A lot of bureaucracy for what is essentially a government slush fund from the sale of BC Rail.

A fund for non-profit things government should fund that has nothing to do with economic development in the real sense of organizing venture capital to fund northern projects with Northern investors to sustain northern communities. Instead we have a political organization for the regional 'in crowd' to share capital for pet projects. Meanwhile BC Rail is dead, and with it the life line security of many northern communities that relied on it for their economic lifeline to the wider transportation networks... communities like Fort St James, Mackenzie, Fort Nelson, Williams Lake, and 100 Mill House facing grim future prospects as a result.

If those people want to create any value then maybe they can find a way for Northerners to buy our Northern pulp mills that are in distress with winning business models that would generate future potential enterprise. Ironically it was the sale of BC Rail that created the conditions for the demise of the Mackenzie pulp mill in the first place... a collateral damage from the source of NDI funding in the first place. Maybe employee guaranteed loans for 'buy-in' that is mandatory for employment... and paid back through automatic paycheck deductions over something like a 5-year term... effectively working as a pay cut for 5-years with potential big payoff if the joint venture becomes successful. NDI is restricted from doing this....

Really lets not forget that NDI lost over $50 million last year in its for-profit stock market investments that had nothing to do with Northern BC... thats likely more than ten times what Worthington leveraged to grab the Mackenzie pulp mill, and if loaned as employee buy in funds to an employee run mill would see that mill running today.

In short I call the NDI a failure to the taxpayers of BC to this point in time, and a rip off considering the mandate it was sold as when BC Rail was sold. Much could be done that isn't, because NDI's mandate is about politics and not economic development as sold.

Yeah! Well look how happy Evan is in his picture on 250!!! That has got to be worth millions!

Sorry Eagleone but your orange shirt is showing again. NDIT in fact has done an incredible job leaveraging funds to create economic activity. I dare say far better than any government could do for us, yes even your heros in the NDP party, whose past economic track record con only be described as one big F A I L U R E.

By the way, do you really write your material yourself or does it come directly from Carol James communication office?

"Really lets not forget that NDI lost over $50 million last year in its for-profit stock market investments that had nothing to do with Northern BC... "

They did make a poor investment choice. I agree. I hope that they decided to ride the economic situation out and that it has since substantially recovered.

Who does NDIT have as a financial advisor. Mayors typically do not make good financial advisors. Neither do people with MBAs. Neither do most, if not all those on the Board.

They do have to understand that they should take their investment risks locally rather than nationally or internationally.

Keep it local people. In the long term, move your long term money to safer use.

Gimmeabreak I wouldn't touch the ndp with a ten foot pole... ditto for the BC liberals. I'm not a supporter of party down power from elites, so you can't associate me with them or their policies. I agree the ndp was a huge failure... the liberals have been even worse IMO. The facts are that BC has no political leadership.

So what does gimmieabreak have to say about the $50 million dollar lose in foreign investments last year by NDI... is that a fantastic investment for our 'LOCAL' economy, did it build opportunities in the North, and could government do better than that? How does small token investments in community centers and non profit societies advance the Northern economy... can you please explain why we need a whole new bureaucracy to administer this function? Who's the socialist here and who is the one that supports free enterprise... its tough when party politic partisans can't see that they will support anything if it has a party label on it telling them not to think, but rather support blindly....

Hopefully Mr Saugstad can straighten thing out with NDI?

"They do have to understand that they should take their investment risks locally rather than nationally or internationally."

Yes gus, but good financial management also incorporates an investment portfolio. The stock market hit a low last year that caught many advisors and economists off guard (some analysts say it should not have).

"Mayors typically do not make good financial advisors. Neither do people with MBAs. Neither do most, if not all those on the Board."

Those selected have experience with investment and business(shown by their backgrounds) and are capable. So do tell us gus, how you surmise that they are incompetent for the positions they hold? Do you have some evidence? What makes you believe they did in fact engage in financial advising?