Jobs and growth are key issues for all communities, and figure prominently in the rhetoric from every politician in nearly every election.

But what do the communities think they need from the government.

Neil Wyper, chair of the Penticton and Wine Country Chamber of Commerce, said they would like to see an approach that took in the larger picture of building business and jobs.

鈥淚t鈥檚 not just pushing for more industry, but also making sure that we鈥檝e got housing that families can move into,鈥� said Wyper. Another factor would be having enough doctors so employers could present a full package to draw prospects.

鈥淭hat would support our community more than what are they doing just for jobs or just for housing. It鈥檚 how they to make those things work together,鈥� said Wyper. 鈥淲e鈥檝e got people that come to town and they simply have nowhere they can find to rent. We can鈥檛 have business without having the community and having support for families to be here as well.鈥�

Tarik Sayeed, NDP candidate for the Penticton riding, says the NDP has a policy to invest in affordable housing, noting the large increase in housing prices Penticton has seen recently. The province needs to help establish a foundation for communities to gain a better balance.

鈥淭he reason we need to invest in affordable housing is so it can create that balance,鈥� said Sayeed.

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Incumbent Liberal MLA Dan Ashton pointed to the government鈥檚 record on both job creation and affordable housing. He said it鈥檚 a matter of working together, like the planned affordable housing development on Brunswick Street.

鈥淭here have been a lot of affordable housing units created in Penticton, not only by government but by societies,鈥� said Ashton. 鈥淢y attitude is a rising tide lifts all boats. There are challenges.鈥�

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Green party candidate Connie Sahlmark says it鈥檚 not enough It is not okay to just create jobs, it has to serve a purpose.

鈥淲e need something that is going to be stable and pays a living wage, and is going to be stable. We need something that is ongoing,鈥� said Sahlmark, adding that the province does need to take a wider view to jobs and growth.

鈥淲e need to have funding going in supporting the whole company, not just the pet project of the government at the time.鈥�

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Mayor Andrew Jakubeit also sees housing as a problem for growing jobs and the local economy, calling affordable housing options a 鈥渒ey hurdle鈥� for growth. He agrees a housing first strategy is good, but says it can detract from solutions for young families and the working poor.

鈥淚 hope the province creates more programs to help the demographic that is supposed to be powering our economy,鈥� said Jakubeit.

Jakubeit recalls a visit by Minister Shirley Bond, where she met with several local businesses to learn about their needs and understand concerns around retention and recruitment of skilled labor. He鈥檚 like to see more of those roundtable discussions with cabinet ministers and their staff hearing directly from employers.

鈥淚t was good to have the candid conversations and one result was a labor market study and centralized online portal funded by the province to help local business,鈥� said Jakubeit.

It鈥檚 a concept that both Sahlmark and Sayeed support. Sahlmark said that is the best way to know what your resources are, but talking isn鈥檛 enough - there needs to be action.

鈥淧eople come and talk, but do they follow through?鈥� she asked.

Sayeed said it鈥檚 a practice that should be expanded, bringing in not just business and political leaders, but also representatives from local service groups like the Community Resource society and other organizations.

The region鈥檚 economy has benefited from more than $500 million invested in building the Oliver Correctional Centre and expanding Penticton Regional Hospital, which Jakubeit said created construction jobs and new full time employment plus expanded health services, training, doctors, and technicians.

The province has been helpful and supportive, he added, with developing agricultural and specifically viticulture opportunities.

鈥淚 would like to see more incentives and or targeted approach to create more technology and green energy based companies developing and locating here,鈥� said Jakubeit.

Modular building manufacturer Britco recently laid off most of the staff at their Penticton plant. Plans are to retool the plant, with the possibility of adding single family homes to the line.

Britco鈥檚 layoffs might not be permanent, but other communities have experienced the loss of an industry.

Ashton notes that when he was growing up, there were four similar manufacturing plants in Penticton.

鈥淭he economy is changing, how business is conducted changes,鈥� said Ashton, referring to the Internet, and linking to the closure of his family鈥檚 chain of clothing stores. 鈥淵ou have to make positive changes and I think the government has done that.鈥�

鈥淭hey missed out on the contract for Site C. However, there is a lot more camps in the future as LNG is developed,鈥� said Ashton. 鈥淲e all have to work together. It鈥檚 a sign of the times.鈥�

Sayeed said the province can do more by helping reduce the load on struggling businesses, referring to the NDP platform, which recommends reducing the business tax rate.

Sahlmark, who just completed the Sustainable Construction Management Technology program at Okanagan College, had more concrete recommendations to help get a business like Britco back employing people.

鈥淏ritco are talking about reconfiguring their plant to make tiny homes. That鈥檚 a permanent solution that deals with giving people jobs. It helps the community and it helps the planet,鈥� said Sahlmark. 鈥淩econfiguring or retooling, that鈥檚 where the province can step in and maybe alleviate some of the burden. We want to get that going again before people move away.鈥�

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