Elected officials from Powell River have gathered in Vancouver for an action-packed week of workshops and networking at the annual Union of BC Municipalities (UCBM) convention.
City of Powell River councillors and mayor Dave Formosa will meet with a variety of BC cabinet ministers over the course of the week to raise the city’s issues with the provincial government. The conference runs from September 25 to 29.
“It's really great to get in front of the ministers and update them on what we have going forward and grants,” said councillor CaroleAnn Leishman.
Councillor Maggie Hathaway said the conference will be the first time she will meet with ministers from a New Democratic Party government as an elected official.
"It'll be a whole new dynamic because I'll be meeting with a lot of ministers I know," she said. "Some of the Liberal ministers I knew too, but this will be much more comfortable for me.”
Powell River Regional District Electoral Area C director Colin Palmer said he is looking forward to meeting with the new government.
"One of the interesting things this time is we won't be listening to the new policies of the same government for the past 16 years," said Palmer.
Palmer said he is interested in hearing what the new government’s policies are for funding hospice palliative care.
"I know the policies of the previous government," he said. "I want to know if the new government has any new approach.”
Regional district board chair and Electoral Area A director Patrick Brabazon said he is looking forward to networking with other regional district chairs on the coast to talk about BC Ferries.
"It'll be another opportunity for us to sit down with other chairs of coastal regional districts and see what we can do," said Brabazon.
The city has an appointment with education minister Rob Fleming to advance the idea of the province restoring funding for public libraries to previous levels, a resolution the city will bring to the UBCM floor for debate.
Councillor Rob Southcott said there is no better way to advocate for the city’s interests than by doing it face to face.
"It's really a time for us to invite the provincial government to support us,” said Southcott.
Council will meet with a number of ministers including minister of public safety and solicitor general Mike Farnworth, to discuss seismic upgrading for emergency response buildings and schools; minister of environment and climate change strategy George Heyman, to talk about Powell River and Tla'amin Nation’s agreement to cooperate with treating liquid waste in the city’s consolidated treatment plant; minister of energy, mines and petroleum resources Michelle Mungall, to discuss the government’s commitment to community power at Freda Creek run-of-the-river; minister of jobs, trades and technology Bruce Ralston, to talk about Powell River’s economic development strategy; minister of agriculture Lana Popham, to discuss agricultural land reserve exclusions and inclusions; advanced education, skills and training minister Melanie Mark, to talk about Powell River’s developing focus on international education; and minister of social development and poverty reduction Shane Simpson, to discuss the government’s proposed poverty reduction plans.
