Why Not Us? Communities Want In on Beetle Coalition
By 250 News
Friday, March 17, 2006 03:59 AM
It was McBride's Mike Frazier who brought the question to light; "Why aren't McBride, Valemount and Mackenzie included in the Omineca Beetle Action Coalition's plans?"
"We may not have the same percent of infestation but we are in need of discussions on addressing the infestation and diversification" Frazier told his colleagues at the Regional District of Fraser Fort George Board meeting. Valemount Mayor Jeanette Townsend echoed his oconcerns, saying if the Regional District is part of the discussion, that should include the entire Regional District.
Director Don Zurowski agreed, and made a motion to ensure there was inclusion. Board Chair, Colin Kinsley told the Board the Coalition came about following a meeting with some of his colleagues at the NCMA meeting. "It was sort of an adhoc group " Kinsley told the Board members.
The interim Board for the Coalition includes the Mayors of Communities from Prince George to Smithers,the Chair of the Bulkley-Nechako Regional District, land-use planning tables, and local environmental groups and forest companies.
The Omineca Beetle Action Coalition has received an $800 thousand dollar grant from the Province to reduce economic impacts of the mountain pine beetle in the north central Interior.
When the grant was announced last September, Prince George-Omineca MLA John Rustad said “Funding for the Omineca Beetle Action Coalition will help build an economic diversification plan to maintain community stability for Highway 16 communities and First Nations well into the future.”
Forests and Range Minister Rich Coleman was also on hand for that official announcement, “Through grants like this one, we’re giving communities the tools they need to plan their road ahead.”
The Regional District of Fraser Fort George has unanimously approved a motion calling for the three communities to be included in any future Coalition discussions.
There is one other beetle coalition, it covers the Cariboo-Chilcotin and received $1.7 million from the Province to plan "recovery efforts".
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I seem to recall that Omineca is to the west of PG, not the east. I also believe these coalitions are supposed to be local in nature. Valemount, about to embark on building a major tourist facility, is in a different position than Vanderhoof is. When the forestry action in Vanderhoof winds down, Valemount should be in a position to ramp up its new tourist facilities.
While many of the communities have to deal with the MPBE, they each have different degrees of impact on the communities and solutions should be specific to the communities' socio-economic potentials.
Besides, the money was intended to address the Vanderhoof area's needs. I do not think that when it was provided, it was envisaged that Valemount and McBride be included. The government should be providing more money to accomodate the communities not yet participating and, more importantly, provide some resources to allow the various groups to communicate with each other and learn from each other where that is appropriate.
This is a move by people of the North to short-change the people of the North once again, unless they get more resources to increase the region covered.