BC Governments', Responsible Resource Development and Area Directors'....

Letter from  BC Conservatives to
BC Premier John Horgan in regards to Forestry 

Last Saturday (July 20th, 2019) -- BC Conservative Party Leader Trevor Bolin (who is also a Fort St John City Councillor) wrote to BC Premier John Horgan asking that his provincial government work with Mayors', COFI and other affected stakeholders, by way of forming a Committee, in regards to what is currently occurring in the Forest Sector (see letter at left).  Also - the BC Liberals have written to BC's Premier on the same subject - click here

However, this is another example (over many, many years) of keeping out the local rural reps (Electoral Area Directors) from initial or on-going discussions in regards to Responsible Resource Development (Mining, Forestry, Oil/Gas, etc) and running to Mayors first who represent the nearby service communities.

To be fair to Mr. Bolin -- many provincial governments, regardless of political stripe, have had many discussions, in relation to Resource Development (Forestry, Mining,Oil/Gas, etc) that do not involve the duly elected Electoral Area Director(s) but they first go to the Mayors and Indigenous Governments.. in regards to Resource Development.  Engaging Mayors/First Nations Chiefs is laudable however where the work is to occur, the local elected official (typically, the Electoral Area Director) should be engaged first through their duly elected local elected official!

What is required here is a change in protocol and mindset from the Provincial Government side of things that initial discussions must occur with the local government where Responsible Resource Development is occurring -- in most cases, this is in the Electoral Areas whose local government is the local Regional District

I like to give credit where is due -- City of Dawson Creek Mayor Dale Bumstead does have a wonderful relationship with his Peace River RD Area Directors.... and I'm sure many other Mayors in BC do have a productive relationship with their rural elected Area Directors however this is not necessarily always the case, and that is true here in the Cariboo-Chilcotin...

I contacted Mr. Bolin yesterday via Twitter/Facebook in regards to the above noted points and I thank him for his support regarding the above

In short -- understanding where the issue resides (usually outside municipalities) and engaging the duly elected local elected official is the the appropriate first step, along with engagement of other stakeholders (ie: Mayors, Councillors, First Nation Chiefs, etc).

It need not be Mayors/Councillors vs Area Directors (which unfortunately does happen) but Mayors/Councillors' AND Area Directors and Other Stakeholders working together for a common cause - that is how you will have Strong Regions and a Strong Province!

SF