City council reconsiders 2026 NCLGA resolutions

FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. — The city council has decided to shift its focus from the resource sector and intergovernmental relations to noxious weeds and unused industrial sites for this year’s North Central Local Government Association (NCLGA) convention. 

On February 23rd, the City of Fort St. John council decided to overhaul the resolutions being submitted to the 2026 NCGLA convention, which will take place in Prince George from May 20th to May 22nd. 

The resolutions must be submitted to the association by March 13th, and two topics – the resource sector and intergovernmental relations – had previously been discussed and tentatively approved during the February 9th meeting. 

During the February 23rd meeting, councillor Gord Klassen – who was not at the February 9th meeting – raised concerns about the resolutions and recommended the council switch them. 

Specifically, Klassen floated resolutions regarding ‘brownfield’ redevelopment tools and noxious weeds along provincial highways.

A brownfield is an industrial or commercial property which is either abandoned, idle or underutilised due to environmental contamination. 

Klassen explained he selected them because of the NCLGA’s stated limit on resolutions and the probability of them receiving approval from the province. 

“I think they’ll gain traction across the province, because every community is dealing with these same two issues,” Klassen stated. 

When asked by the council, staff stated a report would be compiled regarding previously submitted resolutions on topics similar to those proposed by Klassen and presented to the council in a future council meeting ahead of the March 13th submission deadline.