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Okay, good evening everybody. Uh we'll
bring the regional council meeting to

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order for September the 9th.
Uh before we start, I would like to uh

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acknowledge that this meeting is being
held in the traditional territory of our

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friends, neighbors, and treaty partners
of the Fort Nelson First Nation as well

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as the Profit River First Nation. We
recognize our treaty. We recognize the

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rights within that treaty. Uh we also
recognize the uh enduring presence and

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uh contributions made by the matey
people in our region. Uh please be

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advised that tonight's meeting is
available to the public to attend

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virtually and is being streamed and
recorded.

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Our neighbors uh the Ford Council First
Nation is exciting day for them. That's

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their election day. So it'll be very
interested to see uh the results of of

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their election and and how we can work
with the with our neighbors in the

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future. I would also like to introduce
our new CEO,

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Russell Brewer, is here. Uh we're
extremely lucky to uh to have had a

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candidate like Russell uh apply to the
community. Uh Russell comes to us uh

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from the Talman Talman First Nation
where he was the uh CEO there and prior

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to being CEO there, he was the chief
operating officer there. Prior to that

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he has experience as the CEO in power.
He has experience with um with the um

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well the the matey nation as the
communication director and uh he's a

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registered professional forester as
well. So, we're looking forward to uh to

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his experience, to the work uh that he
will he will do in in building the team,

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and uh we look forward to working with
them and and welcome to the community.

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» You're welcome.
Okay. Are there any uh council additions

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to tonight's agenda?
Staff, are there any additions?

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» No,
>> only the Yes, there is an addition. Uh

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we wanted to add at new business. We
wanted to add um

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a communication for the primary care

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committee.
So that'll be at 10.1.

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Thank you for reminding me.

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Okay. Okay, this is an opportunity for
the public to comment on anything on

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tonight's agenda. Is there any members
of the public present who would like to

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comment on the agenda? Is there any
online? Any in the gallery?

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Seeing none, adoption of the agenda is
order, please. Moved by councelor

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Andrew, second by Deputy Mayor Growing.
All in favor? That's carried. There are

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five sets of minutes for adoption.
Committee the whole of July 17th.

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Committee the whole August 10th.
committee the whole August 10th in the

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evening. A regional council meeting of
August 10th and the special regional

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council meeting of August 20th for
adoption.

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Move for adoption by councel Andrews. Do
I have a second? Councelor Souls. Are

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there any errors or emissions in any of
those minutes? Staff? No. Council? No.

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All in favor of adoption? Are there any
opposed? Those are carried.

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Is there any business arising from any
of those minutes? Council, no staff,

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» if I may.
>> Okay, go ahead.

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» Thank you, mayor and council. Um, I just
wanted to update council on uh

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information from the administration
report 4826

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that was presented and um reviewed by
council on August 10th regarding the

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three uh it presented three options for
the government transfer budget formula

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and uh the report indicated there were
three options. um and all of the values

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attached to them. Discussion by council
um indicated that a hybrid formula um

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would be adopted. So rather than
utilizing the current year's total

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operating expense budget,
um the previous year's total actual

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operating expenses would be used and a
factor of 4% would be used. So when I

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took that back to my desk and took a
look at what that means in calculating

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the funding envelope for 2027,
the government transfer funding envelope

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for 2026 was a million
and it will drop to $99,913.

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So, we're going to see a reduction of
the funding available based on that

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formula of 90 basically $90,000 or 9%.
Um, and if I just take a look at the

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committee of the whole report that you
received, um, you reviewed in your

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previous meeting, our million dollar so
far, we've spent just over $917,000.

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And we do know that we'll have fee
subsidy taken up for um, September

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through till December. So um we won't
overspend uh but we certainly will be

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over what our allocation for 2027
uh will be.

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And just in terms of the difference
between the uh calculation that we

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provided and the information we
provided, we were looking at using an

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option that had uh addressed the formula
by using a budgeted number. So council's

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2026 budgeted total expenses would be
utilized for planning for 2027

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uh government transfer envelope and it
would provide the ability to um if the

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municipality determined that there would
be a need for reduction in operating

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expenses that it would translate in the
next year to those groups.

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um by using the actual total operating
expenses from the previous year. So we

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would we're looking at utilizing the
2027 values. It's it might be driven

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over the years by unplanned events. So I
think back and and we were required to

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overspend when we had the evacuation,
when we had the our emergency response,

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uh potentially when there's spikes in
supply costs. or it might be the

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opposite and we would be under spending
based on um the inability perhaps to

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reserve uh secure resources during that
year, supply chain issues,

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those sorts of things. So, uh it's just
to outline the difference between the

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two. Um and as an update, the government
transfer submissions are due the last

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Friday in September for next year's
budget. And I just want to let you know

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that we'll be cognizant of the uh
reduction in the funding envelope um as

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our report is prepared for council's
deliberation and approval of the

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submissions.

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» Okay.
Um, so have you got a recommendation for

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us or are you just bringing it to our
attention that the the

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uh the funding formula that we chose
uh didn't work out to get us to the

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million dollars this year?
>> At at this point it's I'm providing

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statements of fact based on decision of
council. Um we can certainly uh review

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uh options but at this point uh I'm
providing the statements of fact based

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on the decision of council at the august
10th meeting.

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» Yeah. So um
we knew that I mean this is a brand new

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policy. We knew that there was going to
have to be some flexibility to start

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with it. We we hadn't chosen what the
long-term funding formula would look

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like. We you know when we went through
the budget process, we were looking at

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um what what we needed to raise this
year uh based on the submissions by the

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nonprofit organizations
uh that put applications in this year.

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So, and we settled in our budget on the
$1 million mark or something like that.

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Then we went on to to decide what that
would look like in the future. Trying to

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figure out how we could fund this
program year after year after year after

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year, right? By figuring out what part
of our attaching it to our budget

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somehow. It could be either or sorry our
our um our budget or our expenditures,

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one or the other. And so we chose, you
put a number there that was 3.98 and I

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think I I rounded it to to four 4% of
the of the uh the operating budget or

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yeah the the operating expendit the
actual expenditures.

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So for 2025 we look at the actual
expenditures you apply that number uh

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that percentage to it
then that would tell the nonprofits that

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in 2027 the funding envelope is and I'll
just use 4% because it's easy to round

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up 4% of the actual
operating costs of 2025 of the

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municipality because it because it was
very clear when the council had decided

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to hold the nonprofit
um expenditures,

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the nonprofits responded to us that
that's not fair because you didn't take

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any kind of a cut as a municipality
yourself. You just put it on us. And I

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heard that very clearly. And so seems to
me that a budget number is something

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that you hope will happen. the actuals
is what actually happens. So if we if we

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are looking at
uh the actuals and we are cutting or our

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staff are seeing
reductions because they're trying to do

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their best at being efficient to try to
reduce what our actual operating

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expenses. That's what we're asking the
nonprofits to do

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» is to be very calculated and uh what's
the word I'm looking for where they're

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you know very um it's not measured
intent. They're very they have they're

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they're operating with intent. They're
not just asking for money. They're

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operating with with with an intent to
spend so much money and to try to keep

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those provide the service but provide
the service uh in a way that's um

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sustainable
for the municipality in these years

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where we're where we're seeing our tax
base wither.

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» So that's why I thought tying it to the
actuals was better than trying to tie it

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to the budget. though I see the budget
numbers tend to be more consistent.

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I get that our actuals go up and down
based on the projects that you get done,

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based on uh you know costs that go up. I
I understand that that but eventually

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what will happen is we will end up with
a with a the intent anyway is to have a

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reserve
a reserve in that

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um
in that program to help to to help

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smooth out
that when the actuals go up and down.

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» Yeah.
>> So it gives us that ability. It never it

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was never to say we always want to make
sure we we gather a million dollars

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because we might not be able to afford a
million dollars.

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» But at least we're giving certainty to
the nonprofits a year in advance.

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This is what we did. This is the
percentage that's applied 3.98. Here's

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the funding envelope for all the
nonprofits or for that program in 2027.

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there's a year with intent they can they
can look at whether they need to make

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cuts or whether they can move forward
with with any um uh program enhancements

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that they like. The more money we have,
the more money we're able to spend than

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the more money the nonprofits. That was
the intent of my thought of of tying it

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to the actual expenditures.
So in 2026,

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we know what 2025's
actual expenditures were. That would

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apply to the 2027 amount that the
So if in 2026 we had to take a big cut,

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we've already committed to the
nonprofits that there's they're getting

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that amount of money. We have to figure
out how to how to fund that in 2027. But

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that becomes static. So there's some
sustainability at least because if we're

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taking a huge big cut where we're really
cutting a lot of services in the

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municipality or raising taxes because
that's the only two things we can do.

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Raise taxes or cut services because we
we're not allowed to go in in the hole.

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So
if we if something big happens that

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eventually is going to get to the
nonprofits as well, right? So they need

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at least then they have the 2026 budget,
the 2027 budget, and then obviously in

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2028 there's going to be a significant
cut because we had to take a significant

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cut. So that's how I that's the strategy
or the logic that I was using when I put

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my um thoughts forward on that. But I'm
I'm interested in in your thoughts as

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well.
So with that formula that gives that

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give the nonprofits a year in advance to
plan for a budget cut for the next

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season
>> if we knew if we saw a significant and

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» and over time we said that any extra
money each year would not get absorbed

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back into the main budget. It would stay
in that in that uh transfers to

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community groups or governmental
transfers. it would stay there to and

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eventually we'd end up with a surplus
there which would help to smooth out

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those those years when we see these
swings in the uh we could add some uh so

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that there's not a big hit uh a year
out.

