Tofino exploring a fast food ban

TOFINO—There are no McDonalds, Taco Bell or Tim Hortons locations in this town on the west coast of Vancouver Island, and one local councillor wants to keep it that way.

In an effort to preserve its small town appeal, the District of Tofino is preparing a report designed to keep chain restaurants and fast food outlets from setting up shop.

The town is known for its quaintness, locally owned shops, and untouched natural surroundings and is also one of the best places in North America to go surfing, according to Outside magazine.

Councillor Stephen Ashton presented the idea at a meeting in early March, in an effort to prevent franchised restaurants from overtaking Tofino.

“This is something incredibly special, unique, and probably one of the last communities left in North America that does not have a McDonalds, Tim Hortons, or Starbucks,” Ashton said, in an e-mail.

He said the town of 2,000 people needs a different business model, as Tofino’s small mom and pop operations are unable to compete with the large chains, and would likely go out of business.

“Franchises would create an unfair playing field,” he said. “We will draft a bylaw and hope that the big franchises don't legally challenge it.”

Ashton said his proposal seeks to protect Tofino’s natural location in a Biosphere Reserve as well as the local business owner who's been operating for years.

“Currently, we have no fast food franchises but lots of independent coffee houses, bakeries, burger joints, fish and chip shops, all run by locals.”

His efforts to bring about a ban on franchised fast food outlets is in response to The Shore, a resort development currently seeking a restaurant operator for the complex.

“Knowing this, I didn't want to wait and have to react to a franchise moving in so I felt it was time to make our Official Community Plan vision a bylaw.”

Town administration is expected to have a draft bylaw ready in about six weeks. Ashton hopes to have the bylaw passed before the summer season.