Economic development prospects were the major topic when mayor Joanne Monaghan met briefly with premier Christy Clark last week.
Noting a five-member delegation from the city will be meeting with Clark during the Union of BC Municipalities convention being held this week, Monaghan said she just gave the premier a quick overview of the issues they would be raising.
One of the economic development front, Monaghan raised Pytrade, the company that plans to take wood waste and turn it into power to heat greenhouses.
While the company was recently awarded a $1 million ICE grant by the province, it hadn’t received the money yet.
Monaghan said she told Clark, “We have to ensure it comes in a timely fashion so the project can get started.”
While the premier did not know what the hold up was, she had promised to look into it.
Monaghan also told Clark that council thought Kitimat was on the brink of an “explosion” of projects and job creation and wanted the government to ensure these projects were fast-tracked.
The premier replied that was exactly what she was looking at doing as part of her jobs plan.
Monaghan had also asked Clark to return to Kitimat and meet with the full council so it could show her just what the potential was for the community.
And pointed out that some proposals – a port and ferry service – would require Crown land.
Clark had assured Monaghan “she would help as much as she could.”