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» I think it's a great place to start like
it gives some warning. It gives us some

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certainty. It gives I guess some some
advanced notice on what the funding pool

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will be to the nonforprofits.
Like I'm sure there'll be growing pains

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like anything, but it's it's a logical
place to start. It can always be

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modified as we move if needed, but I
think it's a good spot.

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» Okay, I defer. Um I just want to address
where you said that reductions were not

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achieved in that budget year. Um
while we went through each of the

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departments while we were um going
through our budget process um some

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departments were under some departments
were over. So overall

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» the budget was not less than but many
departments had trimmed their costs. So

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um I just wanted to clarify that that
that there were reductions made that

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year. Um, and I think like if we come up
with a 3.9 or 4% of an operating budget

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or actuals,
um, I personally would go with the

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budget figure because there's more
certainty, there's more stability and

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there's more consistency using the
budget as opposed to actuals that are 2

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years old. like we have experienced
great change in our community within two

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years. Um and I think we would still get
that consistency and our ability to

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pivot because if we do have to make huge
um reductions, it's going to be

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reflected in a budget. Um and we're
still working a year out. So they would

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still have that ability. And then um
like we were talking about earlier is um

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not forprofits
that receive larger amounts of funding

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from the NRM have a threemonth
contingency plan. So I think we're

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saying the same thing like I think we
want to provide consistency to the not

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for profofits that we fund. Um, and I
agree with um, setting a percentage, but

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I think that there's discussion around
whether that would be on actuals amounts

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or whether that would be on budget. And
then just to recap, I think budget would

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be more um, it works better for my brain
because it's more consistent. It's more

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stable. So that's my thought on it.
>> Yeah. My thought with budgets because

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I've experienced it before and and not
here, but budgets can be padded,

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right? And and and budgets are are
I don't want to say they're imaginary,

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but they're they're what we want to
achieve. And there's risk built into it.

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And so it's usually higher because you
don't know if you're going to get a big

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snow year or you know so or a low snow
year. Um to me the actuals more reflect

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what what the nonprofits were telling us
if if you're it should be tied to what

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you guys are doing what you're doing not
what you hope to do that. So that's my

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thought.
>> Okay. But if we have a year where um

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we like the example I think that like
there needs to be more discussion and

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there needs to be the numbers put out
there because the example about when we

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are budgeted for x amount of dollars for
the airport and there's no deicing or

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whatever needed and so that amount of
money the actual is down by I don't know

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$200,000 call it whatever um that
reduced is that actual amount which then

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if we are holding true to this formula
that is going to reduce the amount of

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money that's available in that large
pool for not for profits to apply for.

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So my hope is that we can come up with
some sort of a process that allows a

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consistent amount of money unless you
know I mean something untold happens or

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unforeseen happens. But I I just think
this up and down is not good for

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anybody. There needs to be a more
consistent approach to that.

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» Okay. So, we're at impass, I think.
Oh, go on ahead, Tony.

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» If I may. Um from a finance perspective,
uh certainly when we prepare a budget

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and we ask council to deliberate on it,
we recognize that the budget contains

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uh values for risk. We we try to
estimate how many times we're going to

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00:20:20,799 --> 00:20:30,240
plow
Canyon Hill. We estimate how many loads

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00:20:26,720 --> 00:20:36,559
of deicer we need at the airport. We
estimate that we're not going to have to

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evacuate the community to $1.8 to$2
million of our operating expenses. So

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when I take a look at the things that
can impact the actual, there are

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multiple things that can spike it one
way or the other. When I look at our

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budget being our consistent plan,
I I feel that that provides a more level

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playing field for the type of
calculation we're looking for.

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And it does provide if we determine that
we need to expand services for 2027 in

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the community because it's expanding, it
will set the 2028

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envelope for government transfers. If we
determine that we have to shrink our own

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operations in 2027,
that will be the message for government

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transfers in 28. And it's a planned
event. It is. And so from a finance

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perspective,
um I I do believe that the budget

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provides a more consistent
um

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number because we're looking at factors,
right? We're looking at what number are

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we going to multiply
a percentage by to get a value for the

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budget. So, it's about can we provide a
consistency within that number um that

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doesn't fluctuate based on um things
that we can't control.

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We can control our plans.

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» Okay. Well, let's I think more
information is is necessary. So, for

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this year, we can leave it the way it
is. You know, we budgeted the million

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dollars. We we don't have to apply the
percentage to the 2025. we can just

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leave it. We knew that we were we were
gonna we had to start somewhere, so we

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started it. But can you bring us back a
report then that shows us the difference

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between the actuals and the budgets for
the last five years? We can do a

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calculation on that and see what it
looks like. See what would have

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happened. see what would have happened
uh in the last 5 years based on our

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00:22:53,280 --> 00:22:59,120
budget and our actuals and how that if
that if this policy had have been in

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place then how it would have impacted
the nonprofits uh for the five years

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00:23:01,840 --> 00:23:08,480
leading forward and and that'll that'll
give us more information I think and uh

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that that will probably sway my mind I
get the consistency argument

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I'm just feel more more adamant I guess
that the nonprofits told us that it

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00:23:17,440 --> 00:23:22,799
should be tied to what we're on and not
what we're planning. Well, they didn't

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00:23:21,679 --> 00:23:26,320
we didn't have a discussion about
whether it was planning or what we're

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00:23:23,919 --> 00:23:30,400
doing, but they definitely said if if
you know if we're taking a cut, you guys

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should be taking a cut. So, the reverse
is true. If if we're efficient, so too

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need to be efficient.
But, uh, can we do that before you

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00:23:37,440 --> 00:23:43,360
leave?
>> Absolutely.

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» Um, councelor Souls, are you all right
with that? I'm sorry I didn't see your

257
00:23:44,640 --> 00:23:48,679
hand up at all during that discussion.

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00:23:49,600 --> 00:23:55,520
Good discussion. That's all. I'm fine
with it.

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00:23:52,000 --> 00:23:58,559
» Okay. Okay. Thanks.
>> Uh thanks Tony for your uh for your

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report.
>> Thank you.

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00:23:58,880 --> 00:24:02,799
» Did you get did you get the information
you're looking for or at least some

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00:24:02,000 --> 00:24:06,720
direction?
>> Absolutely. Thank you.

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00:24:04,720 --> 00:24:12,480
» Yeah. You're welcome.
Okay. That was business from arising

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from minutes. Uh moving on. Uh seven is
petitions and delegations. Uh, we have a

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00:24:14,720 --> 00:24:22,559
petition here for delegation, sorry,
from Northpaw Animal Rescue, Bruce

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00:24:18,720 --> 00:24:24,960
Dinstead from the board of directors,
>> Lori. Okay.

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00:24:23,840 --> 00:24:28,080
» Thank you.
>> Did somebody give you some instruction,

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00:24:26,400 --> 00:24:31,840
Lori? And you can sit up any of these
mics? And

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» yeah, as long as the red lights on,
you're good to go. Then everybody can

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00:24:33,440 --> 00:24:36,600
hear you.

271
00:24:38,000 --> 00:24:44,880
» Welcome, Lori. Floor is yours.
>> Good evening, Mayor and Council. Um,

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00:24:43,520 --> 00:24:49,440
thank you for giving us the opportunity
to speak with you.

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We're here tonight on behalf of Northpaw
Animal Rescue Society to talk about our

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00:24:52,480 --> 00:25:00,720
current contract with the NRM, our
request to increase our annual funding

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from 42,000 to 95,000
and also what animal welfare services

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could look like in Fort Nelson going
forward. Uh we know that going from

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42,000 to 95,000 is a significant
increase and we didn't come up with that

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00:25:12,880 --> 00:25:20,720
number lightly. Uh when we started we
knew there was a huge need for animal

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00:25:17,600 --> 00:25:24,240
welfare services in our community. Uh
but we didn't really know what it was

280
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going to cost to provide them. Now we
do.

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Um we have two years of actual expenses
and experience behind us now and we have

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a much better understanding of what it
takes to keep the service running. The

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00:25:34,720 --> 00:25:44,480
NRM currently provides Northpaw with
$42,000 a year and our operating our

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00:25:40,880 --> 00:25:50,240
basic operating expenses alone are
approximately 60,000 per year. Um, that

285
00:25:47,840 --> 00:25:56,240
includes $33,600
in rent along with building and safety

286
00:25:53,520 --> 00:26:00,880
expenses, cleaning supplies, liability
insurance, phone and internet, waste

287
00:25:58,320 --> 00:26:06,000
removal, yard maintenance, banking and
credit card fees, and basic off office

288
00:26:03,360 --> 00:26:10,720
expenses. That is before we care for a
single animal.

289
00:26:08,159 --> 00:26:15,039
Um once you add food, veterary care,
vaccination, spay and neutering,

290
00:26:13,120 --> 00:26:20,000
medications, transportation, all the
other costs directly associated with the

291
00:26:17,360 --> 00:26:26,000
animals, we spend approximately another
40,000 per year. So in reality, it costs

292
00:26:23,360 --> 00:26:30,400
Northpaw more than $100,000 a year to
provide the service we are providing.

