By Catherine Hansen

Resources Forum Under Dispute

Apr 20, 2018 | 9:37 AM

PRINCE GEORGE — A dispute is brewing over who owns and will present the BC Natural resources forum in Prince George – and if it isn’t resolved,  plans are for two forums to take place back to back in January of next year.  

Traditionally presented by the sitting MLA of Prince George Mackenzie,  Mike Morris’s name was notably missing from this year’s event, and the organization has taken over by the C3 Alliance, who after input from its host committee changed the event into a non-partisan one.

Now Morris and other community members have pulled together a group called the Natural Resources Forum BC Society,  in the hopes of presenting their own forum. Their ideas include lower booth and sponsorship prices and passing along the profit to charity in Prince George.

C3 Alliance President and CEO Dan Jepsen says this causes some concerns about splitting delegates between the two events. A statement from C3 Alliance goes on further to say the  “C3 Alliance remains firmly committed to enhancing and protecting the ongoing success of this event.  This includes ensuring that the Forum remains non-partisan and free of any perceived or actual political interference.”

The Natural Resources Forum BC Society has booked the Civic Center the week before the planned dates of the 2019 BC Natural Resources Forum in January.

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Negotiations between the two have failed and for now, both groups say they are going ahead with their plans, already causing some confusion for sponsors and vendors. The question remains how two events will impact the long-term viability of a resources forum in the North.