Cariboo-Chilcotin Local Government Meetings - Week of April 7-10, 2026

Following the Easter Long Weekend -- Quesnel City Council; Cariboo Chilcotin Regional Hospital District and Cariboo Regional District Boards' will be holding meetings - as follows: 

Quesnel: Regular Council Meeting on Tuesday, April 7, 2026 at 5:30pm in Quesnel Council Chambers (4th Floor, 410 Kinchant St, Quesnel).  On the Agenda: 

* Delegations -- i) Sprout Kitchen, ii) Prince George to North Vancouver Railway

* Committee Reports

 

* Renew Lease with Vista Radio

* Mutual Aid Agreement between Quesnel, Williams Lake and 100 Mile House Fire Departments' 

* Sprout Kitchen Operating Agreement

* Moonshine Coffee (Shiraoi House) Lease Agreement 

* Quesnel Pride Society - Request for full road closure for 2026 Parade 

View the full Meeting Agenda here

Cariboo Regional District -- all meetings, noted below, to be held in the Cariboo RD Williams Lake Boardroom (180D North 3rd Avenue, Williams Lake)

1) Cariboo-Chilcotin Regional Hospital District/Regular Board Meeting on Friday, April 10th at 9:30am.  On the Agenda: 

* Delegation: Dr. Nathan Lachowsky, Dean, Faculty of Human and Health Sciences, UNBC; and Jenn Scott, Dean for the School of Health Sciences and Human Services, CNC 

View the full Meeting Agenda here

2) Cariboo Regional District/Regular Board Meeting on Friday, April 10th at 9:45am.  On the Agenda: 

* Land Use Matters (Zoning, OCP, ALR Applications)

* NDIT Application – 108 Mile Ranch Community Association – Outdoor Washroom Facility

* 100 Mile Nordics Ski Society Community Works Funding (CWF) - Solar Panel Project and Enabling Agreement

* Esler Sports Complex Access Road Project – Celtic Engineering Project Management and Coordinating Professional of Record Award of Contract

* Year Round Grant applications - 2 from Area K and 1 from Area E

* Forest Grove Fire Protection – Firehall Renovation Referendum (Assent Vote)

* NCLGA Resolution – Improved Access to Publicly Funded Mental Health Services – Consideration of Co-Sponsorship

* Committee Recommendations for endorsement 

* Several Corporate By-laws for 3 Readings or 3 Readings and Adoption

* Report from Director Anderson (Area K) re: 2026 Guide Outfitters of BC AGM

* Requests from Director Forseth (Area D) re: Letter to BC Minister of Agriculture for sustainable funding of Agriculture Land Commission and Letter to TRU Board of Governors re: suspend discussion of closure of TRU Williams Lake Campus until community consultation is complete

View the full Meeting Agenda here

Finally -- a number of Cariboo-Chilcotin local elected officials are attending the 2026 Council of Forest Industry (COFI) Convention in Vancouver, BC from April 8-10, 2026 including Cariboo RD Area E Director/Vice Chair Melynda Neufeld and Williams Lake Mayor Surinderpal Rathor.  

COFI Convention 2026 Agenda: https://cofi.zohobackstage.ca/COFI2026Convention#/Program?day=1&lang=en

Changes to BC Local Government Legislation (Provincial Code of Conduct/26 Weeks of Parental Leave)

The Hon. Christine Boyle (BC Minister of Municipal Affairs) earlier today introduced amendments to the Community Charter, Local Government Act, etc. regarding:

i) Provincial Code of Conduct which is mandatory for all local elected officials in BC (Mayors, Councillors, EA Directors) and related matters

ii) 26 Weeks of Parental Leave for local elected officials

Summary of the above can be viewed at:

a) Provincial Code of Conduct -- https://news.gov.bc.ca/releases/2026HMA0033-000349

b) 26 Weeks of Parental Leave for local elected officials -- https://news.gov.bc.ca/releases/2026HMA0036-000366

