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By Mel Rothenburger

ARMCHAIR MAYOR

ROTHENBURGER: Common sense played no role in council’s curling club decision

Sep 21, 2022 | 4:40 AM

A LEVEL PLAYING FIELD is important in business but sometimes it can be a little too level.
For example, have you ever decided to go to the concession at the Kamloops Curling Club for a meal, instead of one of the many restaurants in town?

I doubt it. The curling club is a curling club with some food, not a restaurant with a curling club attached. But it will have to pay taxes as if it is.

City council yesterday did what it thinks is a favour to the club by withdrawing its permissive tax exemption for its food services and bar but leaving it in place for the rest of the Victoria Street building.

A permissive tax exemption is meant for organizations, basically not-for-profits, that provide benefits to the community rather than operating to make money. For example, on Tuesday, council approved tax exemptions for A Way Home Kamloops, Big Brothers and Sisters, and a few others.

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But the curling club was a different story. A report to council noted that the club provides a place “to curl, socialize with friends, and participate in bonspiels,” and that it provides most of the volunteers for provincial and national curling events that come to town.

But that’s not good enough for the City, because the club also has a liquor licence, a concession and pro shop.

Council was offered two options: total denial of an exemption or partial. A third possible option — common sense — wasn’t offered. That one would have recognized that the threat to local businesses is nil.

The council’s decision rivals the one of a couple of years ago when it initially denied an exemption to the Kamloops Film Society because its old movies supposedly competed with the Odeon Theatre on the other side of town.

I’m sure the curling club appreciates getting the partial exemption but, fact is, it should have gotten a full one.

I’m Mel Rothenburger, the Armchair Mayor.

Mel Rothenburger is a former mayor of Kamloops and a retired newspaper editor. He is a regular contributor to CFJC, publishes the ArmchairMayor.ca opinion website, and is a director on the Thompson-Nicola Regional District board. He can be reached at mrothenburger@armchairmayor.ca.

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Editor’s Note: This opinion piece reflects the views of its author, and does not necessarily represent the views of CFJC Today or Pattison Media.