The City of Duncan has decided to increase rent for vendors at the weekly Duncan Farmers Market.
Let’s look at the pros and cons of that move.
First of all, the space that the market occupies is not a consumable commodity that needs to be replaced at a cost to the City of Duncan. The road closure signs are used repetitively and there really is only a minimal or no cost associated with that. Therefore the annual fee to the vendors is nothing more than a tax grab to punish vendors and discourage shoppers from coming into the downtown core on Saturdays.
Secondly, the income to the City of Duncan from the punitive fee is pale in comparison to extra business that additional patronage would generate for other merchants in Duncan. The City of Duncan claims we have one of the best farmers’ markets in B.C. It could be made even better by waiving the punitive rent charged to vendors and ultimately shoppers, altogether.
Just like all levels of government, you are killing the goose that lays the golden egg.
Wolf Hufnagl
Cobble Hill
