Texada Island’s regional director initially balked at financially assisting the Powell River Film Festival but another director was projecting consequences of conditional support for economic development.
At the Thursday, January 15 Powell River Regional District rural services committee meeting, the film festival’s financial request was reviewed. Because the film festival begins on February 18, the vote on the issue was pushed to the January 22 regional district board meeting.
At the committee meeting, regional directors were asked to consider a $4,000 contribution, double the allocation from the previous three years.
Sandy McCormick, Area D director, told the committee that at a recent Texada Island Chamber of Commerce meeting, those in attendance wanted the economic development contributions collected on Texada Island to remain for island projects.
“There is a concern by a number of Texada Island residents that they are unable to attend events because of the inability to get to the events and back on the ferry,” she said. “I have to say I have some real doubts about the value to island. I hate to be parochial in saying this but those are the things that I heard from people on the island.”
McCormick said it makes her reluctant to support using taxpayer dollars from Area D toward economic development issues that are not based on Texada Island.
Patrick Brabazon, Area A director, said the committee was discussing a regional issue. He said he was reluctant to provide $4,000 for the film festival but he said he thinks the four areas should contribute. His area would be paying more than any other are if the recommendation was approved, he said.
“All of us who are involved in the economic development service are putting our money into a pot,” he said. “We can’t dip our spoon into the pot and take out just the juicy bits and leave the rest. The economic development fund contributes to other areas as well so I have to go along with it.
“I do suggest we make a contribution as we have in the past for the benefit of the greater good.”
McCormick said she values the arts but she was just presenting a concern expressed to her by taxpayers on the island.
Brabazon moved to amend the request for $4,000 back to $2,000 as was allocated in previous years. McCormick opposed the motion at the rural services committee.
When the motion came to the regional board on January 22 for approval, McCormick moved the recommendation for allocating $2,000 from the regional district’s economic development service and electoral Area B grant in aid. She said that while she had moved the recommendation, she still had to reiterate the comments she made at the rural services committee meeting..
“I’m not opposed to the film festival and I support the arts wholeheartedly,” she said. “I support the recommendation. I would like, in future years, to find an opportunity to provide support for those activities without taking from the economic development coffers of Area D.”
