The next stage in a key rural development strategy was announced at the Union of British Columbia Municipalities (UBCM) convention in Whistler last week (Sept. 22-26).
Cariboo-Chilcotin MLA Donna Barnett presented a Rural B.C. Project report and announced it now has government approval.
She says it is based years of hard work on the project by her and the members of several rural groups, and will result in an important new committee.
“It’s a rural advisory committee to create a voice for rural B.C., and it will be asked to provide input to government on policy decisions that best support rural communities.”
After last year’s UBCM convention, Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations Minister Steve Thomson was assigned as Minister Responsible for Rural Development, with Barnett as his Parliamentary Secretary.
They were tasked with consulting with rural communities on both barriers and opportunities for economic development, and bringing forward a report to government.
Barnett then worked with the various groups, and prepared the report.
The committee members have not yet been selected, but it must be in place by the end of this year, she notes.
“We have always said that when government puts together policies, they don’t do it through a rural lens. So … government policy will be put through a rural lens by this committee.”
Barnett adds the committee will also examine greater avenues to rural capital, such as dividend payments and stronger support for businesses.
“Whatever we do, we have to do it within the [B.C. budget], and keep the budget balanced.
“It is a big task, but the exciting part is my report got accepted by cabinet and [Premier Christy Clark] and we are moving forward.”
In developing the report, Barnett met this spring with the Rural B.C. Working Group, the Rural B.C. Steering Committee (comprised of board members of all three Beetle Action Coalitions) and various government ministers.
Two workshops were organized on identified topics, research and background reports on rural economic development were reviewed, and an inventory of both provincial and federal government rural supports was prepared.
The efforts of the working group culminated in a set of recommendations that were endorsed by the Rural B.C. Steering Committee in June.
The B.C. Chamber of Commerce and the UBCM Community Economic Development Committee also provided their insight.
The Supporting Rural Development: Creating a Voice for Rural British Columbia document can be found online at www.for.gov.bc.ca/mof/reports.htm. It features images of 100 Mile House and five other rural B.C. towns on its cover page.
