JEN DART
TOFINO – The Tofino-Long Beach Chamber of Commerce joins with other area Chambers of Commerce and Destination Marketing Organizations (DMOs) in sharing the significant negative economic impact caused by the Cameron Bluffs Wildfire, which closed the main route to the west coast for almost three weeks last month.
Hwy. 4 leading to the Alberni Valley was closed for a total of 17 days between June 6-23, cutting off the main point of access to Port Alberni, Ucluelet, Tofino and other west coast communities while crews on the ground battled the wildfire, that grew to some 200 hectares.
We thank the BC Wildfire Service and all those who worked tirelessly to control the fire and reopen the highway as quickly as possible. We also wish to thank local residents and agencies for coming together during this incident and supporting local businesses during this difficult time.
Nevertheless, the impact of the severe reduction in tourism visitation and other challenges associated with the wildfire has heavily impacted our local economies.
Businesses that rely on tourism – which make up the majority on the west coast – were prepared for the busy season with full levels of supplies and staff when the fire shut down Hwy. 4. Each of the local Chambers (and in some cases the DMO) from Tofino, Ucluelet and Port Alberni completed a one-week survey of local businesses during the closure period, asking them to measure losses.
In Tofino, the revenue reportedly lost by businesses during the closure period was an estimated $29.7 million. In Ucluelet that figure is $14 million, for a west coast total of nearly $44 million in losses. This number does not include the amount of revenue lost in the Alberni Valley.
Most of the affected businesses were not eligible for business interruption insurance or government assistance. Some workers were able to access EI, but many that are temporary or seasonal staff did not qualify.
“This incident highlights an oversight when it comes to supporting small businesses,” said TLBCC president About Us — Tofino-Long Beach Chamber of Commerce (tofinochamber.org). “While there are emergency services for individuals, no such support mechanisms exist to help businesses weather these types of events, which can be prolonged. We would welcome a discussion with the provincial and federal governments about a disaster fund for small business.”
Jen Dart is Executive Director at Tofino-Long Beach Chamber of Commerce