THE PROVINCIAL government was quick last December to embrace former provincial attorney-general Wally Oppal’s report of his inquiry into missing and murdered women, including the sections pertaining to northern B.C.
In particular, the province promised action on the matter of safer transportation methods connecting the north’s spread out communities.
But what’s happened since then is a bit of a mystery.
Regular inquiries made to the province regarding transportation options have been met with general cookie cutter and vague responses.
We’ve been told several ministries are involved and that there’s been discussions with local northern governments. But details about what is exactly happening are lacking.
An election in the spring, a change of ministers, other priorities cropping up and so on can always slow things down.
Clearly, the issue of safer northern transportation is complicated. Do the math of having few people living in tiny communities within a large land mass. The answer isn’t what people probably want to hear.
While rookie North Coast NDP MLA Jennifer Rice’s call in the legislature last month for a shuttle service was admirable, as a matter of logistics, such a service is doubtful.
That indeed may be the province’s conclusion. If so, or if not, it’s way past time for the province to release at least its preliminary findings.