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00:26:28,880 --> 00:26:36,080
We make up the difference through
fundraising, donations, grants, and a

294
00:26:33,200 --> 00:26:40,400
huge amount of volunteer labor. and we
will absolutely continue doing those

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00:26:38,159 --> 00:26:43,520
things, but fundraising
should help support an essential

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00:26:41,919 --> 00:26:48,679
service. It shouldn't be the only thing
keeping it going.

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00:26:45,679 --> 00:26:48,679
Um,

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there's another challenge that I think
is really important for council to

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00:26:53,440 --> 00:27:00,880
understand and that is fostering. In
larger communities, rescues and shelters

300
00:26:57,919 --> 00:27:05,760
can rely heavily on foster homes uh when
their facility reaches capacity. We do

301
00:27:03,919 --> 00:27:10,400
not have that option here right now in
all of Fort Nelson. We have one foster

302
00:27:08,400 --> 00:27:17,559
home that will foster cats and one
foster that will foster puppies. That's

303
00:27:12,960 --> 00:27:17,559
it. So, when our kennels

304
00:27:17,600 --> 00:27:23,760
um or a cat room are full, we don't have
a large foster network to fall back on.

305
00:27:22,000 --> 00:27:29,279
We also don't have another shelter 20
minutes down the road. Um, the NRM

306
00:27:27,039 --> 00:27:36,880
covers more than 85,000 square
kilometers and in 2025 alone, Northpaw

307
00:27:32,960 --> 00:27:39,880
assisted 96 animals in different
capacities.

308
00:27:40,320 --> 00:27:47,760
96. Yeah.
Uh, because of where we live, when we

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00:27:45,679 --> 00:27:52,960
are full, our options become extremely
limited. Sometimes there simply isn't

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00:27:49,919 --> 00:27:56,240
anywhere else for an animal to go. And
that becomes even more concerning when

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00:27:54,720 --> 00:28:01,279
we look at what's happening elsewhere in
northern BC. Dawson Creek is expected to

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00:27:59,440 --> 00:28:07,440
end their funding for animal control in
December. Uh based on the numbers we

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00:28:04,080 --> 00:28:14,000
reviewed, that represents roughly 37% of
their estimated $700,000

314
00:28:10,080 --> 00:28:19,440
annual budget for that SPCA branch. So
approximately $260,000.

315
00:28:16,559 --> 00:28:24,799
Obviously, we can't say exactly what
effect that will have on us here, but we

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00:28:22,240 --> 00:28:29,440
do know how animal rescue works. When
one community loses capacity, those

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00:28:27,120 --> 00:28:34,640
animals don't disappear. Shelters fill
up, rescues fill up, foster homes fill

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00:28:31,919 --> 00:28:38,559
up, transfers become harder to find, and
eventually that pressure moves further

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00:28:36,320 --> 00:28:43,440
down the line. With the very limited
fosters and transfer options we already

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00:28:40,559 --> 00:28:49,840
have in Port Nelson, I think we need to
think be thinking about this now rather

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00:28:46,720 --> 00:28:54,240
than wait until we're in crisis.
>> Um, sorry I'm so nervous.

322
00:28:52,240 --> 00:28:58,120
» You're doing fine. You're doing fine.
Yeah, you're doing a great job.

323
00:28:59,279 --> 00:29:02,279
» Okay.

324
00:29:03,279 --> 00:29:10,960
» Okay. Also, the NRM has expressed
interest in Northpaw potentially taking

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00:29:07,679 --> 00:29:17,600
on animal control and pounding.
Uh, we already provide cat pounding and

326
00:29:14,480 --> 00:29:23,120
we do some animal control related work.
We have only just completed our first

327
00:29:20,399 --> 00:29:28,880
two years of operation.
So, what we do have now um what we

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00:29:26,000 --> 00:29:33,760
didn't have two years ago is experience.
and we know what our current service

329
00:29:31,200 --> 00:29:39,200
costs and we know where our facility
works well and where our limitations

330
00:29:36,000 --> 00:29:43,760
are. Uh we have worked tirelessly
renovating and creating safe spaces for

331
00:29:41,520 --> 00:29:48,640
animals and if we're given the
opportunity to expand our services.

332
00:29:46,799 --> 00:29:53,039
Uh there are changes we could look at to
making

333
00:29:50,960 --> 00:29:57,760
um to safely house more cats at our
facility. If we were going to take on

334
00:29:55,760 --> 00:30:02,480
dog pound keeping, we would need to look
at either building a separate structure

335
00:30:00,240 --> 00:30:07,279
or securing another rental space
specifically for impounded dogs. A

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00:30:05,039 --> 00:30:11,440
proper pound facility would need
individual

337
00:30:08,880 --> 00:30:15,919
dog runs that allow dogs to safely move
between indoor and outdoor areas on

338
00:30:13,440 --> 00:30:21,039
their own. Our facility was not designed
for that type of setup and because we

339
00:30:19,520 --> 00:30:26,720
are renting the building, we cannot make
major structural changes.

340
00:30:23,440 --> 00:30:32,159
Um, I did contact a local retail realtor
and requested the current inventory of

341
00:30:29,039 --> 00:30:35,279
available rentals so I could bring some
numbers to council tonight.

342
00:30:33,840 --> 00:30:41,600
Unfortunately, I didn't receive that
information before the meeting.

343
00:30:38,320 --> 00:30:47,039
So, over the next year or two, Northpaw
and the NRM could determine what it

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00:30:44,640 --> 00:30:51,279
would realistically cost for Northpaw to
potentially take on two additional

345
00:30:48,640 --> 00:30:56,559
contracts of service, the animal control
and pounding.

346
00:30:53,360 --> 00:31:02,159
um an annual contract of 95,000 would
give Northpaw some stability and allow

347
00:30:58,960 --> 00:31:05,679
us to make service
stability and allow us to make the

348
00:31:03,679 --> 00:31:09,760
service we had already provided
sustainable

349
00:31:08,480 --> 00:31:14,000
page.
>> Um we've learned a lot in the last two

350
00:31:11,520 --> 00:31:17,840
years and we're still learning. We see
things that are really hard to forget.

351
00:31:15,840 --> 00:31:23,120
The abused, the neglected, the
abandoned, the ones simply left behind.

352
00:31:21,600 --> 00:31:29,279
We see animals come through our doors
scared, hungry, confused, with no idea

353
00:31:26,159 --> 00:31:34,480
what they did wrong. Uh we also support
families who love their animals but are

354
00:31:31,600 --> 00:31:39,039
struggling to feed them basically and
take care of them. Um and we see the

355
00:31:37,440 --> 00:31:43,279
heartbreaking side of animal welfare
that most people thankfully never have

356
00:31:40,799 --> 00:31:48,399
to see.
Um

357
00:31:45,519 --> 00:31:52,320
the days there are days when it's
exhausting and there's days when it's

358
00:31:50,159 --> 00:31:57,120
heartbreaking and there are definitely
days when we wonder how much more we can

359
00:31:54,000 --> 00:32:01,679
take on. But we still show up. We want
to keep showing up for these animals. Uh

360
00:31:59,360 --> 00:32:06,640
we just need our community and our
municipality to stand behind us so that

361
00:32:03,519 --> 00:32:12,760
Northpaw can continue uh to be there for
the next animal that has nowhere to go.

362
00:32:09,519 --> 00:32:12,760
Thank you.

363
00:32:13,600 --> 00:32:16,799
I'm like shaking. Do I stay for
questions?

364
00:32:16,000 --> 00:32:22,720
» Yeah.
>> Yes, please. Yeah. So, that was a good

365
00:32:19,200 --> 00:32:27,960
report. Thank you for for for that.
>> Uh, does anybody on council have any

366
00:32:24,960 --> 00:32:27,960
questions?

367
00:32:28,320 --> 00:32:33,320
Good. Uh, councelor Souls.

368
00:32:33,440 --> 00:32:40,559
Oh,
>> or councelor Enex, do any of you have

369
00:32:37,360 --> 00:32:45,279
anything uh any questions for Lori?
That's Danny here. I don't have any

370
00:32:42,559 --> 00:32:50,480
questions. I just watched the um
>> the evolution of of this.

371
00:32:48,240 --> 00:32:55,360
» It certainly is the there certainly is
the need in the community for this type

372
00:32:52,320 --> 00:33:02,960
of service and our community all know it
and so do we the uh just the level to

373
00:32:59,120 --> 00:33:09,039
which it gets developed. I think that is
uh everything costs everything costs

374
00:33:06,000 --> 00:33:14,559
money and I we get that. Um, so I think
discussion is in order going forward

375
00:33:11,440 --> 00:33:19,760
with this and not deciding tonight, but
I I welcome more discussion on this

376
00:33:16,799 --> 00:33:27,200
particular file
>> as I do too. Um, I just need to con um

377
00:33:23,679 --> 00:33:33,519
commend Lori and crew for what you guys
have done in the past and continue to do

378
00:33:29,919 --> 00:33:37,200
for those animals. So, thank you.
>> Thank you.

