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Vancouver fitness pioneer Ron Zalko considers provincial politics
Ron Zalko says the B.C. government should adjust the tax system to prevent health costs from rising.
The founder of one of Vancouver's most successful gyms says he's ready to run for the legislature if his party promises to eliminate provincial sales taxes on fitness providers.
In October, Ron Zalko joined the board of B.C. First. It's a new provincial party created by some of the same people who worked on Bill Vander Zalm's campaign to scrap the harmonized sales tax.
In a year-end phone interview with the Straight, Zalko said that he's willing to be a candidate if B.C. First removes the provincial portion of the HST from not only gyms and fitness clubs, but also in other areas that enhance people's health, such as triathlon entry fees and bicycles.
"A healthy society is a very productive society, and we should encourage people to exercise, motivate them to exercise, and do activity outdoors or indoors—hiking or going to the gym or doing yoga," Zalko declared. "Don't tax them and punish them for getting healthy."
He emphasized that promoting health will reduce costs to the health-care system. "I want to see every fitness provider get relief from taxes and motivate people to be healthy."
The founder of Ron Zalko Total Body Fitness and Yoga said that about 3,000 members belong to his Kitsilano facility. During the anti-HST initiative, he placed petitions inside the gym for people to sign.
When asked for alternatives to fitness taxes, Zalko replied with a laugh: "Tax them when they buy a Ferrari, and tax them good!"
He also said that the B.C. government should try harder to combat childhood obesity. He noted that this is especially important in this era when kids are spending so much time in front of the computer or texting their friends.
"They have no knowledge about how to eat right or exercise right," Zalko commented. "I would like to encourage more physical awareness in schools—in high school, elementary school, and kindergarten."
He recalled that he used to be "fat", weighing 225 pounds at one point, before deciding to change his lifestyle. He was the first Canadian to complete the Hawaii Ironman Triathlon, in which he wore a T-shirt saying "From fat man to Ironman".
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The party is new, the NDP is drawing fire for putting boundaries on Dana Larsen (marijuana - social cost accounting advocate), and the mainstream press is lurking, ready to pounce on Chris Delaney anticipating that he framing the BC First Party in his own (unsuccessful) BC Unity image - which will hamper the party from the outset. Mr. Zalko's announcement (respectfully) makes the BC First Party appear amateurish - precisely the kind of the thing - the mainstream press is expecting.
What I would have done if I were Mr. Zalko who has a good name brand and unimpeachable credentials in fitness (he knows what he speaks about) - is said:
'I intend to seek a seat - in such and such a constituency' with the BC First Party (rebrand the loyalty - stitch name and reputation to new party whilst vacuum is present in political industry in BC). 'I don't agree with Gordon Campbell's BC Liberal HST (brand the culprit)', 'particularly the way it was brought in - it reflects in large part the arrogance of government' (distance oneself from any rebut to opportunism) and 'believe we should go back to the provincial sales tax and corresponding exemptions, including those for young teens and children' (again - grab another consituency- namely mothers with children aged 10-15 who are angry like hornets over the HST - and Christy hasn't even thought of because she is so busy thinking about herself).
Then - the card I want to introduce--- my own expertise and interest with
"Further --- I would include all health clubs and exercise clubs from provincial sales taxes because health care is a benefit to society - reduction in health care costs ----etc." AND - I am surprised BC Liberal candidate Christy Clark hasn't considered the health and welfare of British Columbians - as someone who is supposed to be representing change in British Columbia' (stitch name to celebrity-easy target with some name recognition)
Respectfully to Mr. Zalko, this looks like an 'or else ultimatum-announcement to a fledgeling party with great potential (BC First) in a conspicuous poltical vacuum - where the public has lost interest and doesn't believe the mainstream news-- AND puts the needs of one (1) personality who makes his living IN the health care business - and gives the impression that Mr. Zalko is more self-interested than interested in the benefits to British Columbians through a new party he already supports--which more ties him to what is making the BC public sick (the problem) than to the wind blowing toward what he ought to be bringing (the solution).
Good luck to Ron - in any event.
To be fair, he is also supporting tax breaks for bicycles, yoga and anything else that promotes physical activity even if it competes with gyms. Sounds more like a principled stand than self interest. I like his suggestion "Tax them when they buy a Ferrari, and tax them good!".
He is not a career politician, who feeds at the trough of the taxpayer. Perhaps because he doesn't talk the political double-speak of a Christy Clark per say, means to me, that he is speaking from the heart.
Wrap it up, I'll take it! A breath of fresh air in this cesspool of one-eyed jacks.
Bruno 15 did a capable job of spinning (interpreting) Mr. Zalko - and interpretation can go all ways to Sunday in this game. For instance, met a man and his family who I see from time to time - he says 'heh I talked to -so and so- who said that Christy Clark was on TV saying she didn't like you at all' I said - Oh that is unlikely.
By great coincidence I ran into -so and so- some days later - and inquired about this (just to test it). So and so - said 'Oh I never said anything of the sort - I was in the office and heard you on the radio kicking the hell out of Christy (on her NW radio show) - and was telling the office about it---------then told some others at our Christmas party and later told this fellow about it'.
I don't do mainstream media (last time was on Michael Smyth's defunct Nightline BC) a few years ago talking about Israel-------but here is an example of that old 'telephone' game they taught us at school (where you tell a story to the first student who passes it on etc. down the line - the story ends up changed.
The Campbell era was an example of horrible communication - which I believe beyond any doubt was his calling card (lies by omission later rationalized through (eventual) mea culpa) as -- yea yer right we could have done better there - golly sorry about that - but well --ll it looks like the HST is here to stay and well--ll its good for the economy anyways.
Now is a good time for everyone in politics including Mr. Zalko to frame their communications for consumption professonally - which fresh air or not - this was not imo.
I voted Green the last two elections, as I could not in good conscience, vote for either of the two main parties. In truth, it likely got the liberals back in, as many like me did the same.
Now, after the bait and switch on the HST, the BC Rail bribe fest, BC Hydro sell off, the massive budget deficit, the Campbell appointed CEOBC putting up hurdles against recall... etc. ad nauseum, I'm fed up with these lies, and the ineptness of our two party system.
This is why, for the first time in my life, I've taken out a party membership with this new party, BC First. I want honesty, integrity, intelligence and compassion from my next government. And, from what I hear and know about the players in this movement, this is possible.
Yes, the MSM will pounce like a starving cougar on a lame deer. That is their job, and they know who pays them. It is up to us, by demand, to give these new faces a podium. And yes, there is room for constructive advice and critique around the issues and the framework. The rules of engagement are rough. But, I hope we will give them a chance to lay out their game plan and put their helmets on, before taking them into the boards. We sure need new players, and even "The Great One" was once a rookie...
Thanks
ps - by doing what I did - Zalko gets early innoculation. I'd like to see him run against Vander Zalm -- so glen p can come up the middle - like Eddie Shack on a breakaway.
Shasta!
How did you know that I was a closet Leaf fan? Are you reading my mail? The Leaf's motto... "Winners never quit, and quitters never win!"
See you at the meeting Glen ;o)
Yours in fitness, Ron Zalko, Fitness Promoter for the last 30 years & Founder of Ironman Canada