Yuri Fulmer, the BC Conservative candidate for West Vancouver-Sea to Sky and current chancellor of Capilano University, hasn’t had a boss in nearly 30 years. After building a $60 million business portfolio before turning 30, the entrepreneur behind several A&W franchises says he became an entrepreneur because he didn’t want a boss.
Nearly three decades later, Yuri Fulmer is ready to work under a new one: BC Conservative leader, John Rustad. Rustad called Fulmer a few months ago, asking if he would run as an MLA candidate. After some deliberation, Fulmer agreed, driven by his concerns about the state of the province.
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Fulmer, the son of a Canadian Air Force officer and an Australian school teacher, grew up in Perth, Australia, but later returned to Canada to study at UBC. While working as a cashier at A&W, Fulmer realized his passion for business, quickly rising through the ranks to manage multiple locations in the Lower Mainland. In 1997, with his mother’s support and all his savings, he purchased his first A&W franchise. He hasn’t looked back since, owning several A&W franchises nationwide.
His business acumen has extended beyond A&W. Fulmer purchased and rebranded the Mr. Mikes Steakhouse chain, rescuing it from near bankruptcy, and later sold the business along with several Pizza Hut franchises. His investments now include a Squamish-based natural food company called Chiwis.
Fulmer’s success in business led to the creation of the Fulmer Foundation, with its flagship project, Goodly Focus, dedicated to turning surplus produce into nutritious food products while providing jobs for people facing significant barriers to employment. “I enjoyed creating employment for people and nurturing people in the business. I enjoyed creating business growth, and I was fortunate that I could do community work,” he says. “We’ve repurposed over a million kilograms of produce since we started. Most of our employees are Indigenous, and many of them have been incarcerated, and some face addiction issues.”
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In addition to his business ventures, Fulmer has been active in community service. He was appointed chancellor of Capilano University last year and serves as the only Canadian on the Board of United Way Worldwide. He is also co-chair of the Vancouver Fireworks Festival Society and a director of the Vancouver Opera Foundation. His commitment to Truth and Reconciliation includes sponsoring Canada’s largest dedicated art prize for First Nations art.
Fulmer accepted Rustad’s invitation to run because he was concerned about British Columbia’s future. He cites key issues of high taxes, lack of housing, an inefficient healthcare system, rising crime, and bureaucratic delays. “This is not the province I moved to 33 years ago, and I will not take this role lightly. I have always been curious about politics, but John talked to me at the right time.”
The BC Conservatives are set to release detailed policy positions in September, but some of their priorities are controlling gas prices, stabilizing the housing market, lowering taxes, reversing drug decriminalization, and scrapping the carbon tax. “We’re committed to cutting the carbon tax, which will reduce gas prices and the prices of everything that has to be transported by a vehicle that uses gas,” he explains.
As a North Shore resident, Fulmer is particularly concerned about traffic delays and accidents on the Sea to Sky Highway, which he calls a “lifeline for goods and services.” “We can’t keep having these fatalities, and it’s also a lifeline for goods and services that flow along that highway. We have to stop the accidents,” he says. Fulmer advocates for better speed enforcement, increased police presence, and the introduction of regional transit to reduce the number of single-driver cars on the highway.
Fulmer also highlights the need for regional transit in Sea to Sky communities, noting that many residents in Squamish and Pemberton work in Whistler. “Several residents have told me we need regional transportation,” he says.
Addressing broader concerns, Yuri Fulmer criticizes the province’s high tax burden and declining public services. “We are the highest taxed jurisdiction in North America, and the outcomes we’re getting for our taxes are getting worse and worse. We are paying more and getting worse. Personal taxes are the highest, and we have created many jobs in the government sector at the cost of private sector jobs. For every private-sector job, we have created five government jobs.”
As he steps into the political arena, Fulmer is determined to bring his business expertise to tackle the challenges facing British Columbia. “It used to be the world’s envy, but that is not right now. People are not getting the treatment they need, and we’re spending more and more on it,” he says.
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