Thursday, October 5, 2023

Municipal/Regional governments to keep pressure on BC Government on NWBCRBA themes through fall; Alliance leadership eyes Spring Provincial Budget for breakthrough moment

The Fall Session of the Legislature began this week, providing for some 26 days for our three regional MLA's to take up the cause of progress for the Resource Benefits Alliance proposal.

A funding initaiative that many municipal governments are looking towards when it comes to addressing a range of municipal infrastructure and governance issues.

As we outlined last month, the  NWBCRBA leadership, including Prince Rupert Mayor Herb Pond,  had a number of meetings with the Premier and cabinet ministers during their recent UBCM sessions in Vancouver.

The annual post UBCM statement  was one which indicates progress for the program, though no firm timeline towards when the RBA initiative may deliver funding for communities.

Some more background on those talks is now available through an article by CHEKTV BC Legislature Correspondent and Northern Beat contributor, Rob Shaw.

His late September review of the NWRBA work at UBCM notes how Terrace Mayor Sean Bujtas views the pace of negotiations and how the two sides have not as of yet come to the right numbers to declare an agreement.

The leadership has already made plans for a return trip to Victoria this fall to continue their advocacy for the Alliance's goals.

Their hopes are that their engagement campaign will bring some success with the Spring 2024 Budget.

You can review come of the past notes on the NWBCRBA initiative from our archive page.

Cross posted from the North Coast Review.

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