The actual legislation can be viewed at:

Provincial Code of Conduct -- https://www.leg.bc.ca/parliamentary-business/overview/43rd-parliament/2nd-session/bills/1st_read/gov17-1.htm

26 Weeks of Parental Leave -- https://www.leg.bc.ca/parliamentary-business/overview/43rd-parliament/2nd-session/bills/1st_read/gov18-1.htm

Thanks to the many years of advocacy by the Union of BC Municipalities on these topics ... but time will have to tell if the provincial mandatory Code of Conduct for local elected officials will "change the dial" on a respectful workplace at BC Local Governments (Municipal Councils/Regional Boards)

Joint Collaboration Agreement between FNLGA/Climate Caucus

Joint Release between First Nations Leadership/Governance Association and Climate Caucus:

The First Nations Leadership and Governance Association (FNLGA) and Climate Caucus have partnered on a bold set of initiatives designed to expand public dialogue and increase equality in municipal representation.  

Currently, just 7 out of 1100 municipal leaders in B.C. are First Nations, despite representing close to 5 percent of the province’s population.  Through this partnership, First Nations candidates running in municipal elections will receive free access to Climate Caucus’ campaign school: a highly-tailored program designed by experienced campaign managers to be strategic, useful and game-changing. 

Participants will have access to a suite of tools, trainings and an active peer network, alongside successful campaign experts who have won across the country and who will offer advice, office hours and key insights.  

First Nations candidates will also have access to a network of mentors, including current and former elected leaders, as well as Indigenous, non-elected leaders, so as to provide an integrated support network across perspectives, cultures and experiences. 

"We are so excited about this opportunity for FNLGA to work with Climate Caucus. Our two organizations share many goals and walk the same paths, and now we can do so together while supporting each other. First Nations peoples have been vocal about climate change and adaptation for as long as we have observed environmental change and seasonal shifts, especially when these impacts affect the water, plants, and animals we have relied on for survival.  Climate Caucus has been doing this work on the ground and with a governance perspective. We would be proud to share these views and to work with Climate Caucus, ensuring that First Nations' perspectives are heard in this arena. There is so much work to be done, and we are 1 prepared to build this relationship and do the work together,” said Michael Moses, Founder and Executive Director of FNLGA. 

“To ensure safe, healthy and prosperous communities, we need policies that respond to—and mitigate—climate impacts. And we need stronger local democracies, rooted in building connections, finding shared solutions and respecting differences, especially during times of growing polarization and disinformation. We’re honoured to be in partnership with Michael and his team at FNLGA, not only to support voices that deserve a seat at the table, but to bolster the resilience of our local democracies during a time of division fuelled by vested interests,” said Zoe Grams, Executive Director of Climate Caucus.  

FNLGA and Climate Caucus will continue to build this partnership, including through a working group with local elected leaders working to identify new and resilient pathways for collaborations between Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities when racism is on the rise. 

Quesnel Council Highlights - March 31, 2026 mtg

Courtesy of the City of Quesnel:

BC Transit Presentation Fare Presentation

BC Transit Business Development Advisor Midhat Malik and Government Relations Manager Iris Brown provided Council with a comprehensive fare review for the Quesnel Transit System to address increasing operational costs, simplify the fare structure, support equity, and encourage greater use of the Umo electronic fare system.

 

Transit Rates

Council approved the transit rate fare structure recommended by BC Transit. This is the first fare adjustment recommended since 2013 for HandyDART and since 2010/2013 for conventional transit fares. Quesnel’s current fares are among the lowest in B.C.

The proposed fare structure will introduce a universal base fare for all riders and gradually increase fares over three years (2026–2029), with the rate for a single ride increasing from $1.75 to $3.00 by 2028/29. New fares proposed will take effect July 2026.

