Northern BC Mayors Continue Softwood Message
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Northern BC mayors are redoubling their efforts to get the message out about the impacts of the protracted softwood lumber dispute on their communities. Mayor Lyn Hall called the group of mayors together when it became apparent it would be a longstanding dispute between Canada and the U.S.
There have been meetings between the mayors and the Council of Forest Industries as well as the Union of BC Municipalities.
“I think we’ve sort taken the show on the road UBCM, certainly taken the show on the road to various municipalities. But it’s been left to the mayors and Regional District Chairs in those areas to have conversations with their communities.”
But now, one of the group’s members, Quesnel Mayor Bob Simpson says it’s time to get to the next level.
He says the hope is to sit down with Premier John Horgan before the Christmas break to get that message uppermost into the Premier’s mind.
“We’re in the process of trying to open up a direct dialogue with the Premier’s office. We all have opposition MLA’s now. That’s a new reality that we’re having to deal with, so we don’t have that direct access to Cabinet through Cabinet Ministers anymore,” he says. “So I think that’s the next step for us is to engage directly with the Premier’s office.”