379
00:33:35,600 --> 00:33:41,120
So the normal approach that council
takes is is is first heard deferred. So

380
00:33:39,919 --> 00:33:45,120
when we hear something for the first
time like your presentation has made a

381
00:33:42,720 --> 00:33:48,480
request for funding,
we'll defer it to a discussion. We won't

382
00:33:46,960 --> 00:33:52,880
talk about it that first night. We'll
we'll and it's actually pretty timely

383
00:33:50,640 --> 00:33:58,000
because I think staff is right in the
throws of getting ready to bid this um

384
00:33:55,760 --> 00:34:03,440
this work because it I don't this is not
a grant to you. this is a bided con you

385
00:34:01,200 --> 00:34:09,919
you it's we bid this contract and you
and you bid it. So you're sort of asking

386
00:34:06,080 --> 00:34:14,879
us to to to change that and so that you
know that's uh that's a big deal for us

387
00:34:12,879 --> 00:34:21,119
you know to take something that's that's
been a bidable contract and then switch

388
00:34:17,119 --> 00:34:25,679
it over to a to a a funded service by
the by the council. So there's some

389
00:34:24,079 --> 00:34:32,079
things that we'll, you know, staff will
have to research for us and come back

390
00:34:27,040 --> 00:34:37,760
with the with a report that talks about
um I guess the ramifications and the the

391
00:34:35,119 --> 00:34:42,000
pros and cons of of each approach,
right? So yeah, so thank you very much

392
00:34:40,159 --> 00:34:44,560
for your presentation. I I think that's
that's the way we'll move this we'll

393
00:34:43,599 --> 00:34:48,320
move this forward.
>> Perfect. Okay. Thank you.

394
00:34:46,000 --> 00:34:55,200
» Thank you.
Sure. Yeah.

395
00:34:52,240 --> 00:35:00,160
So just to kind of go on what Lori said.
So I'm Bruce Dyn in case anyone doesn't

396
00:34:56,879 --> 00:35:06,640
know me. Um just yeah like it's
community and we don't look after just

397
00:35:02,960 --> 00:35:13,280
Nelson. We look after River
Nelson First Nations Fort Leard. So my

398
00:35:10,800 --> 00:35:18,800
recommendation to the council is to
approach those communities because we've

399
00:35:16,000 --> 00:35:23,680
tried for funding and we've been shut
down but yet

400
00:35:21,599 --> 00:35:27,760
a lot of our
rescues are not from Fort Nelson,

401
00:35:25,520 --> 00:35:33,760
they're from other communities. So if we
can encompass everybody and then it's

402
00:35:29,839 --> 00:35:37,760
not just on Fort Nelson or uh yeah just
not on Fort Nelson residents but it's if

403
00:35:36,320 --> 00:35:43,200
we can all come together to the table
and get some funding from everybody

404
00:35:40,000 --> 00:35:47,760
that's an option right it's a big area
there's there's lots going on we get

405
00:35:45,119 --> 00:35:52,480
that and some people may have access to
funding easier than than us right so

406
00:35:50,960 --> 00:35:56,160
just that's one thought I just want to
throw out in front of everybody like

407
00:35:53,839 --> 00:35:59,599
let's it's not just for Nelson it's it's
the area like Lori mentioned. So

408
00:35:58,079 --> 00:36:02,720
» So that that drives a question for me
then. Is there a fee for service for

409
00:36:00,960 --> 00:36:06,880
those communities? Do you do you charge
them a fee for doing that

410
00:36:05,280 --> 00:36:11,440
» or do you just out of the goodness of
your heart go and rescue the dogs?

411
00:36:08,720 --> 00:36:14,440
» Right now we have a contract with um
FNF.

412
00:36:15,440 --> 00:36:21,680
» You can stay.
All right.

413
00:36:19,359 --> 00:36:26,640
» So we do have a contract with FNF but
just for cats. Uh, Lothrock Canine

414
00:36:24,560 --> 00:36:32,560
Rescue was doing the dogs, but now they
have quit. So, we wrote up a propo a

415
00:36:29,920 --> 00:36:38,640
proposal for FNFN and they denied it
straight up. So,

416
00:36:35,680 --> 00:36:42,880
Profit River, yeah, we've been doing it
for free. We've we've tried so many

417
00:36:40,480 --> 00:36:47,119
different channels to speak to someone
say like this is how much money we've

418
00:36:44,400 --> 00:36:52,079
spent on your community alone
uh with nothing.

419
00:36:49,280 --> 00:36:58,720
And same for Fort Leard.
So, are those

420
00:36:54,560 --> 00:37:03,200
services included in the $101,000?
>> Is that all that's that's part of the 96

421
00:37:01,359 --> 00:37:05,680
animals? I think that's all part of that
entire

422
00:37:04,000 --> 00:37:08,320
» Okay. So, that's all included in that.
>> Can we get those numbers?

423
00:37:07,440 --> 00:37:12,960
» Yeah.
>> Broken down and they can include that in

424
00:37:10,880 --> 00:37:18,240
a report because that would be valuable
information to know how much is spent

425
00:37:16,880 --> 00:37:19,599
» on the animals in each of the
communities. Yeah.

426
00:37:19,200 --> 00:37:22,800
» Yeah.
>> We can work on that. Yeah. because

427
00:37:21,280 --> 00:37:25,440
that's that's something then I can talk
to the chiefs about, right?

428
00:37:24,160 --> 00:37:28,400
» Yeah, that would be great.
>> Yeah. And that's what I just wanted to

429
00:37:26,880 --> 00:37:31,359
make sure everyone's aware of. It's not
just here, it's encompassed, right?

430
00:37:30,880 --> 00:37:33,280
» Mhm.
>> Yeah. Good.

431
00:37:32,320 --> 00:37:39,960
» Good information.
>> Yeah, sure.

432
00:37:34,880 --> 00:37:39,960
» Okay. Thank you very much, both of you.

433
00:37:46,400 --> 00:37:54,720
I'm all over the map here. Okay.
Thank you.

434
00:37:52,320 --> 00:38:01,040
That brings us to reports uh bylaws and
policies admin 8.1 on the agenda. Admin

435
00:37:57,200 --> 00:38:04,040
report 52 uh the NDIT trust annual grant
applications.

436
00:38:05,440 --> 00:38:08,400
» Yeah, you don't have to stay.
>> Okay.

437
00:38:07,839 --> 00:38:12,800
» What? What?
>> I have to go to the

438
00:38:10,720 --> 00:38:17,920
night shift.
>> Yeah.

439
00:38:15,440 --> 00:38:21,560
» Thank you.
Why did you tell them?

440
00:38:24,480 --> 00:38:27,480
» Yes.

441
00:38:28,320 --> 00:38:33,920
» Welcome.
>> Thank you. Good evening, Mayor and

442
00:38:31,280 --> 00:38:38,720
Council. This report um highlights
several of the annual grants we apply

443
00:38:36,560 --> 00:38:43,040
for through the Northern Development
Initiative Trust. We've got the business

444
00:38:41,200 --> 00:38:47,680
facade improvement program, grant
writing support, and economic

445
00:38:44,720 --> 00:38:52,960
development capacity building. A routine
part of the application is a resolution

446
00:38:50,000 --> 00:38:58,480
from council. So, we've put this before
you for that.

447
00:38:54,800 --> 00:39:02,640
» Thanks, Hillary. Any questions? This is
pretty standard, pretty standard stuff,

448
00:39:00,960 --> 00:39:08,160
and it'd be nice if it could be
operationalized, but it NDIT requires uh

449
00:39:05,760 --> 00:39:11,359
requires it from us. So, uh, would
somebody like to make a recommendation?

450
00:39:10,320 --> 00:39:14,640
» Council Anders.
>> Wrong one.

451
00:39:12,000 --> 00:39:19,599
» Yeah, I I I'll get it. I I do truly
appreciate it that we utilize as much of

452
00:39:17,280 --> 00:39:22,720
this funding as we can. So, I'm happy to
motion that the Northern Rocky's

453
00:39:21,040 --> 00:39:26,880
Regional Municipalities submits an
application to the Northern Development

454
00:39:24,960 --> 00:39:32,000
Initiative Trust Grant Writing Support
Program for the maximum amount of 8,000

455
00:39:29,920 --> 00:39:35,839
offset the cost of providing grant
writing and support services. and that

456
00:39:34,480 --> 00:39:39,839
the Northern Rocky's Regional
Municipality submits an application to

457
00:39:37,920 --> 00:39:46,000
the Northern Develop Initiative Trust
Economic Development Capacity Building

458
00:39:42,000 --> 00:39:50,720
Program for the maximum amount of 50,000
to partially fund a regional economic

459
00:39:48,240 --> 00:39:54,240
development officer position and that
the Northern Rocky's Regional

460
00:39:52,240 --> 00:39:58,560
Municipality submits an application to
the Northern Development Initiative

461
00:39:55,839 --> 00:40:03,440
Trust Business Facade Improvement
Program for the maximum amount of 20,000

462
00:40:01,119 --> 00:40:06,960
to fund the 2026 Fort Nelson Business
Facade improvement program.

463
00:40:05,440 --> 00:40:12,720
» Thank you, councelor Anders. Do I have a
seconder?

464
00:40:09,440 --> 00:40:15,200
Councelor Souls.
>> Thank you.

465
00:40:13,119 --> 00:40:19,839
» Is there any further discussion or
questions?

466
00:40:16,960 --> 00:40:24,880
Seeing none, all in favor? Opposed?
Seeing none opposed, that carries.

467
00:40:22,320 --> 00:40:28,119
» Thank you.
Thanks, Hillary.

468
00:40:29,280 --> 00:40:37,599
» Okay, that now brings us to 8.2, two,
which is the travel and expense policy

469
00:40:34,880 --> 00:40:41,760
update.
>> Good evening, mayor and council. Uh, we

470
00:40:39,760 --> 00:40:45,280
have received some feedback that the PDM
rates within the municipality's travel

471
00:40:43,280 --> 00:40:49,920
and expense policy do not reflect
standard meal costs in most cities. As a

472
00:40:48,320 --> 00:40:54,560
result, council members and staff
frequently incur out-of- pocket expenses

473
00:40:51,760 --> 00:40:59,920
while traveling for municipal business.
Back in 20 2022, the council repealed

474
00:40:57,760 --> 00:41:04,000
former town and regional district bylaws
that address council remuneration and

475
00:41:02,560 --> 00:41:07,440
travel expense reimbursements while
evaluating the adoption of a separate

476
00:41:05,760 --> 00:41:12,240
travel expense policy to provide
rationale and consistent guidelines for

477
00:41:09,280 --> 00:41:15,680
council and staff travel expenses. As
part of this update, the travel and

478
00:41:13,599 --> 00:41:19,040
expense policy integrated the standard
CRA

479
00:41:17,200 --> 00:41:26,560
simplified tax filing guidelines,
providing a flat rate of $23 per meal up

480
00:41:21,520 --> 00:41:32,960
to a maximum of $69 per day per person.
The current $69 per day relies on on the

481
00:41:29,359 --> 00:41:36,880
CRA method like I mentioned. Um, but we
also looked into other places. So, for

482
00:41:35,280 --> 00:41:40,800
its own traveling workers, the federal
government uses the National Joint

483
00:41:38,480 --> 00:41:44,640
Council Travel Directive. Under this
directive, a federal public servant or

484
00:41:42,720 --> 00:41:51,280
CRA employee traveling in standard
Canadian provinces is allotted a modern

485
00:41:47,440 --> 00:41:55,040
market perdeium of $121 per day. We also
reviewed neighboring communities and it

486
00:41:53,599 --> 00:42:00,319
also showed a clear shift towards
adjusting pdiums upward. Cetwin rates

487
00:41:57,680 --> 00:42:04,960
vary between $85 and $100 per day.
Dawson Creek's rate is currently $75 per

488
00:42:03,359 --> 00:42:12,079
day, but it's under review to increase
to 110 per day. Port St. John is 110 and

489
00:42:08,960 --> 00:42:15,280
Terrace is $75 per day. Based on an
average of those public service

490
00:42:13,200 --> 00:42:19,839
organizations surveyed, a proposed daily
maximum of 105 could be a rate that both

491
00:42:17,839 --> 00:42:24,720
covers present-day restaurant costs
while sitting below the federal standard

492
00:42:21,520 --> 00:42:28,800
of 12125 and remaining closely aligned
with neighboring communities like Fort

493
00:42:26,160 --> 00:42:33,680
St. John and Dawson Creek. To ensure
clear administrative administration for

494
00:42:31,200 --> 00:42:40,240
partial travel days, the proposed 105
maximums could be prrated for breakfast

495
00:42:36,400 --> 00:42:44,560
of $25, lunch 30, and dinner 50.
Increasing the allowance from 69 to 105

496
00:42:42,720 --> 00:42:49,440
per day carries a direct incremental
cost increase of $36 per person per

497
00:42:47,280 --> 00:42:53,119
travel day. The municipal business
travel volume varies by annual meeting

498
00:42:51,359 --> 00:42:57,480
schedules. The overall impact will
fluctuate based on the actual travel.

499
00:42:58,079 --> 00:43:05,599
Thanks, Elaine.
Does council have any questions about

500
00:43:03,440 --> 00:43:10,079
the report? Council Anders,
>> I haven't been on a trip in a little

501
00:43:07,280 --> 00:43:14,880
while. How how often are meals provided
anymore? I know that when council went

502
00:43:12,720 --> 00:43:18,640
out, most of the functions had a lot of
meals provided. Not all of them, but

503
00:43:17,040 --> 00:43:22,720
there was a lot of them provided. Like
on on a five-day trip, you probably had

504
00:43:20,560 --> 00:43:25,359
three or four days worth of meals, like
lunch and dinner or breakfast and lunch

505
00:43:24,560 --> 00:43:26,480
covered.
>> Yeah.

506
00:43:25,599 --> 00:43:31,599
» Yeah.
that it still happens. it it still

507
00:43:28,560 --> 00:43:35,760
happens um that that meals are provided
but you don't always get opportunity

508
00:43:33,599 --> 00:43:40,400
like UBCM there'll be some meals that
although you know provided you don't get

509
00:43:37,680 --> 00:43:44,560
an opportunity to get to them right so
and there are others that uh that it

510
00:43:42,560 --> 00:43:49,680
happens you know three or three or four
but you know that's that's I suppose

511
00:43:46,160 --> 00:43:54,240
what the pro-rated uh opportunity is but
the overall I I you know I was one of

512
00:43:51,839 --> 00:43:59,440
the ones who who gave feedback here I
mean you know recently I was out and

513
00:43:57,359 --> 00:44:02,720
you know, where they have some of these
conferences, you have a meal at the

514
00:44:01,119 --> 00:44:07,839
hotel that you're staying at at this
conference and, you know, you'd be

515
00:44:04,560 --> 00:44:11,920
hardressed to to get dinner for $69.
So, it's uh you know, when I was in

516
00:44:10,079 --> 00:44:16,240
Taylor
four years ago, and the whole time I was

517
00:44:13,680 --> 00:44:21,920
in Taylor, it was $100 a day, you know,
and it was prrated for for any meals

518
00:44:18,800 --> 00:44:26,400
that that you were able to to attend.
So, uh, you know, I I just don't believe

519
00:44:24,240 --> 00:44:32,480
that that anybody should be out of
pocket for doing for doing this job. And

520
00:44:28,960 --> 00:44:36,720
and I probably travel more than anybody
does to these conferences that I go to.

521
00:44:35,040 --> 00:44:40,880
And if it's costing me money out of my
pocket, it's costing our staff money out

522
00:44:38,160 --> 00:44:46,560
of their pocket as well. And uh you know
I just I just believe that we should be

523
00:44:43,119 --> 00:44:49,359
looking at um you know being on par with
with some of the other I mean even the

524
00:44:48,000 --> 00:44:53,520
provincial government doesn't follow the
CRA rules or sorry the federal

525
00:44:51,280 --> 00:44:58,640
government right they're 121 as opposed
to the 69.

526
00:44:55,520 --> 00:45:03,280
So uh I'm a believer that uh that we
move this that we move this upwards. I'm

527
00:45:00,720 --> 00:45:07,680
I'm okay with the average uh that's
that's been recommended or that's been

528
00:45:05,280 --> 00:45:14,480
pointed out I guess by the by the staff.
So those are my thoughts on on on this

529
00:45:11,599 --> 00:45:20,000
Paul. Anybody else?
>> Okay.

530
00:45:15,599 --> 00:45:24,880
» Would it be too complicated to like say
say you're at a conference for a 3-day

531
00:45:22,160 --> 00:45:30,960
conference and lunch is provided for the
three days? Would it then be too

532
00:45:26,960 --> 00:45:35,760
complicated to remove that whatever it
works out to the lunches? I don't know

533
00:45:33,520 --> 00:45:39,520
what's the figure to remove that from
the daily allotment. Would that be

534
00:45:38,560 --> 00:45:43,839
because I
>> we already do that.

535
00:45:40,640 --> 00:45:48,160
» We already do that. So So then to um
counselor Andrew's point, if you're

536
00:45:46,400 --> 00:45:53,040
attending a conference where lunch is
provided, you're not going to be getting

537
00:45:50,160 --> 00:45:59,119
that twice, right? Yeah. Okay. Well,
that Yeah. Good.

538
00:45:57,280 --> 00:46:04,079
» I think it's time for the for this
discussion for sure. One of the things

539
00:46:01,119 --> 00:46:08,560
that I run into is that the same thing
where you're at a conference and you

540
00:46:05,680 --> 00:46:11,839
have a single meal in a day, but you
have to find your other ones. And in

541
00:46:10,079 --> 00:46:16,800
most cases,
um, those of us who live here and don't

542
00:46:14,240 --> 00:46:22,480
travel a lot don't know where the good
eating spots are or well, with me, I can

543
00:46:19,920 --> 00:46:26,720
walk as far as I need to find one, but
but you don't know the layout of the

544
00:46:24,720 --> 00:46:33,640
land. And that tends to actually cost
you more than you anticipate to start

545
00:46:29,359 --> 00:46:33,640
with, just finding a place to eat.

546
00:46:35,520 --> 00:46:40,960
» Thank you.
Any other comments?

547
00:46:41,119 --> 00:46:46,400
So there uh there's no there's no
recommendation I don't think that goes

548
00:46:44,079 --> 00:46:51,520
with this. Uh I think it becomes just a
matter of us making a recommendation to

549
00:46:48,480 --> 00:46:59,680
uh to increase the travel allowance uh
to the $105 or $106 whatever it was uh

550
00:46:56,800 --> 00:47:03,240
including what did we call it? Including
the um

551
00:47:03,359 --> 00:47:08,960
uh prrated
part of the policy. Is that that really

552
00:47:07,040 --> 00:47:14,960
what we're looking for?
Yeah. Yeah. Oh, yeah. So, I couldn't

553
00:47:11,599 --> 00:47:20,200
remember exactly what it was.
>> Anybody that would make that that would

554
00:47:16,880 --> 00:47:20,200
make that recommendation.

555
00:47:23,280 --> 00:47:32,000
» I will. Mayor Fraser.
>> Okay. Councelor Enax will move that we

556
00:47:28,160 --> 00:47:41,760
uh we increase the herdium rate to $105
a day including and incl uh ensuring

557
00:47:36,000 --> 00:47:45,319
that the prorated policy still applies.
Do I have a seconder?

558
00:47:46,800 --> 00:47:53,040
Councelor Souls seconds. Is there any
further discussion?

559
00:47:50,800 --> 00:47:56,400
Go ahead, councelor Anders. Um I I know
you mentioned that it fluctuates from

560
00:47:54,640 --> 00:47:59,839
year to year, but do we have an average
of how many how many times where you

561
00:47:58,400 --> 00:48:03,680
have someone traveling out? Like a
ballpark number.

562
00:48:02,000 --> 00:48:06,680
» I did reach out, but I didn't get a
number.

563
00:48:12,319 --> 00:48:17,200
» Yeah, we're talking what did we say? $39
a day.

564
00:48:16,640 --> 00:48:21,040
» 36
>> $36 a day per person that travels. And

565
00:48:19,760 --> 00:48:24,640
you know, our tribal budget is really
not that great. Not huge. Anyways, did

566
00:48:24,079 --> 00:48:28,800
you have something?
>> Uh, just a point of clarification. When

567
00:48:26,319 --> 00:48:31,800
would you like this amendment to be
effective?

568
00:48:34,559 --> 00:48:42,160
» I don't have a date. Any thoughts?
>> I had asked the question earlier as to

569
00:48:38,960 --> 00:48:46,640
um should this be something that happens
um January 1st because we've already

570
00:48:44,480 --> 00:48:52,319
voted on what the travel budget's going
to be. And Scott's response or m sorry

571
00:48:49,280 --> 00:48:59,359
Mr. Barry's response was um that it's
underutilized right now and he wouldn't

572
00:48:54,319 --> 00:49:03,680
anticipate that this change would um put
us over that budget by a great amount.

573
00:49:01,760 --> 00:49:07,680
» All right, let's let's pick let's let's
let's pick the inaugural the inaugural

574
00:49:06,160 --> 00:49:11,440
meeting for the new council. Let's make
this apply when the new council comes

575
00:49:09,760 --> 00:49:18,319
in. You guys all right with that? Is
everybody okay with that? Okay. So that

576
00:49:14,240 --> 00:49:21,319
will be uh in yeah November the 9th.
Okay.

577
00:49:21,440 --> 00:49:28,800
Okay. Any further discussion? Seeing
none, all in favor? Are there any

578
00:49:26,319 --> 00:49:35,680
opposed? Seeing none, that passes. Thank
you.

579
00:49:31,760 --> 00:49:41,359
Okay. Uh staff appointments.
Staff please.

580
00:49:38,000 --> 00:49:46,240
» Um so many of you will recall this uh
set of annual resolutions. We deferred

581
00:49:43,760 --> 00:49:51,599
this one because we had intended to
bring back some amendments earlier this

582
00:49:48,720 --> 00:49:56,800
year to the um delegation of authority
and officers bylaw, but we haven't had a

583
00:49:54,000 --> 00:50:00,960
chance to finalize that yet. And with
CEO Brewer joining us, we wanted to

584
00:49:58,800 --> 00:50:04,480
ensure there was no gaps and statutory
responsibilities as well as some other

585
00:50:02,720 --> 00:50:08,000
changes in the organization since the
last time this was adopted. So, it's

586
00:50:06,400 --> 00:50:15,400
here before you tonight, consistent with
our existing um bylaw and for your

587
00:50:11,599 --> 00:50:15,400
consideration and approval.

588
00:50:16,079 --> 00:50:21,680
» Any thoughts, questions? Pretty
straightforward. It's it's a standard

589
00:50:19,920 --> 00:50:24,559
thing we do. When people change, you've
got to do it. So, would somebody like to

590
00:50:23,040 --> 00:50:28,400
make that?
>> A motion that the statutory and other

591
00:50:26,480 --> 00:50:33,680
appointments and acting positions be
approved effective August 31st, 2026.

592
00:50:31,280 --> 00:50:39,440
» Thank you. Move. Moved by councelor
Andrews, second by Deputy Mayor G.

593
00:50:36,559 --> 00:50:45,480
» Is there any further discussion?
Seeing none, all in favor? Is there any

594
00:50:41,440 --> 00:50:45,480
opposed? That's carried.

595
00:50:45,760 --> 00:50:53,040
Okay, that brings us to 8.4, which is
the adoption of the IAFF mental health

596
00:50:50,640 --> 00:50:56,040
and wellness reserve fund bylaw number
247.

597
00:50:56,960 --> 00:51:02,480
» Somebody move for adoption. Councelor
Souls moves for adoption. Do I have a

598
00:51:00,559 --> 00:51:05,280
second or councelor Andrews? Uh we've
discussed this uh at the last meeting

599
00:51:04,079 --> 00:51:08,720
for second third reading. Is there
anybody who has any questions or

600
00:51:07,200 --> 00:51:15,400
clarification?
Seeing none, all in favor? Opposed?

601
00:51:10,960 --> 00:51:15,400
Seeing none opposed that carries.

602
00:51:17,200 --> 00:51:25,920
Okay, that brings us to correspondence
uh for discussion.

603
00:51:23,520 --> 00:51:30,800
There are two letters uh here for
discussion. one from uh Lesie Fox, the

604
00:51:29,119 --> 00:51:34,720
executive director of Furbears of the
Black Bear Kill in Fort Nelson, and the

605
00:51:32,480 --> 00:51:40,720
second from Ivonne Parkinson, director
of stewardship and planning, Northeast

606
00:51:36,559 --> 00:51:45,760
Reason, Ministry of Forest, uh regarding
our timber supply area. Could we move

607
00:51:43,200 --> 00:51:50,880
those for discussion, please? Moved by
councelor Andrew, second by Deputy Mayor

608
00:51:47,520 --> 00:51:59,520
Guring. All in favor? Post carried.
Okay. The first letter is from uh um

609
00:51:55,520 --> 00:52:05,119
the furbearers and it's uh
it's um a letter to us from them uh once

610
00:52:03,200 --> 00:52:11,920
they found out that there had been a a
bear which had been uh which had been

611
00:52:08,240 --> 00:52:15,839
killed by the cos in town for for their
reasons. uh they thought that they

612
00:52:14,400 --> 00:52:20,240
should send this letter and give us a
copy of a bylaw that would help to uh

613
00:52:18,720 --> 00:52:23,599
that would help to reduce that
potential. So is there anybody who has

614
00:52:22,319 --> 00:52:28,559
any thoughts with respect to this
letter?

615
00:52:25,680 --> 00:52:35,280
I mean we we already
we already are uh a wild we're part of

616
00:52:32,240 --> 00:52:41,839
the wild program. We already have our
wildlife attractant

617
00:52:37,520 --> 00:52:48,559
bylaw. Uh we've had many years of
discussions with both the wild Safe uh

618
00:52:45,119 --> 00:52:54,559
coordinator in town and the CEOs.
Uh we've been asking the CEOs more and

619
00:52:50,800 --> 00:52:59,280
more to take responsibility for uh
dealing with with with the bare problem

620
00:52:57,440 --> 00:53:06,480
when they are problems in our community
and they've been doing that. Uh I'm not

621
00:53:02,559 --> 00:53:11,839
asking them to justify the work that
they do. it's their job to to keep the

622
00:53:09,040 --> 00:53:14,960
community safe and unfortunately on
occasion you know they will make a

623
00:53:13,599 --> 00:53:23,599
decision that a bear needs to be
dispatched. Uh so therefore they are

624
00:53:18,160 --> 00:53:28,000
doing their job more and uh our bylaw my
my understanding is from talking to

625
00:53:25,280 --> 00:53:32,559
staff about the bylaw is that is being
enforced more that tickets have been

626
00:53:30,000 --> 00:53:39,680
written that fines have been both by the
co as well as uh our bylaw enforcement

627
00:53:36,720 --> 00:53:47,359
personnel. So, I'm not sure what else we
can do to respond to uh uh Miss Fox

628
00:53:45,200 --> 00:53:53,040
um the executive director of of the
Furbears. I think we're doing at least

629
00:53:50,880 --> 00:53:57,280
what they're asking us to do. Uh
councelor Souls.

