Langford Mayor Stew Young claims his municipality was threatened over the speculation tax.

Young says his stance on the tax, and public declarations that he wanted Langford exempted, earned him a threat from a University of Victoria economist working for the province on the tax -- Rob Gillezeau.

Speaking on CFAX 1070, Young says he was going to put letters received from concerned community members on the council agenda for discussion last year when he was threatened:

"I talked to Rob Gillezeau,” Young told CFAX, “and he said 'If you put these letters on your council agenda, you will never get out of the spec tax.’ So, I put them on my council agenda, after that meeting, because I had to. These letters were written to me. I put them on there. And guess what? Langford is not out. So, is that not a threat?”

Young says he has since brought up the encounter with the Premier and Green Party Leader Andrew Weaver, “I talked with John Horgan about it. He said he would reprimand him. I talked to Weaver and he said ‘that guy should be fired.’”

“I'm frustrated,” continued Young. “And now I'm sitting here with this ministry who doesn't understand economics and doesn't understand the hard-working people of Langford and what we need to do. I want out of this spec-tax because I don't have empty homes sitting here. And that's a fact."

CFAX 1070 and CTV News worked to independently verified the accusation, reaching out to Gillezeau, the BC Greens, the Ministry of Finance and Premier's office for comment.

CTV News confirmed with 2 others sources that the meeting Young refers to did take place, and that they too perceived the exchange as a threat.

A statement from the Premier's office says there was no exchange like the one the Mayor describes with Gilliuzeau, and Langford was always included in the Speculation Tax region because it experiences serious housing challenges and very low vacancy rates.

A statement received from the BC Green Party says that Mr. Weaver does not recall saying the economist should be fired.