Skip to content

Province gives $300K to Resource Benefits Alliance

Money intended for outreach and partnership-building with stakeholders
11393200_web1_rba-web
First meeting with then newly-elected Premier John Horgan. From left to right: Barry Pages, RBA Co-Chair, Carol Leclerc, City of Terrace Mayor, Jennifer Rice, MLA for North Coast, Lee Brain, City of Prince Rupert Mayor, BC Premier John Horgan, Bill Miller, RBA Chair, Stacey Tyers, City of Terrace Councillor, and Phil Germuth, RBA Co-Chair and District of Kitimat Mayor.

The B.C. Government has committed $300,000 to help the Northwest B.C. Resource Benefits Alliance (RBA) consult with stakeholders and lock down their proposal.

The announcement today potentially highlights the NDP government’s sincerity of entering negotiations on a resource-revenue sharing model for which the alliance has lobbied four years.

Horgan met in person with RBA board members during a tour of the area last month, at which time he signalled the money would be coming through.

READ MORE: RBA tells province: let us be your testing ground

“We believe that people should benefit from the prosperity generated by their hard work, and the resources of the regions where they live,” Premier John Horgan said in a press release. “I applaud the efforts of the RBA to strengthen their local economies. We are committed to working with Northwest communities as they work to help stabilize their economy over the long term.”

The RBA consists of 18 local governments and three regional districts seeking a share of government revenue from future resource developments. The alliance says it will help transform a “have-not region” into one reaching its full potential.

“The RBA shares the government’s vision of economic development that creates good local jobs and sustainable communities,” RBA chair Bill Miller said. “We thank the Premier and minister [Robninson] for recognizing that livable, well-serviced communities ‎are essential for economic development.”

Northwest B.C. Resource Benefits Alliance (RBA)
Selina Robinson, minister of municipal affairs and housing, said the funds are expected to help the RBA build relationships with First Nations, labour, major project proponents, local business and the non-profit sector.

“Building strong, sustainable, innovative economy is a priority for this government,” she said.

Early last month the alliance put forth a suggestion that the provincial government, currently seeking input on its Rural Development Strategy, use their future proposal for resource-revenue sharing as a pilot project for the rest of the province.

“Essentially what we’re saying is, ‘let’s get on with the negotiation,” Miller said at the time. “We want to sit down and develop a model that works, primarily for our region and our communities, but they can use that as a pilot and then adjust it for other places in the province.”

More to come.


 


quinn@terracestandard.com

Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter