What is a Joint Committee?

Recently in looking at my blog stats -- one individual was looking for information on:

"Purpose of North Cariboo Joint Planning Committee"

Today - I'll review what the three regional (North, Central and South) Joint Committees do...

Firstly - it should be noted that the 26 other Regional Districts in the Province who have both municipal and rural representatives do not use a Joint Committee system in how they deal with inter-municipal issues and each has their own structure to deal with sub-regional issues, be it recreation or other common issues that affects both fringe rural and municipal residents...

However - here in the Cariboo Regional District (CRD), there is established Three Joint Committees in Quesnel, Williams Lake and 100 Mile House to consider inter-municipal issues - again be it recreation or other mutual issues affect rural/municipal residents...  Please note that the District of Wells is not a member of the North Joint Planning Committee

In Quesnel - the North Cariboo Joint Planning Committee (or JPC) consists of the entire 7 member Municipal Council of the City of Quesnel plus the CRD Directors for Areas A, B, C and I (North Cariboo).  There are two Co-Chairs of this Committee - one is Quesnel Mayor Mary Sjostrom and the other is the Chair of the North Cariboo Rural Directors' Caucus who is presently Area 'A' Director Ted Armstrong and the presiding officer responsibility rotates between Mayor Sjostrom/Director Armstrong and all meetings take place in Quesnel Council Chambers (2nd Floor - 410 Kinchant Street) at 5:30pm unless otherwise agreed to.  The Agendas are posted online here.

Most discussions surround recreation services/issues but can go into other common services like Transit and Highway Rescue.  The JPC makes recommendations to the CRD Board/Quesnel Council but the Board/Council never refuses a recommendation of the 3 regional Joint Committees but either accepts a recommendation of the local Joint Committee or sends it back for further discussion.

In Williams Lake - the Central Cariboo/City of Williams Lake Joint Committee (CCJC) is made of the entire 7 member Municipal Council of Williams Lake plus the CRD Directors' for Areas D, E, and F.  The CRD Directors' for Areas J/K (Chilcotin) will come in to participate in Joint Committee discussions if it affects their residents... 

The meetings rotate on a 6 month schedule of Jan-June at the CRD Boardroom (180D North 3rd Avenue) and July-Dec in the Rick Hansen Boardroom (WL City Hall Basement).  All meetings start at 5:00pm unless otherwise agreed to.  Like in Quesnel - the co-chairs of this Joint Committee are both the Mayor of Williams Lake and the chair of the Central Cariboo Rural Directors Caucus - presently CRD Area 'F' Director Joan Sorley.  The presiding officers' responsibility rotates, depending on meeting location.  If meeting at the CRD Boardroom - then Director Sorley would chair but if at WL City Hall then Mayor Cook would chair.  You can usually (but not always) find the Meeting Agendas here and look for Sub Regional Agendas

Meeting topics typically revolve around recreation issues (capital, operations, etc) but can go into other mutual issues like Central Cariboo Arts/Culture, Victim Services, etc.  Finally - like in Quesnel, the CCJC submits recommendations to the CRD Board/WL Council for consideration and in 99% of cases - these two bodies accept the recommendations of the CCJC

In 100 Mile House - the South Cariboo Joint Committee (SCJC) is made up of the 5 member Municipal Council of 100 Mile House plus the CRD Directors for Areas G, H and L.  Like in Quesnel/Williams Lake - the co-chairs of the SCJC are 100 Mile House Mayor Mitch Campsall and the chair of the South Cariboo Rural Directors' Caucus, presently Area 'G' Director (and CRD Chair) Al Richmond.  The meetings' are chaired (by the looks of it) by Co-Chair Al Richmond and most meetings occur in 100 Mile Council Chambers.  You can get a copy of the SCJC Agenda here and again look for Sub Regional Agendas

Meeting topics typically revolve around recreation issues (capital, operations, etc) but can go into other mutual issues like tourism/grants for assistance.  Finally - like in Quesnel/Williams Lake, the SCJC submits recommendations to the CRD Board/100 Mile Council for consideration and in 99% of cases - these two bodies accept the recommendations of the SCJC


Please take interest in your local Joint Committee as their recommendations do affect you - whether recreation, victim services, arts/culture and other issues that the Joint Committee meet to consider

Should you have any questions about your local Joint Committee - please contact by email:

North Cariboo - Director Armstrong here or Mayor Sjostrom here
Central Cariboo - Director Sorley here or Mayor Cook here
South Cariboo - Director Richmond here or Mayor Campsall here