Creating a vibrant, healthy Vernon at the heart of Jamie Morrow’s candidacy

Nov 22, 2021 | 6:00 AM

Editor’s note:
This is part of a series of profiles on the Vernon council candidates for the Dec. 4th byelection to elect one councillor.
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Jamie Morrow is running for Vernon council in the byelection on a platform of growing Vernon into a vibrant and healthy community that enhances the quality of life for all citizens.

In a letter to Vernon Matters, Morrow states that he would like to see the community come together to make the city a place where local businesses can thrive, where sustainable employment opportunities can allow individuals and families to save for their future, and make Vernon a safe and secure city.

In order to accomplish this, Morrow has plans that mainly revolve around creating more housing options.

He notes that affordable and attainable housing is a major issue for Vernonites, adding that there’s also a “serious labour shortage and businesses are not able to staff their stores in large part [because of] lack of affordable and attainable housing.”

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He said, in order to make Vernon a more desirable place for people to work and live, he would advocate to cut red tape and remove barriers for development and would support mixed-use housing proposals.

Morrow proposes reducing the distance between housing, businesses and other amenities; having more compact developments; creating neighbourhood character; having a more walkable and bike-able city; and increasing accessibility via transit.

Housing is also a key point for his stance on climate change, saying medium and high-density housing and mixed-use developments will “create more compact neighbourhoods with less strain on resources, transportation and land use.”

In his letter, Morrow acknowledged the need for taxation to pay for city services, but did note that the money needs to be used responsibly.

“If the city consistently cuts services so that we do have any modest tax increases, our city infrastructure, for example, will deteriorate to a point where the cost to update would be much more than if an infrastructure maintenance and replacement plan with contingencies was planned and implemented,” stated Morrow.

Morrow added that he “would rather pay now than to have major increases in the future to cover the huge costs to repair run down services that could have been prevented.”

Morrow also told Vernon Matters that he opposed some of the COVID-19 measures but supported others.

He said he does not believe in mandatory vaccinations, and would like to see occupancy requirements for business and events lifted, however he also said that he supports the proof of two vaccinations and mask requirement measures.

Morrow also stated that homelessness is a growing issue in Vernon, and acknowledged that it’s a complicated matter with no simple solution, adding that he would be an advocate and a loud voice calling on the provincial government to do more to help people in need.

Born and raised in Vernon, Morrow attended Vernon Secondary School before going to Okanagan College. He recently graduated for his Masters of Business Administration, and has owned and operated two businesses in B.C., which has allowed him to amass over 25 years of business management skills. He currently works in Okanagan College’s School of Business, recruiting students, planning and organizing events and “building bridges between the college and our business community.”

Morrow has some municipal politics background, having served on council in the East Kootenay.

by Liam Verster

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