Cariboo Regional District directors represented the region at the Union of British Columbia Municipalities (UBCM) convention in Victoria, Sept. 26-30.
Directors spoke to their resolutions, met with provincial ministers and staff and were honoured for their partnerships, Emily Epp, CRD communications manager reports.
The regional district submitted three resolutions and all received endorsement from the UBCM membership.
The first two resolutions sought requirements to consult local governments and communities on industrial projects and the establishment of a system to replace medical supplies used by first responders when providing emergency health care to B.C. Ambulance Service patients.
The third resolution, which passed after a few changes, lobbied for commitments to increase transparency and third-party consultation in First Nation treaty negotiations.
CRD chair Al Richmond says the changes to the third resolution involved removing items C and D, relating to minimizing impacts and compensation.
“I had to drop C and D to get it through on the floor.”
Throughout the week, CRD directors and staff met with five provincial ministers to discuss regional concerns.
On Sept. 27, Electoral Area B Director Jerry Bruce and Area F Director Joan Sorley, and Janis Bell, CRD chief administrative officer, met with Energy and Mines Minister Bill Bennett and Environment Minister Mary Polak to discuss the need for inclusive and thorough legislation regarding community consultation processes for mining applications and major projects occurring throughout the province.
They also urged Polak to explore available options, treatments, and funding programs to help restore the water quality of Bouchie Lake.
Health Minister Terry Lake met with the CCRHD chair John Massier and vice-chair Margo Wagner along with Bell and Williams Lake Mayor Walt Cobb to ask them to approve upgrades for Cariboo Memorial Hospital in Williams Lake and capital improvements for GR Baker Memorial Hospital in Quesnel.
Massier and Wagner also had meetings with Interior Health and Northern Health representative to discuss the same topics, as well as concerns over booking MRIs with Northern Health.
On Sept. 28, Transportation Minister Todd Stone met with Richmond, Massier and Bell regarding development of a turning lane on Highway 26 to provide a safer access to Barlow Creek Elementary School. They also raised concerns over the proposed colours for signs along the Gold Rush Trail.
Richmond, Massier, Bell and Wells Mayor Robin Sharpe met with Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations Steve Thomson and urged him to continue with maintenance of the 8400 Road and bridge to keep that connection open between the communities of Wells, Barkerville and Likely. They also asked Thomson to open the Purden Road connecting Highway 16 and Wells.
Other meetings:
• Bell met with Ministry of Community, Sport and Cultural Development staff to seek approvals for changes to the CRD’s Building Inspection Service Areas.
• Community development institute co-director Marleen Morris met with staff from the Ministry of Small Business, Red Tape Reduction on behalf of the CRD regarding the region’s new economic development project, Cariboo Strong.
• Electoral Area H and L directors Wagner and Brian Coakley met with staff from the Ministry of Technology, Innovation and Citizens’ Services and the executive director from Network BC about improving accessibility to high-speed broadband connectivity and cellular coverage throughout the Cariboo-Chilcotin region.
During the Community Excellence Awards breakfast reception, the CCRHD received the UBCM Excellence Award in Partnerships for its collaborative efforts on the Quesnel Primary Care Clinic project.
This model interdisciplinary medical care facility opened in May 2016 and was jointly funded by Northern Health and the CCRHD.
“The CRD board had another productive year at UBCM,” Richmond says.
“We came away encouraged by our discussions with Ministers and Ministry staff about important issues for the Cariboo region.
“I would like to applaud our regional partners, board and our staff for taking concepts and turning them into award-winning efforts as seen in the Quesnel Primary Care Clinic.”
In honour of his term as UBCM president, Richmond received a UBCM Lifetime Membership. He will continue to represent the CRD on the UBCM executive board this year as past-president. This is Richmond’s eighth consecutive year on the UBCM Board.
In 2008, Chair Richmond was elected to the UBCM executive as the Electoral Area representative and served in that capacity until elected third vice-president in 2012.
During his 2015/16 term as president, he represented UBCM on the Federation of Canadian Municipalities Board, the Fire Chiefs Association of BC Board and the Provincial Fire Service Advisory Committee.
