Welcome to 2018!

Welcome to 2018!

On my own behalf, as the Cariboo Regional District Electoral Area 'D' Director, I wish all of you a very successful and healthy 2018! and may all of your hopes/goals come to fruition this forthcoming year!

As 2018 unfolds - this is the final year of the 2014-2018 Term of Local Government.  Local Governments in the Cariboo-Chilcotin will be, generally, working on:

1) Wildfire Recovery/Planning

2) Awaiting word on 2018 Provincial/Federal Government Budgets and watching for any impacts on local governments of the Cariboo-Chilcotin

3) Adoption of Local Government 2018 Budgets (March 2018 - Cariboo RD & May 2018 - Cities of Quesnel/Williams Lake and Districts of Wells/100 Mile House)

4) Conduct of the 2018 Local Government General Election - District of Wells, City of Quesnel, City of Williams Lake, District of 100 Mile House, Board of Education of School Districts' #28/27 (Quesnel/Cariboo-Chilcotin) and the 12 Electoral Area Director seats on the Cariboo Regional District Board of Directors'

Local government elected officials will be offered the opportunity to attend the following Seminars/Conventions this forthcoming year:

1) 2018 UBCM Electoral Area Directors' Forum (For Electoral Area Directors' and Regional District Chairs only) - Jan 30th/31st, 2018 in Richmond BC
2) 2018 LGLA Local Government Leadership Seminar - Jan 31st to Feb 2nd, 2018 in Richmond BC
3) 2018 NCLGA Convention from May 7-11, 2018 in Fort Nelson, BC
4) 2018 UBCM Convention from September 10-14 in Whistler, BC

I do expect it will be another robust year in the run up to the local government elections on Saturday, October 20th, 2018

As I noted previously -- Williams Lake Mayor Walt Cobb has declared his full intention to seek re-election in the 2018 City of Williams Lake Local Government Election while Williams Lake City Councillor Sue Zacharias and Cariboo Regional District Electoral Area 'F' Director Joan Sorley have both announced their intention to not seek re-election in the October 2018 local government elections

For the rest of the local elected officials in the Region - I do expect that they are mulling over their options now and in the months to come and will have something to say on the subject of re-election bids or retirement from local government, likely by mid-to-late August/September 2018

Also - provincial voters will be asked in the Fall of 2018 to formally render an opinion on how we elect our MLA's (Members of the Legislative Assembly).  Currently, to the end of February 2018, the provincial government is hosting an public review period which you can participate in here.  The provincial government has elected to proceed with a mail-in ballot no later than November 30th, 2018 but the precise questions to be put to the voting public has yet to be determined...

Finally - see below for New Years' messages from the Premier of BC and Prime Minister of Canada:

Premier of BC - Hon. John Horgan:

“The new year brings new beginnings and new opportunities. It is a chance to look back at the challenges we have faced, and to resolve ourselves to overcome obstacles in the year to come.

“From addressing housing affordability to tackling the opioid crisis, and the ongoing recovery from last year’s devastating wildfires, we have no shortage of important work to do in the coming year.

“On New Year’s Day we are given the opportunity to think about where we are and where we have to go. It is a day to consider the path ahead and to set our minds to meet our goals.

“In 2018, we will be working hard to create a strong, sustainable economy that benefits everyone, to make life more affordable for families and to improve the services people rely on.

“On behalf of the government of British Columbia, I wish you a safe, healthy and happy new year with many more to come.”


Prime Minister of Canada - Rt Hon. Justin Trudeau:

“Happy New Year, Canada!

“This past year, we marked the 150th anniversary of Confederation, and looked back on the remarkable achievements Canadians have made throughout our history. We recommitted ourselves to our shared values, and we celebrated the diversity that makes us strong. Millions of people – of every background, origin, culture, and faith – have come together to make Canada the diverse, open, and prosperous country it is today.

“The 150th anniversary of Confederation was also a chance to reflect on the moments Canada has not lived up to its ideals. Indigenous Peoples, and many Canadians, have faced prejudice and oppression in our history. In the New Year and the years to come, we must continue to work to right these wrongs, and make sure everyone has a real and fair shot at success.

“In 2017, we made real progress toward these goals. Our government took action to build a better future for families across Canada – from taking steps to strengthen the Canada Child Benefit and investing in early learning and child care, to creating new opportunities for young people, to advancing reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples and protecting the rights of LGBTQ2 communities. We made gender equality a priority at home and abroad, and took strong steps to fight climate change and protect our environment, for generations to come. We launched Canada’s first ever National Housing Strategy and lowered the small business tax rate – and together, we continued to create jobs, grow our economy, and strengthen the middle class.

“But we still have a lot of hard work left to do. In 2018, let’s continue to celebrate the values that unite us – openness, compassion, equality, and inclusion. Let’s move forward together, put those values into practice, and work to build a better future for all of us.

“On behalf of the Government of Canada, Sophie and I wish you a wonderful night and all the best in 2018.”