The political theatre that transpired at the Smithers Regional Airport July 12 with the ceremonial signing of a $250 million agreement between B.C. and northwest municipalities, was a celebration.
The importance of the event was underscored by the fact municipal and regional district officials from Haida Gwaii to Vanderhoof were in attendance.
For more than a decade, the 21 members of the Northwest Resource Benefits Alliance (18 municipalities and three regional districts) have been lobbying the provincial government for a reliable share of the revenue B.C. receives from industry within the region.
Signs of success emerged in 2019 when the Province announced the $100 million Northern Capital and Planning Grant. It was a welcome injection of infrastructure cash, but still a grant with many strings attached.
That was followed up in 2020 with a second round of $50 million.
In 2022, B.C. distributed $1 billion to all of the municipalities in the province.
So, the $250 million over five years, with relatively fewer strings attached, is definitely progress.
The three members of the Resource Benefits Alliance steering committee who spoke at the ceremony — Smithers mayor Gladys Atrill, Terrace mayor Sean Bujtas and Prince Rupert mayor Herb Pond — demonstrated dutiful gratitude to Stikine MLA and minister of Water Land and Resource Stewardship Nathan Cullen, who represented the provincial government.
They were also quick to point out, though, that this is not the end of the road.
Bujtas put the Province on notice that the lobbying will begin in earnest again in the fall.
Pond noted the paternalistic model of the past simply doesn't work anymore. The time has come for a new relationship.
We couldn't agree more. The ultimate goal here is ongoing, reliable, no-strings-attached revenue-sharing.
The Northwest is rising.
We want our fair share of the wealth we generate for British Columbia.