630
00:53:54,800 --> 00:54:03,040
» Yeah. When I read this letter, I read it
as though there was an assumption behind

631
00:53:59,680 --> 00:54:06,800
the writing that we weren't up to speed
with a bylaw of our own and that we

632
00:54:05,280 --> 00:54:10,559
weren't possibly doing what we should
be. And I I would just say thanks for

633
00:54:08,559 --> 00:54:14,480
the letter and we're a step ahead of
you, but keep up the good work and

634
00:54:12,880 --> 00:54:21,040
goodbye.
>> Okay. I I I think maybe what what staff

635
00:54:19,200 --> 00:54:24,160
has put this for is is whether or not we
need to make a response to these folks

636
00:54:22,559 --> 00:54:28,960
and let them know that we do have those
things in place already. I'm that's

637
00:54:26,559 --> 00:54:34,400
that's all I can think of why it's here.
Staff, have you got any comments

638
00:54:31,839 --> 00:54:39,599
with respect to that? That was the
intent of putting it for discussion was

639
00:54:36,240 --> 00:54:45,280
just the assumptions that we got the
sense were included and whether council

640
00:54:41,920 --> 00:54:50,160
wanted to take a um a proactive approach
in our response just acknowledging what

641
00:54:47,040 --> 00:54:54,880
we do do prevent human wildlife conflict
in the community.

642
00:54:51,440 --> 00:54:58,960
» Thank you. Anybody else?
No, I think it would be good to um if

643
00:54:57,440 --> 00:55:03,280
somebody's going to take the time to
send us correspondence, I think that um

644
00:55:01,040 --> 00:55:09,359
they are deserving of a response back.
So, I would uh appreciate a response

645
00:55:06,880 --> 00:55:15,839
back to Miss Fox letting her know
everything that we do do and thank her

646
00:55:12,079 --> 00:55:22,079
for her interest in our community.
>> Is that a motion? Okay. Moved by uh

647
00:55:19,599 --> 00:55:28,000
Deputy Mayor Gwing that we respond to
the furbears. Do I have a seconder?

648
00:55:25,599 --> 00:55:32,880
Uh there's several seconders. So,
Council Andrews, thank you very much.

649
00:55:29,440 --> 00:55:37,680
All in favor? Opposed? Carried.
Good. Uh that brings us to uh the letter

650
00:55:36,079 --> 00:55:41,680
from Ivonne Parkinson, director of
stewardship and planning, Northeast

651
00:55:39,040 --> 00:55:45,839
Region, Ministry of Forests. So, this
letter uh indicates to us that the

652
00:55:44,160 --> 00:55:49,839
Minister of Forest will be doing a
review, the Ministry of Forest will be

653
00:55:48,000 --> 00:55:55,520
doing a review of our annual allowable
cut. And I'm uh I know that we have some

654
00:55:52,640 --> 00:56:03,040
staff members who who uh who take an
interest in in this and it's something

655
00:55:58,400 --> 00:56:08,720
we've been asking for. Uh it's an interm
so I'm not exactly sure what what that

656
00:56:05,119 --> 00:56:15,960
means but uh perhaps our director of
planning can uh can give us her thoughts

657
00:56:11,599 --> 00:56:15,960
on this please.

658
00:56:18,000 --> 00:56:21,000
» Okay.

659
00:56:21,440 --> 00:56:29,520
So exciting, isn't it?
So, yeah, it's an interim TSR. So, we've

660
00:56:27,200 --> 00:56:34,880
we've been asking since about 2024,
since the significant wildfire activity

661
00:56:31,440 --> 00:56:40,640
started in 2023 about how the ministry
reacts to um significant changes in uh

662
00:56:38,319 --> 00:56:46,000
forest conditions. So, we've been we
have documented emails back and forth.

663
00:56:42,880 --> 00:56:49,680
Um, at one point the ministry felt that
due to the lack of activity in the area

664
00:56:48,160 --> 00:56:54,000
that wasn't really worth their time and
effort to do it. So it sounds like the

665
00:56:51,359 --> 00:56:58,400
chief forers office based on information
from the um forest inventory and

666
00:56:56,480 --> 00:57:03,119
analysis branch have decided to go ahead
and do one. Interim is essentially they

667
00:57:01,119 --> 00:57:07,359
aren't going to do a full TSR. So during
a normal timber supply review, they'll

668
00:57:05,200 --> 00:57:13,280
look at a multiple like multiple factors
that influence an AAC determination. Um,

669
00:57:11,040 --> 00:57:17,280
so things like what's already been
harvested and operability and there's a

670
00:57:15,920 --> 00:57:22,079
number of things that they'll look at.
Um, usually it comes with an updated

671
00:57:19,200 --> 00:57:26,079
inventory. Um, in this case they're just
going to go with what they have

672
00:57:23,680 --> 00:57:30,480
essentially. Um, look at what's been
damaged as far as timber and what's been

673
00:57:28,319 --> 00:57:34,799
lost through uh, land use planning
processes like the boreal caribou

674
00:57:32,240 --> 00:57:42,079
recovery plan. Um, and then come up with
an interim AAC to reflect the current

675
00:57:38,480 --> 00:57:47,920
conditions. So, um, yeah, it's
interesting in that, um, there's pros

676
00:57:45,119 --> 00:57:51,599
and cons to doing an interim AAC
determination. So, one of them obviously

677
00:57:49,920 --> 00:57:57,200
is that messaging that we're sending to
potential forest investment companies.

678
00:57:53,920 --> 00:58:00,880
So, with a lower likely lower AAC, it
does signal that, you know, maybe we

679
00:57:59,040 --> 00:58:04,480
don't have as much as as what we'd like
to have sort of thing. So, right now

680
00:58:02,240 --> 00:58:08,960
we're sitting at about 2.5 million cubic
meters. um if that's lowered then it's

681
00:58:07,280 --> 00:58:14,319
less to go around or less for a
potential investment. But the offset to

682
00:58:11,280 --> 00:58:18,400
that is that you don't want to convey
something that we don't have. So in my

683
00:58:16,799 --> 00:58:23,839
mind when I look at this it's not so
much you know whether or not doing an

684
00:58:20,240 --> 00:58:28,720
interim AC determination is good or bad.
It's more the questions that I think we

685
00:58:25,760 --> 00:58:34,160
should be asking around outstanding uh
issues around the boreal caribou and

686
00:58:31,280 --> 00:58:39,119
recovery protection and recovery plan.
So if you recall, wildlife habitat areas

687
00:58:36,559 --> 00:58:44,000
were established uh for type one and
type two management areas within that

688
00:58:41,440 --> 00:58:48,400
plan. And those wildlife habitat areas
were intended to be interim until the

689
00:58:46,480 --> 00:58:54,400
planning process had been completed for
the bordo caribou plan. There's still

690
00:58:51,200 --> 00:58:58,799
type three and type four areas um in
that plan that will have restrictions on

691
00:58:56,799 --> 00:59:02,400
the land base as well that have not been
defined. Um they have been spatially,

692
00:59:01,119 --> 00:59:06,240
but there's been no management
objectives. um assigned to those type

693
00:59:04,559 --> 00:59:12,960
three and four. So I would say that's
one question we should probably ask. Um

694
00:59:10,640 --> 00:59:17,119
reading this information, I'm not sure
exactly how this is going to affect our

695
00:59:14,799 --> 00:59:22,400
community forest and whether their AAC
will be affected. So there was a

696
00:59:19,680 --> 00:59:25,920
separate AAC determination done for the
community forest. So I'm assuming it's

697
00:59:24,319 --> 00:59:31,119
not going to be affected, but we don't
know. So I think that's another

698
00:59:28,000 --> 00:59:36,799
question. um as well as what's the plan
for a full timber supply review. So the

699
00:59:34,559 --> 00:59:42,160
last one was completed in 2019 and
they're supposed to be done every 10

700
00:59:38,160 --> 00:59:46,319
years um which would put us about 2029
for a new timber supply review. So I

701
00:59:44,640 --> 00:59:51,280
don't know what the impact of this
interimm one would be keeping in mind

702
00:59:48,960 --> 00:59:58,400
that our community forest also requires
an updated AAC determination in July of

703
00:59:54,559 --> 01:00:03,520
2029 as well. There's no mention of when
um an updated uh forest inventory would

704
01:00:01,119 --> 01:00:06,640
be undertaken which is integral to a
full timber supply review and it's

705
01:00:05,280 --> 01:00:12,240
something that our community forest will
need to do as well before a new AAC

706
01:00:09,680 --> 01:00:17,119
determination is done. So there's a few
questions I think you know more

707
01:00:14,400 --> 01:00:23,920
important than whether or not a interim
TSR should be done essentially. So

708
01:00:20,319 --> 01:00:27,760
» but it but at least it will will will
start us down the path of certainty

709
01:00:26,400 --> 01:00:32,000
right with respect to what's out there
right now and and that's important for

710
01:00:29,599 --> 01:00:34,319
us and the nations with respect to
trying to kickstart the forest industry

711
01:00:33,760 --> 01:00:37,839
here.
>> Definitely. So the point that you make

712
01:00:36,319 --> 01:00:41,200
about
about

713
01:00:39,440 --> 01:00:44,880
u getting the word out to potential
investors that there is this much

714
01:00:43,280 --> 01:00:49,280
available
in term

715
01:00:46,799 --> 01:00:52,720
and there's this much that could still
be planted and harvested. Right? It

