Smithers town council has decided to adopt the Healthier Choices in Vending Machines in BC Public Buildings Policy but with some amendments.
Most councillors felt the town should offer nutritious snacks in arenas and other town owned facilities but the provincial guidelines were too strict.
Councillor Greg Brown brought forward the motion to allow for some healthy and some unhealthy options.
“Sometimes, it isn’t a choice, it is a need,” he says. “So, we wanted to make sure there was an option for people to pick a nutritional snack.”
However, not all of council felt this way.
Councillor Frank Wray says a good compromise was made but now town staff have to draft up the changes.
“My concern tonight was mostly whether or not it was worth the staff time to do,” he says. “But I definitely appreciated Councillor Brown introducing some choices that the B.C. Government doesn’t allow that we will allow.”
The policy will come into for all new vending machines and those that come up for contract renewals.