 

CRD Contribution Agreements

Council has approved the contribution agreements with the Cariboo Regional District (CRD) for Airport, Transit, HandyDART, Tourism Services, and Emergency Support Services (ESS). Some of these agreements were previously combined into one comprehensive Memorandum of Understanding but has now been adjusted to individual service agreements.

BIA Levies 2026

Council approved the following grants to the Business Improvement Areas for 2026 to be collected by local service property tax levies provided all other conditions of the bylaws are met by the business associations prior to payment of the grants.

• Quesnel Downtown Association $75,416
• South Quesnel Business Association $80,000
• West Quesnel Business Association $42,448

Purchase of a New Automated Side-Load Refuse Truck

Council has approved the purchase of a new automated side‑load garbage truck to support the City’s residential waste collection service. This new truck will replace an older unit that’s scheduled for retirement under the City’s Fleet Replacement Policy. Once the new truck is in service, the old one will be auctioned, and the proceeds will go back into the City’s equipment reserve.

Surplus and Reserves

Council has updated Policy CF‑2, which guides how the City manages its reserves and yearly surplus. The changes make the process clearer and will help strengthen the reserve funds. Council also talked about the growing need to boost capital reserves, since the Master Infrastructure Plan shows rising costs ahead and several future potential projects that don’t yet have dedicated funding.

Johnston Bridge Rehabilitation Contract

Council has approved awarding the Johnston Bridge Upgrade project to Ruskin Construction Ltd. for $15.3 million (plus GST). The project will be funded through a combination of the Capital Reinvestment Reserve, Community Works Fund, utility reserves, and grant funding.

Council also approved $750,000 to the project budget from the Capital Reinvestment Reserve to provide a contingency for any unexpected costs during construction.

2026 City of Quesnel Operational Plan

Council reviewed the 2026 Operations Plan in its new format. The plan outlines the key projects staff will focus on this year to support Council’s 2025–2026 Strategic Plan. It highlights work that goes beyond day‑to‑day operations and doesn’t include budget details, as all items are already covered within existing budgets. Any new costs that arise will be brought to Council for approval.

RBC Barrier Buster Grant Application

Council supported Staff applying to the RBC Barrier Buster program on behalf of the Quesnel Rodeo Club. The grant would help fund the replacement of the public washrooms at Alex Fraser Park. The new washrooms will include 12 stalls, with two that are wheelchair accessible. The Quesnel Rodeo Club will manage the project, which is expected to be completed by July 31, 2026.

Bylaws

Bylaw #1976 - City of Quesnel Public Notice Bylaw No. 1976, 2025 - Final Adoptio

Steve's Meeting/Expense Calendar - March 2026

 During the month of March 2026 - I attended the following meetings or events:

* March 13 - McLeese Lake Farmers Market Society AGM at Alexandria Community Hall 

* March 18 - Monthly meeting of the McLeese Lake Recreation Commission 

* March 19 - Committee of the Whole Session (Cariboo RD Board) in Cariboo RD Williams Lake Boardroom 

* March 20 - Meetings of the Cariboo RD + Cariboo Chilcotin Regional Hospital District Board

* March 25 - McLeese Lake Community Meeting with Cariboo North-PG MLA Sheldon Clare at McLeese Lake Community Hall 

* March 26 - Monthly meeting of Williams Lake and District Chamber of Commerce 

* March 31 - Conduct Public Hearing on behalf of Cariboo RD Board for property on Fox Mountain 

In addition -- remained in constant contact with Cariboo RD Area "D" Alternate Director and use her as a "sounding board" for items or issues within the Electoral Area.  As well: responded to inquiries from Area "D" residents via social media, phone/text or email 

Expenses submitted in the month of March 2026:

* March 19 - $129 for Committee of the Whole Session (Cariboo RD Board) in Cariboo RD Williams Lake Boardroom 

* March 20 - $129 for Meetings of the Cariboo RD + Cariboo Chilcotin Regional Hospital District Board