Whistler Municipal Elections 2026
Eduardo
Vazquez-Vela
for Council
A Long-Term Vision for Whistler —
Built on Planning
ABOUT ME
Born in Toronto and raised in Mexico, I studied law before completing my postgraduate studies in political science and public administration at Sciences Po and the École Nationale d'Administration (ENA) in France. This background led to a career in public service, working as the Principal Secretary to a State Governor and as an advisor at the National University of Mexico (UNAM). These experiences taught me how bureaucracies operate, and more importantly, how to develop practical solutions.
For the last 28 years I've been an entrepreneur, building businesses and creating jobs. Today I operate a travel and destination management company bringing hundreds of visitors to Whistler every year, and sit on the boards of companies in tourism, energy, and education sectors. I've also worked with Whistler Blackcomb in Safety, Ski Patrol, and am currently a ski instructor.
When the time came to put down permanent roots and raise our children, my wife Norma and I chose Whistler. We deeply love this community and are fully committed to its future. I am running as a neighbour. I want to bring my skills in law, public administration, board governance, and business management to the Council table. My goals are to ensure sensible spending, streamline our municipal services, and protect the Whistler we all call home, for the long run.
Short Term Priorities
Housing
Smarter, better located and genuinely affordable
I strongly support building more housing for our workforce and families, but that growth must be strategic. Some areas are already being oversaturated, with straining basic services and infrastructure. I will never agree to removing protected green areas to make room for more density. We can keep building the housing we need without sacrificing the spaces that make Whistler so special.
Building more housing only solves half the problem; it must be affordable. I will push to actively review and adjust Whistler Housing Authority (WHA) rental costs so they are genuinely accessible for more of our local workforce.
Northlands
- Continuity of play for racquet sport users
- Developer to build new centre in Spruce Grove with multi-raquet sports, community hub with seniors dedicated spaces
- Open, public negotiations with the developer
Permits
Cut the red tape and roll out the red carpet for local investment
Construction permits are consistently one of the biggest frustrations for our residents. I will advocate for published, predictable timelines, a transparent tracking system, and the right mix of staffing and modern AI tools to keep the process running smoothly.
Faster permitting isn't just about convenience, it dictates who can invest in our community. If Whistler is going to actively attract investment that supports local businesses, we must ensure interacting with our municipal government is seamless and efficient.
Wildfire Resilience & ENVIRONMENT
Whistler's Community Wildfire Resiliency Plan is being updated this year, we need to expand its reach and keep provincial funding steady, I will push to:
Expand the municipal homeowner FireSmart rebate
Stress-test Highway 99 evacuation plan
Promote roof sprinklers in new and existing buildings
Whistler's forests, lakes and wildlife are what make this place home. I will fight to keep our protected green spaces and stand behind the local environmental groups already doing so much for them. With steady, reliable support from the municipality, these groups can plan for the long term and help keep our natural environment healthy
Year Round Indoor entertainment
I want to work toward bringing back indoor community recreation, like a cinema and bowling alley. Whistler deserves vibrant, family-friendly spaces that aren't just bars or restaurants.
THE LOCALS FIRST ECONOMY
We must take care of the locals who keep this town running by offering increasingly better services. I propose a Locals Recognition Program, partnering with local businesses to offer exclusive discounts for permanent residents as well as reduced pay parking for locals.
Sustainable approach to van living
To protect our environment and prevent wildfires, we need a proactive approach to the overflow of vans and campers in provincial and residential areas. By establishing regulated, safe zones equipped with basic services, we can offer a practical and dignified alternative. This structured solution helps prevent accidental wildfires, ensures proper waste disposal to protect our forests.
TRANSPARENCY
I will push for a Council defined by an open-door policy, where public transparency is the standard rather than an afterthought.
It is essential that residents understand the full scope of significant initiatives, like the Northlands development, prior to any official decisions being made.
A Long-Term Vision: Protecting Our Infrastructure for the Future
Infrastructure
Real planning means looking past the next budget cycle. Whistler manages over $810 million in infrastructure like water, sewer, electrical systems, roads, and community facilities like Meadow Park, roughly 13%, or $107 million of it is already past its expected service life. A significant share of our infrastructure will need to be replaced over the next 30 years. History shows what happens when we don't stay ahead of this: during past budget crunches, Whistler's reserve contributions dropped well below the recommended 20% benchmark. Shortfalls like that don't disappear - they resurface later, at a higher cost.
Big Rocks
We're living that lesson right now. The 70% to 90% jump in RCMP cost share once Whistler crosses 15,000 residents, the fire department expansion, and rising transit costs are hitting the budget as three "big rocks" almost all at once. This is forcing council into reactive, year to year smoothing and last-minute tax shifts, like this year's move to have Class 8 properties carry more of the load. That response was reasonable, but it was improvised under pressure, not planned for.
Planning
I will push for a transparent, published long-term reserve and asset management strategy, reviewed every year rather than revisited only when a crisis hits, so essentials like water mains, sewer lines, road maintenance, and predictable cost shocks, from RCMP contracts to aging facilities like Meadow Park, are funded before they become emergencies, not scrambled for after the fact.
Province
Whistler generates ~25% of BC's tourism export revenue and roughly $500M a year in combined tax revenue. I'll push the Province for a fairer return, more reinvestment, cost-sharing relief, and real funding for Highway 99 so Whistler isn't left carrying the province's downloaded costs alone. The highway is part of that same long-term picture:
Whistler's population is projected to keep growing, and the municipality's own modeling shows traffic congestion could increase 50% by 2040 if nothing changes. Whistler can't just wait and hope the province acts.
