BC Premier commits to MOU on Study of Local Gov't Finance

Courtesy of the Union of BC Municipalities:

Premier John Horgan has committed the provincial government to work with UBCM to establish an MOU to review the local government finance system in British Columbia. Horgan indicated that he has asked Josie Osborne, the Minister of Municipal Affairs, and Selina Robinson, Minister of Finance and their staff to undertake this work. The Premier's commitment follows on the endorsement by UBCM delegates of a policy paper that proposed an approach to strengthening the local government finance system.

The Premier addressed delegates in a town hall format, a first for a B.C. Premier in recent memory.

During a taped address prior to the town hall, the Premier also said that he has directed George Heyman, Minister of Environment and Climate Change Strategy along with Osborne to create a new program to support local government climate action goals in the coming months. “You know how critical it is to have flexible, predictable funding to advance your climate action goals,” said the Premier. “We have heard your feedback.”

One of the Special Resolutions to the 2021 Convention (SR1) called upon the government for the creation of such a program.

Mid-Week News for August 10th

In Quesnel:

* 10 Mile Lake Park to help BC Parks' 100th Anniversary - see here

In Williams Lake:

* CRIME or Cariboo Regional Intergrated Marijuana Enforcement team will continue beyond its' 1st Anniversary of September 4th - see here
* Spanish Mountain Gold project, near Likely, moves forward - see here
* Tribune columnist Diana French critiques WL Council on alarm system registration fees & WL Council's opinion on Advisory Committees - see here
* Letter writer Ryan McDonald not impressed with how WL Council handled the conflict of interest charge against local City Councillor Surinderpal Rathor - see here
* Friends of Nemiah Valley against "all-out" wolf hunt in the Chilcotin - see here
* BC NDP Energy Critic John Horgan blasts BC Hydro "Smart Meters" - see here

In 100 Mile House:

* Railway land, abandonded cars and property taxes discussed at recent District of 100 Mile House Council meeting - see here
* Complaints around delay to build South Cariboo abattoir - see here
* Cariboo-Chilcotin MLA Donna Barnett made $150,000 as MLA/Parliamentary Secretary in the 2010-2011 Fiscal Year - see here
* Letter writer Tina Murphy thanks a local business owner and her employer for their assistance during a recent health challenge - see here