The Fernie Chamber 2026 Municipal Election Platform identifies three priorities the Chamber believes should guide the next Mayor and Council: economic development and diversification; infrastructure, housing and investment readiness; and a competitive, business-friendly and fiscally responsible Fernie.
The following editorial was supplied by the Fernie Chamber of Commerce.
The past four years have marked a period of significant change for Fernie. The community continues to experience growth, driven by population increases, sustained tourism demand and ongoing development interest. Fernie experienced 17.1% population growth between 2016 and 2021, the highest rate in the East Kootenay region.¹ This reflects a community that is highly valued as a place to live, work, visit and invest.
At the same time, growth is placing increasing pressure on housing supply, aging infrastructure, workforce demand and the supply of commercial and industrial space. Businesses continue to face rising costs, regulatory complexity and barriers that can limit expansion and investment.
Fernie is at an important point in its growth. The next Council will make decisions that will shape how our community develops and how well we respond to the pressures that come with growth. This includes making thoughtful decisions about infrastructure, housing, municipal finances, land use, and the preservation of the character and heritage that make Fernie unique.
The next four years are an opportunity to focus on long-term planning, fiscal responsibility, disciplined investment and collaborative decision-making that balances community livability with economic growth.
Success will require a shared vision that aligns infrastructure, housing and economic development with Fernie’s long-term capacity, heritage, character and values.
The Fernie Chamber of Commerce represents over 300 businesses across the Elk Valley. Our mission is to sustainably strengthen the local economy and quality of life in Fernie.
As part of that mission, we have identified three priorities to guide municipal decision-making over the next four years:
1. ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT & DIVERSIFICATION
A strong and diverse economy supports jobs, strengthens the tax base and ensures Fernie remains resilient through changing market conditions.
Fernie has benefited from tourism growth and resource-based industries. To remain strong over the long term, Fernie needs to support existing businesses, attract new investment and create opportunities across more sectors of the economy.
• Continue to support the Chamber-based dedicated economic development function focused on supporting existing businesses, attracting new investment, strengthening workforce capacity, and advancing economic development and tourism with regional partners.
• Advance strategic development opportunities, including downtown revitalization and key municipal land assets, to expand commercial and employment space and support investment attraction.
• Prioritize a transparent and meaningful engagement process to develop the Official Community Plan (OCP), followed by a clear implementation plan, accountability framework and annual reporting against measurable benchmarks to ensure the plan is actively managed and delivered.
2. INFRASTRUCTURE, HOUSING & INVESTMENT READINESS
Infrastructure and housing capacity directly affect Fernie’s ability to grow, support a stable workforce and maintain the quality of life residents expect.
• Invest in core infrastructure, including water, sewer, roads and utilities, supported by long-term asset management planning and life-cycle costing analysis to maintain service levels without deferring costs to future generations.
• Increase the supply and diversity of housing options for residents at all stages of life, including housing for families, seniors and the workforce, as well as rental and homeownership opportunities.
• Improve investment readiness through proactive land and asset planning, including strategic municipal sites such as 902 2nd Avenue, community facilities, and opportunities to expand commercial, industrial and recreational land supply to support business growth and investment.
• Enable public-private partnerships on key municipally owned lands to support projects that address community and economic needs, including housing, commercial space, tourism amenities, arts and culture, and recreation facilities.
3. A COMPETITIVE, BUSINESS-FRIENDLY & FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE FERNIE
A strong business environment and a sustainable municipal financial position are essential to Fernie’s economic health and long-term community sustainability.
• Continue improving the development approval process by establishing clear timelines, reducing unnecessary delays, and making requirements, fees and processes easier to understand.
• Reduce barriers to business growth and investment by regularly reviewing municipal regulations, fees, bylaws and processes to ensure they are clear and efficient and support a competitive business environment.
• Strengthen transparent, long-term decision-making with a clear, future-focused approach that builds financial resilience, increases reserves where needed, and avoids short-term decisions that create long-term costs or burdens for future generations.
• Advocate for rural and resort-community priorities, including workforce shortages, transportation connectivity and tourism investment, through regional, provincial and federal channels, including the RDEK, UBCM, BC Transit and Tourism Fernie.
WORKING TOGETHER FOR FERNIE’S FUTURE
Fernie’s future depends on strong partnerships, clear priorities and long-term thinking.
The Fernie Chamber of Commerce looks forward to working with the next Mayor and Council to advance these priorities and ensure Fernie remains a place where businesses can succeed, residents can thrive and future generations can prosper.
Together, we can build a strong, resilient and prosperous Fernie.
The Fernie Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors
¹ Statistics Canada, 2021 Census of Population, Focus on Geography Series – East Kootenay, population and population change, 2016 to 2021. Fernie population: 5,396 (2016) and 6,320 (2021); population change: 17.1%.
