Did you know? Last week, representatives from Council and staff attended the Union of BC Municipalities conference to bring issues of particular importance to the attention of Provincial Ministries. This is a jam-packed event – essentially the Government version of speed dating - where City representatives collectively attended over 17 meetings with Provincial Ministers and Staff, as well as additional information sessions. There were a number of key issues brought forward – namely:
- the need for investment in infrastructure and addressing of revenue concerns in Prince Rupert to support a livable community that grows alongside port activity;
- resources needed to address the housing shortage and affordability in Prince Rupert;
- addressing local ambulatory care shortages and fears surrounding loss of service to the new Terrace hospital;
- updates on partnerships and opportunities with neighbouring First Nations;
- and, discussion of potential future opportunities on Watson Island;
Each year, these meetings are held to advance the interests of Prince Rupert’s residents – and we are grateful for the care and attention that the individual Ministries have given our concerns, especially given the number of communities they hear from. We had many productive conversations, and look forward to continuing to work together in the year ahead.
We would also like to extend our thanks to our MLA Jennifer Rice and District of Port Edward for joining us in our advocacy efforts.