former RMI committee - Whistler Blackcomb, the Resort Municipality of Whistler (RMOW), the Chamber of Commerce and Tourism Whistler - the EPI committee will now include the Hotel Association and a member at large.
“For somebody new to go in for a year, it would take them a year to figure out how everything works,” McCarthy said. “There’s no learning curve for me. In terms of what needs to be done and how it works with people on council and the staff, I know who to talk to about certain stuff and they know where I’m coming from. For me, personally, it’s a simple thing for me to go and do.” McCarthy said some of the major issues he’d like to tackle in the coming year, if elected, are the ongoing housing shortage, increased pressure on local parks and working with events like Ironman to make locals happier hosts.