Economic Development

The North Coast Regional District (NCRD) is one of the twenty-seven (27) Regional Districts in British Columbia (B.C.), serving a total area of 20,028 square kilometres along the North Coast from Lax Kw’alaams to Hartley Bay and Haida Gwaii (Figure 1). The NCRD is made up of five (5) municipalities (Prince Rupert, Port Edward, Daajing Giids, Port Clements, and the Village of Masset) as well as four (4) Electoral Areas (Areas A, C, D, and E). Communities range from over 13,400 in Prince Rupert to settlements of less than 100, like Dodge Cove and Oona River. There are also nine (9) First Nation communities with traditional and unceded territories in the North Coast region. The NCRD government actively seeks to partner and collaborate with each community.

The North Coast region is rich in natural resources, supporting the regional and Canadian economies through industries like forestry and commercial fishing. Access to a deep, ice-free harbour makes the region a gateway and key transportation hub for moving goods between North American and Asian markets. The availability of land for industrial uses attracts large-scale infrastructure to support emerging industries such as Liquified Natural Gas (LNG) development; while the rugged landscape; designated UNESCO heritage site Gwaii Haanas and rich cultural history continue to attract visitors from around the world. The advantages offered by the North Coast region have, historically and in the present day, impacted regional, national, and global economies.

Sustainable Economic Development Strategies for Rural Areas

Following two years of collaboration with communities and work with Urban Systems; the NCRD has adopted Sustainable Economic Development Strategies to support sustainable growth and economic development in our communities:

Currently Seeking Opinion: Municipal/Regional District Tax

  1. What is the Municipal/Regional District Tax (MRDT)?

Sometimes also referred to as a “tourism tax”, The MRDT would be a small tax (up to 3%) added to the bill of people staying in local hotels, motels, or vacation rentals. This would be a Point-of-Sale tax paid by visitors, similar to GST and PST. The NCRD is seeking opinion from local businesses and tourism societies to determine if there is an interest in our communities.

  1. Where has the MRDT been implemented successfully?

The MRDT is currently active in over 60 communities across British Columbia. It has been successfully used to drive local business growth and community stability in several key ways:

  • Tourism Growth: The Columbia Valley

By implementing the MRDT, communities like Radium Hot Springs and Invermere combined their resources to market the entire "Columbia Valley" as a year-round destination.

Success: This increased winter tourism, helping local shops and restaurants stay busy during what used to be their "slow season."

  • Event Support: Whistler

Whistler uses MRDT funds to help host major international events and festivals.

Success: These events bring in thousands of visitors who stay in hotels, eat at local restaurants, and shop at retail stores, pumping millions of dollars into the local economy.

  • Infrastructure and Marketing: Port Hardy

This community uses the tax to fund specific marketing campaigns that highlight their unique outdoor activities like fishing and hiking.

Success: It allowed them to create a dedicated tourism office that works directly with small local guides and charter companies to get them more bookings.

  • Affordable Housing: Tofino

Tofino was one of the first communities to use a portion of their MRDT funds for affordable housing projects.

Success: By using visitor tax dollars to help house local workers, they made it easier for small businesses (like cafes and hotels) to find and keep the staff they need to stay open.

  1. How would this help your business?

The money collected from visitors would stay right here in our community. It would be used to help our local economy in several ways:

  • More Foot Traffic: The money could be used to create ads, videos, and social media posts to invite more people to visit and move to our communities. More visitors would mean more customers for our shops, cafes, and services; and more residents and workers would mean more services and community amenities for all.
  • Special Events: The funds could be used to help bring festivals, sports tournaments, and holiday events to community. These events would bring in crowds who spend money at local businesses, as well as provide opportunities for local artists, musicians and athletes to showcase and improve their skillsets.
  • A Growing Economy: The goal would be to maintain our region as a “bucket list” destination for people to visit; live, work and play- diversifying and improving year-round tourism and economic opportunities.
  • Help for Housing: More recently, the Province has endorsed the use of some funding for affordable housing and could be used to help create affordable housing for workers, making it easier for you to find and keep staff.

  1. How would we make sure the money is spent correctly?

The program has very strict rules to protect the community:

  • A Clear Plan: Before the tax starts, we would create a Five-Year Strategy. This plan would outline exactly how the money would be spent to help our community, which may include allocating funds to regional Societies.
  • Regular Check-ins: Every year, we would be required to write a public report. This report will show exactly how much money was collected and where it was spent.
  • No "Double-Dipping": The law says this money must be extra funding. The government would not be allowed to take away existing money just because we have this new tax.

  1. Why would your support matter?

For this program to happen, the provincial government requires us to show that our local business community wants it. Specifically:

  • Hotel Support: At least 51% of the people running hotels and rentals would need to agree to the plan.
  • Your Voice: We would need to show that local shops, restaurants, and other businesses have been consulted and think this is a good idea for the community.

  1. What happens next?

We are currently in the investigation stage. By participating in our engagement process, you can help us determine whether or not the MRDT is an appropriate step for our community economic development.

Please use the following link to participate on behalf of your business and let us know what you think:

https://form.jotform.com/260325650930250 

Please call the Planning/Economic Development Officer: 250-624-2002 x 6 or email planning@ncrdbc.com if you have any questions about Economic Development!

 

Regional Economic Development Agencies

Within our region, a number of communities and agencies are encouraging growth and diversity by promoting a favourable business climate and developing investment opportunities. The NCRD is pleased to work collaboratively with other regional economic development partners and initiatives: