The mayor of Clearwater hopes that people are prepared for the local population to swell, when work starts next month on the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion.
Merlin Blackwell says about 800 people will be working in town for about two-and-a-half years, adding to the population of about 2,500 people.
“I think the need to gear up with a lot of businesses, and the amount of pressure that’s going to put on our local infrastructure, our local shopping centres, our local restaurants, definitely the Tim Hortons drive thru,” he said.
“I think people aren’t quite ready for how quickly that switch is going to turn on… And how quickly their life may change because of the amount of people who are going to be here, theoretically, for up to 30-ish months.”
But Blackwell says the influx of workers will be silver lining for the region.
“We as locals, and pretty much a lot the communities up and down the TMX pipeline project, are going to have an influx of cash and (economic activity) that the rest of B.C. and especially the rest of the B.C. tourism communities are not going to see.”
Trans Mountain is housing most of its workers in its work camps and in local hotels. But it’s also put out a request for proposals, looking to pay local residents who may have room to rent.
“We have a very tight housing market here right now. It’s almost no availability for rentals. We actually have very good employment rates, considering what’s happened,” Blackwell says.
Blackwell is also encouraging people who are looking for work to look around noting that both local businesses and Trans Mountain will likely be looking for workers in the near future.
“CERB will end in just over a month, and all those on CERB now should expect to endure the scrutiny of an EI claim from October on. Whether you’re on CERB, retired, a part timer, or just not working, it might be time to consider hopping back into the workforce,” he said on facebook.
“If you are immune compromised or have another issues, then obviously you should opt out, but the rest of us might want to look at those opportunities as they pop up.
