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Council has just returned from our annual Union of BC Municipalities (UBCM) conference. This is a valuable opportunity for our City and municipalities across the province to discuss broad issues facing our communities and lobby the provincial government on local matters. Provided below is a brief summary of what was a very busy week in Vancouver.
There were some very interesting discussions regarding the First Nations reconciliation efforts throughout our country (September 16 - 22 was ‘Reconciliation Week’). I floated the idea to representatives of the movement for us to do something in Port Alberni, perhaps a dedicated monument down at our new beach, which borders the Tseshaht First Nation Polly's Point reserve. I have mentioned this idea in a recent letter to Chief Councillor Hugh Breaker as well so we will see if that gains any wings over the coming months.
A Mayoral conference was held early in the week, and I managed to do a great deal of lobbying with the big city Mayors: Surrey, Vancouver, Richmond, Delta, North Vancouver and Port Coquitlam. I raised our economic plans for the Alberni Valley region involving regional, national and international trade and how it will enhance their Port's efficiency, benefit their environment, relieve congestion on their roads, and relieve the stranglehold on land which is caused by an expanding Port that has nowhere to grow. The next step suggested to us was to appear in front of the Transportation Committee of Metro Vancouver (which is kind of like a 'Regional District' of all the lower mainland cities) to have the CEO of our local Port Authority do an in depth presentation.
After this our City Council was fortunate to coordinate a meeting with four ministers (Coleman, Bond, Watts and Stone) in one setting, somewhat a rarity in my experience, to discuss this same issue of the development of a container port in the Alberni Inlet. The CEO from our Port took the lead on what was a one issue meeting (these meetings are short, 20 minutes if you are lucky, kind of a tag team deal with the other racers waiting out in the hall with bated breath and jealous looks in their eyes as you leave). Anyway, it was a very impressive image of us that was presented and I had this confirmed during subsequent conversations with other provincial ministers later on in the week.
I also had a very positive meeting with Mr. Jonathan Whitworth, the CEO of Seaspan (Washington Group) in North Vancouver. I was joined by our Port Authority CEO, Zoran Knezevic and City Councillor Dan Washington. There was excellent dialogue with one of the largest companies in the business of moving cargo on the water and also some promising talk on Port Alberni’s potential participation in the massive defense contract which Seaspan are gradually working towards fulfilling over the coming years.
Probably the most well-known event during the UBCM that some may have heard about was the Coulson Group's Mars Water Bomber concern. After two separate and very forthcoming meetings with Forest Ministry staff and later the Minister of Forests directly, our City Council, assisted by our City Manager, Ken Watson, was able to pull together a tremendous effort in the midst of all the regular business and draft, copy and distribute about 500 documents then present to the conference delegates, gain support for, and have passed by the UBCM, an emergency resolution dealing with retaining the bomber in the forest ministry arsenal. Now we will see how well the ministry listens. One of the reasons I believe we were so successful in garnering support was because of the very positive image and energy we have been carrying to these events and to other communities over the last two years and the positive relationships which we have been building between our Island and mainland BC communities.
Later during the conference Councillor Hira Chopra led a meeting with the Minister of Forests regarding having crown land outside of our watershed given to private operators in exchange for the land which they may be operating within our drinking watershed.
Councillor McLeman then led a presentation to the Minister with respect to acquiring additional forest tenure for the Alberni Valley Community Forest in between the current lots which we possess on Taylor Arm at Sproat Lake.
Both Councillors Chopra and McLeman have been given a single point of contact in the ministry for working directly on these issues as they are able---thank you Hira and Jack!
We also had two watershed and forestry related resolutions before the UBCM :
· Requiring any forestry operators within our watershed to have a very long term plan (100 years) registered with our community.
· Requesting the Provincial Government to grant Carbon Credits for City owned green spaces (ie. community Forests)
Through conversation with other delegates quite a bit of interest was generated in our draft Uptown Revitalization Bylaw and particularly in our draft Building Standards Bylaw. An interesting bylaw put forward by the City of Cranbrook was to have bylaw officers performing more ticketing functions, thereby freeing up the RCMP to focus on more serious crime and reducing costs.
I was able to approach both the Truck Loggers Association and BC Mining for possible funding on our industrial Road to take the traffic off of Third Ave in Uptown. No promises there but they did have some suggestions to follow up on. All roads seem to lead to Ottawa so we will try that avenue via our MP James Lunney as well.
I also saw some excellent resolutions passed regarding mental health care issues and Senior health care issues and the holes people are falling through.
The Chinese Consulate once again hosted a large reception at the conference. I was able to converse with the Consul General Madam Liu, whom you may remember visited us this last summer. She mentioned Port Alberni quite prominently in her speech and told me that she hopes to arrange for more investors to visit us in the near future.
I should also not forget a very critical meeting I had with the mayors of North Cowichan and Powell River and the top executives of Catalyst including their new CEO Joe Nemeth. We met for thirty minutes with Minister Bill Bennett regarding BC Hydro electricity rates. Catalyst states the rate increases will have a devastating effect on the company's stability and Mr. Bennett seemed to recognize the gravity of the situation. I believe he and Catalyst were much impressed by our communities speaking in support of the company and the importance of their role in our cities.
We need to keep those jobs at the mill and get some more local projects going such as the waterfront boardwalk along the river and harbour and reinstate the educational mill tours as well. I did have a very short discussion about trade missions to Asia with our Premier. This followed up on one which we had prior to the provincial election and she asked if I might be interested in attending one later this year. We'll check into the dates and if there actually is a valuable role I could play for us and the province and see where this possibility might go. Let me know what you think.
Oh and one last thing, put aside January 1st on your calendar, that would be New Year’s Day for your participation in our inaugural "New Beach" Polar Bear Swim. Local resident Chris Alemany has volunteered to lead the charge (I am hoping – haven’t asked him yet), Ken Watson has said he will go in if I do, Scott Kenny is in some sort of Polar Bear purgatory for the moment and Pat Deakin is hiding but not for long. Know any physicians that like cold water? Where are all those Young Professionals when we truly need them? Come one come all....
That's it for now, thanks.
John D.
