City prioritizes resources and intergovernmental relations for local government convention

FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. —  The City of Fort St. John council has decided to focus on the resource sector and intergovernmental relations in this years’ northern local governments’ convention. 

During the February 9th committee of the whole, the city council discussed what topics to bring to the North Central Local Government Association (NCLGA) annual convention from May 20th to May 22nd in Prince George. The resolutions must be submitted to the NCLGA by March 13th. 

In a report, staff provided a list of recommended topics for council to consider for resolutions:

• Immigration: Calling for support of a continued program specific to northern and rural communities to support local economies and businesses dealing with labour shortages.
• Healthcare: Call for a review of the ER closures and staff shortages that adversely impact remote communities where travel to receive treatment is not practical. 
• Infrastructure: Advocate for enhanced air service at the North Peace Regional Airport as well as the Taylor Bridge and Highway 26, which are both outside the city limits and require provincial support for failing infrastructure. Staff explained while these are provincial projects, advocacy from local governments would support their completion. 
• Resource sector: Advocate for a provincial update of economic impact analysis for the agricultural industry in the North Peace, including a gap analysis and growth strategy.
• Housing: Advocate to the province for additional funding streams to support community-led co-operative housing, supportive housing and shelter housing projects.

Councillor Tony Zabinsky, who is also the first vice president of the NCLGA board of directors, recommended the council select a maximum of three resolutions, as the association is restricting the number it will be presenting to the provincial government. 

“When I look at our resource sector and how it’s being affected, I really feel that we have to stay focused in regards to that,” Zabinsky proposed. 

While all members of council supported a resolution related to supporting the region’s resource sector, Mayor Lilia Hansen proposed one for healthcare. 

Councillor Trevor Bolin recommended one resolution focusing on intergovernmental relations, with an emphasis on healthcare and education. 

When asked by the mayor, Bolin clarified the resolution would focus on topics such as these topics, as they are a “part of working with our community.” 

“Consultation with local government[s is] one that we haven’t seen any change on,” Bolin noted.

“If we look at the province in [the] last two years, we don’t have to look farther than this council chamber, of them decriminalizing hard drugs…If they would come out to the communities firsthand, they’d be far better off, so I think that that’s a big one.” 

Councillor Byron Stewart expressed his support for both resolutions, noting the region was particularly well positioned to advocate for the province’s resource sector. 

“The resource sector is where we are the strongest voice within the province, the west coast is thankfully getting stronger with that, but we are still the strongest voice to meet with government and advocate for what we have, what we need and what the province itself needs,” Stewart said. 

During the committee of the whole meeting, the council approved two topics for resolutions to be presented to the NCLGA:

•  The resource sector including agriculture and energy
•  Intergovernmental relations and local government consultation

As decisions cannot be made in the committee of the whole, the resolutions were then added to the February 9th regular council meeting directly following the committee meeting, and were unanimously approved by the council.