CONNECTORCONNECTOR PRESIDENT’S CORNER No. 118 June 2013

NCLGA CONVENTION 2014 Hello all NCLGA’rs. MAY 7-9, 2014 FORT ST. JOHN Summer has arrived! How nice it is The venue for the 2014 AGM & Convention will be to see all the different shades of the new: green that Mother Nature is showing Pomeroy Hotel & Conference Centre us across the region. We are 11308 Alaska Road certainly blessed to be living in this

Telephone: 1.866.618.3233 country.

www.pomeroyhotel.com I have just returned from the Resources North To reserve a room at the Pomeroy please quote the Conference in Prince George. It was mainly about room block code when you call in: “North Central the cumulative effects of land management Government Conference – Karin Carlson” practices. The information shared mostly pertained to Central and Northern BC, the same area which is Additional Accommodation: covered by NCLGA. We must understand how economic development of one resource effects the Quality Inn Grande operations of other resources and the communities

(1.5 km to convention hotel) that host these resource companies.

9830 100 Avenue I had the opportunity to meet with , the 250.787.0521 or 1.800.663.8312 new MLA representing Prince George – Mackenzie. www.qualityinnnortherngrand.com We spoke about rural issues in general and what he saw as the biggest issue in his riding. It was a good Stonebridge Hotel meeting, and a start to a good relationship with Mike (2.0 km to convention hotel) and the NCLGA. 9223 100 Street 250.263.6880 or 1.888.419.4657 As June comes to a close we say goodbye to our www.stonebridgehotel.ca former Executive Director, Maxine Koppe. She has supported the leadership of NCMA, and then Pomeroy Inn and Suites NCLGA. She has always been there, with those (2.8 km to convention hotel) thoughtful caring words of encouragement, (and 9320 Alaska Road sometimes of caution). She is a very detail oriented 250.262.3030 or 1.888.264.3030 individual and ran our office the same way. We will www.pomeroygroup.ca miss her. I know that all our members join with me in wishing Maxine success in whatever she undertakes

in the future. Thank you, Maxine. Super 8 (2.6 km to convention hotel) I would also like to welcome our new Executive 9500 Alaska Road Director, Oliver Ray. His background includes a 250.785.7588 or 1.866.828.8885 healthy mix of business, politics and the arts, and I’m www.super8.com sure he’ll prove to be a valuable member of the NCLGA team as we move forward. If you get a Check the NCLGA website for additional Convention chance, drop by to see him at the office or feel free information & updates: contact him at [email protected].

Of course, I would be remiss if I didn’t acknowledge http://www.nclga.ca/conventions.asp Karen Marshall. Her professional, upbeat attitude during the re-staffing process helped create a seamless transition. In addition, Karen has successfully managed the follow-up to our Quesnel ~ CLGA AGM and has laid the groundwork for next year’s

event in Fort St. John, entitled “Share The Energy”. ~CONVENT ON City ,of Fort St John I 2014 I wish everyone a fantastic summer! Bruce D. Christensen

NCLGA President North Central Local Government Association 206—155 George St., Prince George, BC V2L 1P8 Tel: (250) 564-6585 Fax: (250) 564-6514 Email: [email protected] Web: www.nclga.ca

UBCM 2013 COMMUNITY EXCELLENCE AWARDS PROVINCIAL ELECTION NOTES The UBCM Excellence Awards program recognizes Some interesting factoids from BC’s 40th Provincial top examples of best practices, leadership, innovation Election which took place May 14, 2013 and partnerships at the Local Government level. One-third of the MLAs elected are women which is a historic level of female representation in the house. Both elected officials and staff are urged to consider Of the women elected, the numbers by party are: which projects and programs have held the most • value and pride for your Local Government. 15 of the 50 Liberal MLAS • 14 of the 34 NDP MLAs While highlighting the best and brightest, the awards • 1 Independent program is also designed to respect the time of staff by providing a streamlined and simple application Local Government influence - almost 40% of the process. 85 elected candidates have had experience at the

local government level.

The 2013 categories are: Two of the newly elected MLAs are former NCLGA Best Practices - General Executive board members: Best Practices - Social Media Best Practices - Civic Engagement Partnerships - All Partnerships Leadership & Innovation - Climate Action Minister of Community, Sport and - Species at Risk & Biodiversity Cultural Development MLA Cariboo North For information about the awards program contact: Joslyn Young (604) 270-8226 Ext. 103 or email: [email protected]

BC HEALTHY COMMUNITIES CAPACITY BUILDING GRANTS Mike Bernier The Healthy Communities Capacity Building Fund Chair of the Standing Committee provides grants of up to $5,000 per community. This for Aboriginal Affairs funding is to help Local Governments develop MLA partnerships and build capacity for healthy community leadership and action. Funding permitting, applications will be accepted until June 30, 2013. Eligible activities must take place before March 31, 2014. The Green Party elected it’s first To download the application guide & form visit: MLA with Andrew Weaver’s success in the Oak Bay /bchealthycommunities.ca/localgovernmentfunding -Gordon Head riding.

