City Hall

By Cheryl Jahn

NCLGA this week

May 6, 2019 | 3:14 PM

The North Central Local Government Association AGM kicks off in Williams Lake tomorrow. The City of Prince George has two resolutions for discussion.

The first deals with what’s being proposed for the Woodland Caribou populations. It reads:

Whereas the population of the Southern Mountain Caribou herds in British Columbia has been declining; And whereas the provincial and federal governments are reviewing whether the Southern Mountain Caribou should be protected by the Species at Risk Act;

And whereas application of the Act will directly affect both the recreational pursuits of local residents as well as the regional tourism and natural resource sectors;

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And whereas municipal and regional district governments have not been given the opportunity to participate in public consultation discussions to date about the Southern Mountain Caribou and the potential implications of the application of the Species at Risk Act despite the significant impacts on local recreation, tourism, and resource sectors:

Therefore be it resolved that NCLGA advocate for the participation of municipal and regional district governments that are likely to be affected and that the provincial and federal governments begin a process of public consultation in regards to the potential application of the Species at Risk Act pertaining to the Southern Mountain Caribou.

“What we’re asking for is to be at the table, we’re asking for public consultation when that takes place,” says Mayor Lyn Hall.

The second resolution deals with broadband connectivity. It reads as follows:

Whereas nearly 40% of rural residents in North-Central BC do not have access to broadband internet services;

And whereas broadband service would enhance public safety, economic development, access to information, and social inclusion for rural residents and allow them to fully participate in the knowledge-based economy and society at a level enjoyed by other Canadians;

And whereas the Government of Canada has recognized the disparity and established a Ministry of Rural Economic Development that includes rural broadband as a top priority:

Therefore be it resolved that NCLGA support the Federation of Canadian Municipalities in its advocacy work for a specific timetable regarding the implementation of broadband service in rural Canada, and in particular, the rural parts of North-Central British Columbia.

“At the end of the day it’s about public safety and we heard loud and clear during the 2017, 2018 wildfires that there were areas throughout our province, particularly in the Cariboo, that were not connected. They had no internet connectivity,” says Hall.