BURSTThe BC Conservatives and BC NDP are ready to pay big for Central Okanagan votes, with both parties now pledging to investment millions of dollars into the Kelowna International Airport (YLW).
On Tuesday morning, Oct. 13, the NDP’s Kelowna Centre candidate Loyal Woolridge proposed that an NDP government would invest $20 million into YLW, supplementing a previously announced $22.4 million from the Federal government which will help construct infrastructure needed to unlock the airport’s East Lands.
“This will supercharge YLW and unlock land for future development and create the conditions for over $1 billion in economic activity. That means careers with paycheques that help people get ahead and a stronger commercial tax base so everyday homeowners aren’t stuck footing the bill for the services we all rely on,” Wooldridge said in an NDP statement on the matter.
Soon after, the Conservatives wrote that the party has proposed to match the $22.4 million investment by the Federal government, if elected.
“A Conservative Party of BC government will match Ottawa’s investment of up to $22.4 million to service 165 acres at Kelowna International Airport’s East Lands. That’s the foundation for an aerospace cluster at YLW and close to 3,000 private-sector jobs in the Okanagan,” wrote Gavin Dew, BC Conservative candidate – and incumbent – for the Kelowna-Mission riding.
Without the proposed provincial investment, the total cost of the East Lands development was expected to be around $58.8 million, with the city paying for the remaining $36.4 million through the Municipal Finance Authority (MFA). At the time of the Federal funding announcement, Kelowna incumbent Mayor Tom Dyas told Black Press that the MFA loan would be repaid through airport fees and wouldn’t impact taxation.
Once open, the East Lands is expected to host numerous Canadian aviation-related companies. Kelowna MP Stephen Fuhr said De Havilland Aircraft, FireSwarm solutions and West Kelowna’s Wildcat Helicopters are already set to move into the space.