Dawson Creek rejects tax refund for locum house accommodation

FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. – Dawson Creek City Council voted against reimbursing more than $4,000 in property taxes to the South Peace Health Services Society (SPHSS) during the August 12th regular council meeting. 

The City of Dawson Creek received a letter from the SPHSS on July 30th, requesting a reimbursement for $4,249.04 in property taxes paid for the Locum House on 106th Avenue.

The House operates on property leased from the City, and acts as a place for locum doctors and nurses to stay while covering shifts at Northern Health facilities in the region. 

In the letter to the city, SPHSS president Chris Norbury detailed that since opening, the house has had 14 doctors stay at the house for a total of 97 days. 

Norbury also stated in the letter that they will be applying for a property tax exemption for next year. 

During discussions, Mayor Darcy Dober confirmed that the city had agreed to cover the cost of the property taxes for the Locum House for the first year of operation. This is the second year of the House’s operation in Dawson Creek.

The Mayor and councilors expressed concerns about the reimbursement, especially as it would dip significantly into the remaining grant budget for the year, currently sitting near $6,000 according to staff during the meeting.  

Following a discussion about responsibility for funding and supporting locum houses and healthcare, the council voted to deny the reimbursement request