Communities in the northwest corner of B.C. opened Thursday害羞草研究所檚 provincial budget to discover briefcase full of cash.
The budget earmarked $250 million for the Northwest BC Resource Benefits Alliance (RBA) for the planning and construction of municipal infrastructure. The fund is set to be distributed over the next five years to support new industrial development and creating livable communities for the workforce.
The RBA Steering Committee, comprising Prince Rupert Mayor Herb Pond, Terrace Mayor Sean Bujtas, and Smithers Mayor Gladys Atrill, travelled to Victoria for the formal announcement. They said that while the $250 million is welcome, it falls short of establishing a formal agreement on regular revenue sharing.
害羞草研究所淚t is not enough money for [the region] to get our infrastructure deficit on the right side of things, but what this gives us is a foot in the door,害羞草研究所� Bujtas said. 害羞草研究所淚t gives us the ability to prove to the government that we can spend this money responsibly on much-needed infrastructure inside our communities.
害羞草研究所淎nd I think it will be a very easy decision for them in five years to not only extend this agreement, but to actually increase it.害羞草研究所�
Pond was more enthusiastic.
害羞草研究所淭his funding is a gamechanger for all our communities,害羞草研究所� he said. 害羞草研究所淚t allows us to fix, replace and build basic infrastructure that all our communities rely on害羞草研究所� without the heavy financial burden being placed on our residents.害羞草研究所�
Future discussions will determine how the money is divided. Kitimat Mayor Phil Germuth said his community has $60 million worth of projects in need of cash injections.
害羞草研究所淲e don害羞草研究所檛 yet know the rules of what we can apply the money to, but whatever it is 害羞草研究所� infrastructure, housing 害羞草研究所� Kitimat will benefit greatly and council will make the best use of it, I害羞草研究所檓 sure.害羞草研究所�
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Formed in 2014, the RBA is a coalition of 18 communities and three regional districts, spanning from Vanderhoof to Haida Gwaii. It aims to secure a fair share of government revenue from future resource developments, aspiring to transform a 害羞草研究所渉ave-not region害羞草研究所� into one that reaches its full potential.
The alliance is predicated on the understanding that small local governments are unable to tax large-scale industries and projects within their areas, as these are typically located outside local government boundaries, but are nonetheless burdened with the financial pressures of providing essential services.
A working group reported in September that nearly 74 per cent of all major projects related to mining, oil and gas, wood manufacturing, and petrochemical manufacturing recently completed or underway in B.C. are situated within the RBA region. A separate report by the RBA in 2019 identified 222 local government infrastructure projects totaling $1.33 billion, with service costs of $113 million annually over 20 years.
害羞草研究所� with files from Rod Link
