Last week I attended the Union of BC Municipalities (UBCM) convention in Victoria.
The UBCM represents municipalities from every corner of our province, and the annual convention brings together 140 mayors as well as other local and regional representatives, including the Cariboo Regional District. They meet with provincial leaders to discuss issues that are important to municipalities.
I had the opportunity to discuss many issues of importance to our communities. Representatives of the City of Williams Lake and I met with Premier Christy Clark, Minister of Aboriginal Relations and Reconciliation Ida Chong, Minister of Community, Sport and Cultural Development Bill Bennett, and Minister of State for Seniors Ralph Sultan. Together with representatives from the CRD, I met with the premier as well as with Minister of Health Margaret MacDiarmid. I also met with Minister of Justice Shirley Bond in the company of representatives from 100 Mile House. In both these and other meetings throughout the week, we discussed how the province can better serve our communities. I would like to congratulate Mayor Mary Sjostrom from Quesnel, who became president of the UBCM. As the premier mentioned in her keynote address at the convention, Mayor Sjostrom always fights for her community. She continues a proud tradition — five of the past presidents of the UBCM have been from the Cariboo region. I would also like to congratulate two other community leaders — Al Richmond, the chair of the CRD, who became third vice-president of the UBCM, and Mayor Mitch Campsall of 100 Mile House, who will now represent the North Central Local Government Association. Through the hard work of these wonderful people and other community representatives, our region was well represented last week. The CRD put forward 10 resolutions, nine of which were endorsed by the UBCM membership. We accomplished a lot at the convention, and I’m proud of our local representatives’ hard work. I know they, like me, look forward to continuing the close co-operation between our municipalities and the provincial government for the benefit of everyone in our community.
Donna Barnett is the Liberal MLA for the Cariboo-Chilcotin.