the broken typewriter

Following talks with local government representatives at the BC Natural Resources Forum in January, the Canadian Petroleum Producers Association, sent four draft resolutions to municipalities in Peace, as well as the Peace River Regional District.

At the PRRD meeting on March 6, directors agreed that they would endorse the resolutions, with slight modifications, and submit them for the North Central Local Government Association AGM in May.

Fort St. John’s Tony Zabinsky pointed out at the PRRD meeting that the resolutions have more strength if they’re seen as regional issues, rather than municipal.

“The strength comes if we can recommend them from our region,” said Zabinsky.

The board, which includes two directors from Fort St. John, voted unanimously in favour of the regional district submission of the resolutions to NCLGA. The PRRD requested letters of support from the region’s municipalities for the resolutions, which Zabinsky said would increase the resolutions’ impact.

As per the discussion at the February 24 Committee of the Whole meeting, city staff compiled a list of eight resolutions for submission to the NCLGA, which were presented in a report to city council on March 10. The three of the CAPP resolutions were included in the list.

Councillor Gordon Klassen suggested modifying the resolution regarding Natural Gas and LNG Strategy to begin: “WHEREAS the transition from fossil fuels to renewables cannot happen overnight . . .”

Council agreed to the change in language, after Deputy Chief Administrative Officer Darrell Blades noted that this wording is “stronger and better” than the resolutions from the PRRD.

After some discussion, council decided to submit their versions of the resolutions, noting that Fort St. John could be a co-sponsor if there are two similar resolutions.

The other resolutions being submitted by the city include:

• Co-op Housing Program and Sustainable Funding for Housing;
• Streamlining Licensing for Out-of-Province and International Healthcare Professionals;
• Addressing RCMP Staffing and Contract Costs;
• Revisiting the Decriminalization of Controlled Substances;
• Ensuring Equal Compensation for Workers in Provincial and Municipal Elections;
• Improving Efficiency in Resource Permitting;
• Expanding Industrial Electrification; and
• Natural Gas and LNG Strategy.

These last three resolution topics were the ones that came out meetings with CAPP at BCNRF.

Council voted unanimously to submit the resolutions as amended.