Prince George, B.C. – The Northern Rockies Regional Municipality has achieved what Prince George would like to do and that is, get the Province to at least start discussions on infrastructure issues. 

The Province has formally agreed to look at the infrastructure needs in the Fort Nelson region and how those needs might be funded in the future. 

With the expected growth in the region being fuelled by natural gas extraction and processing, the Northern Rockies Regional Municipality will be hard pressed to come up with the dollars to support the needs of a rapidly rising population and growing industrial needs from the property tax base. 

Ida Chong, Minister of Community, Sport and Cultural Development, Energy and Mines Minister Rich Coleman, and NRRM Mayor Bill Streeper have signed a memorandum of understanding committing the B.C. government to examine the needs of the community and determine the best approach to providing infrastructure in the region.  Coleman says the expansion of the oil and gas industry is important to the B.C. economy “It’s important for us to ensure that the communities hosting this industry are able to sustain the associated population growth and demand for services." 

The Peace Region already benefits from a special agreement with the Province which gives that area dollars to compensate for the fact that while the industry is located outside the specific municipalities, the infrastructure needed to support the industry is being supplied by the various communities. That agreement is called the “Fair Share Agreement”. 

The City of Prince George recently approved calling on the UBCM to support a resolution which would clear the way for any community wishing to enter into such an agreement with the Province the ability to do so. Council also approved  the Standing Committee on Finance and Audit be directed to "develop a strategy to negotiate a natural resource revenue sharing agreement with the Province of British Columbia".