Communities make their case

Oct 7, 2019 | 2:50 PM

Every year elected officials from across British Columbia attend the Union of BC Municipalities Annual Convention.

As someone who has participated for many years as a provincial representative, I can assure you the days are full, beginning early and ending late each day. And while my role has changed significantly, the importance of the meetings that take place with individual communities has not.

Participating in UBCM provides locally elected representatives the opportunity to meet directly with ministers, including the Premier, senior staff, crown corporations and health authorities. And while individual meetings are short in duration they are often the starting point for ongoing work and ultimately may lead to important policy changes, additional resources or successful grant requests.

During my time as the MLA for Prince George-Valemount I have come to realize how important this process is, especially for small and rural communities like some of the ones I represent. When I served as a minister it gave me the chance to better understand the needs of communities in all regions of the province and now as an Opposition MLA it gives me the chance to directly support the requests and issues that my councils take forward.

Once again this year I was pleased to join our mayors and councils and the regional district in their meetings with the provincial government. The presentations made were well done and well received. But the work doesn’t end there or with a brief meeting at UBCM. Now the follow up begins as we work together on behalf of our mutual constituents.

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This year’s UBCM also set the stage for a unique protest that I will remember for a very long time. With the forest sector facing mill closures and curtailments, workers,their families and communities are facing significant challenges. In an effort to get the attention of the current government hundreds of trucks formed a convoy and travelled thousands of kilometres eventually arriving in downtown Vancouver.

As the trucks drove through congested streets many of us lined the sidewalks and cheered as each truck passed by. Prince George, Vanderhoof, Quesnel, Mackenzie, Kamloops, Williams Lake, 100 Mile House and many more communities were represented, together calling on the government to take action and provide the support that is so badly needed.

Just as elected officials made their case during meetings with government, the convoy of more than 300 trucks took the opportunity during UBCM 2019 to make their case in a visible and very noisy way.

Many issues impacting rural and northern communities were front and centre during UBCM this year, the message was delivered. We’ve made the case, now we want to see some results.

by Shirley Bond, Prince George-Valemount Liberal MLA

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Communities make their case

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