For more information telephone: (250) 952-9177

Overall voter turnout in the Province was 58%

Email: [email protected] There were 3,116,626 registered voters. BC Healthy Communities People. Place. Potential. BC was the first Province in Canada to establish fixed election dates.

The next elections will be: FCM EXECUTIVE 2013-2014 Tuesday, May 9th, 2017 We are pleased to have such strong representation Tuesday, May 11th, 2021 on the FCM Board for the coming term:

Prince George Councillor Garth Frizzell Kitimat-Stikine RD Chair Harry Nyce The Executive Council of BC can be found at: UBCM President, Mayor Mary Sjostrom http://www.gov.bc.ca/premier/cabinet_ministers/

NCLGA CONNECTOR # 118 June Page 2

MEMBER’S PAGE - KITIMAT UPDATE

by Tyler Noble, Business & Communications Officer, District of Kitimat

There is positivity in the air in Kitimat – a feeling that a big opportunity is upon us.

When West Fraser Timber announced the closure of the Eurocan Pulp and Paper mill in the fall of 2009, a feeling of gloom swept across this community. It meant just one major industrial employer in a town built around industrial development. But here we are, three-and-a-half years later, and we’re seeing growth once again. The future has never looked brighter, largely due to the natural advantages that Kitimat has possessed since day one.

Our ice-free, deep sea port is integrated with CN’s extensive Northern American rail network. With three liquefied natural gas (LNG) export terminals proposed for Kitimat – and the companies behind them moving closer to final investment decisions – businesses in the commercial sector are positioning themselves to capitalize. There’s already a new Tim Horton’s in town, retailers are opening up in the City Centre Mall, and there’s interest in developing new hotel accommodation.

The turning point came in January 2010, when Apache Canada purchased a majority interest in the Kitimat LNG export project on Haisla Nation reserve land at Bish Cove. Chevron Canada has ~ since come on board to form a 50/50 joint partnership with Apache. Preparatory activities such as ~ site clearing and access road upgrades are ongoing. KITIMAT In December 2011, Rio Tinto Alcan issued notice to proceed with the $3.3 billion Kitimat Modernization Project. This was a significant announcement bolstering not only the local economy but also ’s economy. Since then, other companies have been moving forward with plans to invest here.

The biggest news that followed was the announcement of the LNG Canada project – a $12 billion proposal to develop an LNG export facility on the former Methanex ammonia/methanol plant site through a joint venture involving Shell (40 per cent), Korea Gas, Mitsubishi and PetroChina (each 20 per cent). Meanwhile, TransCanada was chosen to build and operate the $4 billion Coastal GasLink pipeline to transport natural gas from BC’s northeast to the LNG Canada terminal. Project descriptions for both the marine terminal and the pipeline have been submitted to the BC Environmental Assessment Office and the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency.

There’s also the Douglas Channel Energy Partnership (BC LNG). This barge-based plant is the smallest of the three LNG proposals. It will be fabricated and assembled in a shipyard, then towed to its permanent location on the west side of Douglas Channel. The project is expected to utilize existing capacity in the Pacific Northern Gas pipeline system, thus making it the closest to reality.

Emerging opportunities extend beyond LNG. For example, newspaper publisher David Black submitted a proposal last August to construct a large oil refinery half way between Terrace and Kitimat, to process heavy crude oil brought in via pipeline. Mr. Black believes exporting refined products mitigates the threat of damage to the marine environment from a potential spill of raw bitumen. The basis for locating such a facility on the coast as opposed to near the source of oil is due to the cost of transporting refinery modules from overseas. The capital cost for this project is estimated to be around $16 billion.

These projects are just a sampling of the interest we’re seeing in Kitimat. Of course, such activity poses challenges for the community. The potential impact from an influx of workers is on the minds of Kitimat residents. Increasing access to skills training is an ongoing initiative. However, Kitimat’s industrial heritage has meant a strong supply and service sector is already in place, and whatever challenges resulting from growth can be overcome.

NCLGA CONNECTOR # 118 June Page 3