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(JOHN MCDONALD / iNFOnews.ca) February 01, 2021 - 6:30 AM Kelowna and West Kelowna politicians fought the good fight against the provincial government’s efforts to impose the Speculation and Vacancy Tax back in 2018. While they lost the initial fight, they continue to oppose the tax, believing their communities were unfairly chosen to have their economies damaged by the new tax and doubting its effectiveness. Now, the head of the Okanagan’s real estate board says the tax hasn’t harmed those cities at all. Those are the only cities in the Interior of B.C. where the tax – designed to keep speculators from leaving homes vacant rather than renting them out full time – was imposed.
Image Credit: SUBMITTED December 18, 2020 - 7:30 AM When Sharon Shepherd was elected as Kelowna’s mayor in 2005, she was not only the first woman elected to the position, but it was a sign the notorious, fabled ‘old boys club’ in the Okanagan’s largest city could be breached. She defeated popular long-time incumbent Walter Gray in a stunning upset few saw coming. The City has come a long way since then. “Women feel more confident that, when they do have an opportunity to be put in a leadership role, they will do a really good job,” Shepherd said. Fifteen years later, Gail Given is chair of the Central Okanagan of Regional District, Renee Merrifield was just elected as MLA and the federal seat is held by Tracy Gray. All three are speaking at a Kelowna Chamber of Commerce Zoom event today, Dec. 18, called Women in Leadership: Politics.