716
01:00:51,119 --> 01:00:58,240
that's hasn't gone away,
>> right? It's just what's what's what can

717
01:00:54,960 --> 01:01:02,079
be cut now and what what is the
potential out there? We can still sell

718
01:01:00,000 --> 01:01:07,440
the potential. even though these these
areas have been burned, they still have

719
01:01:04,079 --> 01:01:12,799
potential to be replanted and and grown.
So, all of that is is uh is important

720
01:01:11,280 --> 01:01:17,680
and maybe they do that as part of the
full review, but but those are at least

721
01:01:15,520 --> 01:01:19,920
two things that that we that we should
get some information on that we don't

722
01:01:19,200 --> 01:01:23,920
have right now.
>> Yeah, I think and that's where I think

723
01:01:22,000 --> 01:01:28,240
the questions are more important than
actually whether or not the interim AAC

724
01:01:26,559 --> 01:01:30,720
should be done or not. Like it's pretty
obvious it should be. We need a

725
01:01:29,599 --> 01:01:33,920
realistic
>> picture of what we have available for

726
01:01:32,559 --> 01:01:38,480
potential investment.
>> We don't want to entice people to come

727
01:01:35,440 --> 01:01:42,480
to a a TSA where there's really not the
volume that we're advertising. So, it's

728
01:01:40,960 --> 01:01:46,559
more about those questions about the
effects on other things, particular the

729
01:01:44,319 --> 01:01:51,599
community forest, when that updated
inventory is going to be done, when the

730
01:01:48,160 --> 01:01:55,599
next TSR, full TSR is going to be done.
Um, as well as what's happening with the

731
01:01:53,680 --> 01:01:59,280
implementation of the Boreo Caribou Plan
and those type three and four management

732
01:01:57,760 --> 01:02:02,400
types.
Okay. So, you've recorded these

733
01:02:00,640 --> 01:02:06,640
questions so that when we talk to the
Minister of Force next Friday.

734
01:02:04,640 --> 01:02:11,040
» Perfect. Okay. Because I won't remember
them from now. So, if you've got them

735
01:02:09,200 --> 01:02:13,440
written down, that'd be awesome.
>> We expect to have your packages to you

736
01:02:12,720 --> 01:02:18,240
by Friday.
>> Oh, perfect. Yeah.

737
01:02:14,640 --> 01:02:19,280
» Yeah. We'll make sure that there's high
level.

738
01:02:18,880 --> 01:02:21,520
» Good.
>> Not quite so detailed, but you all get

739
01:02:20,880 --> 01:02:24,720
it. So,
>> well, you know, I do want to ask about

740
01:02:23,520 --> 01:02:28,880
the three and four and how they're going
to affect this review. I do want to ask

741
01:02:27,119 --> 01:02:31,920
the question about the the community
forest. That makes great sense. So yeah.

742
01:02:31,520 --> 01:02:34,880
Okay.
>> Yeah. And I think in your notes right

743
01:02:33,359 --> 01:02:39,920
now we just mentioned it because I think
it's important um this as well as uh we

744
01:02:37,680 --> 01:02:44,319
shared a news article that was recent or
a news release that was recently posted

745
01:02:41,680 --> 01:02:49,280
by the BC government about the reszone
forest management process. We've

746
01:02:47,280 --> 01:02:53,280
included that in the UBCM notes just to
mention it as it just signals to the

747
01:02:51,680 --> 01:02:57,440
minister that you're paying attention to
what's happening in the in the TSA as

748
01:02:55,920 --> 01:03:01,200
far as forestry. But we'll ensure that
there's a little bit more detail around

749
01:02:59,119 --> 01:03:04,799
this piece in your speaking notes for
the minister of forest.

750
01:03:02,640 --> 01:03:09,760
» Good. Thank you.
>> Is anybody else? Oh, uh, councelor

751
01:03:06,559 --> 01:03:14,799
Souls, please. I appreciate Lisa what
you just mentioned about the background

752
01:03:11,760 --> 01:03:22,400
of the the unknown parts of the the the
elephants in the room are are like the

753
01:03:17,200 --> 01:03:27,200
elephant of the uh Cascade DA uh Casca
agreement with BC government that we're

754
01:03:24,720 --> 01:03:32,880
working through along with them and the
other two land use plans that we're not

755
01:03:30,000 --> 01:03:36,720
part party to that actually overlap the
same area that we live in and I think

756
01:03:34,240 --> 01:03:40,559
that those elephants are in the room in
one sense but not necessarily in a

757
01:03:38,720 --> 01:03:46,880
negative way. It's just that we're not
party to what is being said. So, I am

758
01:03:43,359 --> 01:03:52,240
positive that that would could might
affect uh uh timber supply review in

759
01:03:49,760 --> 01:03:56,400
this area. So, in an interm one,
especially given that we've been asking

760
01:03:54,079 --> 01:04:01,520
for one, I'm totally in favor with that.
I think it's a good idea to get started

761
01:03:58,960 --> 01:04:06,000
down the road. But as Lisa mentioned,
make them know that we're aware that we

762
01:04:03,839 --> 01:04:10,559
need to be asking questions about the
land use planning in the region as we

763
01:04:07,760 --> 01:04:14,480
go.
>> And if I could just note um in the

764
01:04:12,400 --> 01:04:17,760
letter it does I mean they do offer to
meet with us as well or if we have any

765
01:04:16,400 --> 01:04:23,039
questions to reach out. It doesn't
necessarily just have to be a UBCM

766
01:04:19,920 --> 01:04:28,559
conversation. So um if council wishes I
can reach back out to Ivonne and ask

767
01:04:26,160 --> 01:04:30,880
some questions as well. Yeah, I think
certainly that's something because

768
01:04:29,520 --> 01:04:34,400
that's at the staff level that that
offer was made, right? So, I think that

769
01:04:32,480 --> 01:04:37,200
we should follow up with that for sure.
We got 15 minutes with the minister,

770
01:04:35,920 --> 01:04:40,240
right? You're lucky if you're able to
get a meeting later with the minister

771
01:04:39,119 --> 01:04:41,200
for
>> Yeah.

772
01:04:40,640 --> 01:04:43,920
» Yeah.
>> So, but the a meeting with the staff

773
01:04:42,880 --> 01:04:45,280
would be great.
>> Yeah. Good.

774
01:04:44,720 --> 01:04:46,640
» Thanks.
>> Comment.

775
01:04:45,680 --> 01:04:51,359
» Oh, please.
>> U Jayen, you mentioned that the um

776
01:04:49,119 --> 01:04:55,680
packages are coming out for UBCM. Can
all of us get a copy of that, please?

777
01:04:53,599 --> 01:04:59,440
Thanks.
>> One question on that as I know at one

778
01:04:57,280 --> 01:05:04,640
point we tried to we were marketing our
undercut and the last timber supply

779
01:05:01,440 --> 01:05:08,079
review we took got rid of that undercut.
Would that's happened with an interimm

780
01:05:06,400 --> 01:05:11,359
report as well? Like I don't know if
we're trying to market any of our

781
01:05:09,280 --> 01:05:14,960
undercut, but would that wipe out
effectively any undercut doing an

782
01:05:12,880 --> 01:05:19,280
interimm review?
>> So yeah, they talk about that in the

783
01:05:17,119 --> 01:05:22,160
letter. So essentially it's going to be
um without in the absence of an

784
01:05:21,039 --> 01:05:27,599
inventory, I don't think they're going
to include undercut. It sounds like they

785
01:05:24,880 --> 01:05:32,319
won't be. Um it'll really just be
impacts from so taking the current AAC

786
01:05:29,920 --> 01:05:37,119
determination and minusing what they
feel we've lost in like through land use

787
01:05:35,039 --> 01:05:43,280
planning particularly the boreo caribou
plan as well as fire wildfire.

788
01:05:41,520 --> 01:05:48,559
So yeah I don't think they'll
reintroduce the idea around um undercut.

789
01:05:47,039 --> 01:05:56,480
It was already accounted for and like
you said in the in the existing TSR. So

790
01:05:53,839 --> 01:06:00,720
I think the uh we talked about this a
little bit earlier, the the map that we

791
01:05:58,160 --> 01:06:07,359
have that shows the the overlay of the
of uh the fires and the boreal caribou

792
01:06:04,880 --> 01:06:10,880
and all the land planning that's been
going on is is impactful. And so we'll

793
01:06:09,440 --> 01:06:15,920
we'll take some of those down there with
us. Lisa's already made a note to uh to

794
01:06:14,240 --> 01:06:21,200
make some copies so that we've we've got
that and we hand it out to whoever it

795
01:06:18,400 --> 01:06:24,960
makes sense to hand it out to.
>> Okay. Thanks.

796
01:06:22,480 --> 01:06:32,160
» Thank you.
Okay. I don't That's that. So, there are

797
01:06:30,319 --> 01:06:36,319
six pieces of correspondence for
information. Moved by councelor or

798
01:06:34,400 --> 01:06:40,799
sorry, deputy mayor Ging to receive
those. Do I have a seconder? Councelor

799
01:06:38,799 --> 01:06:45,920
Andrews. Thank you. All in favor? Are
there any opposed? Seeing none, those

800
01:06:42,960 --> 01:06:50,799
are all
adopted. Uh, new business. Uh so the new

801
01:06:49,599 --> 01:06:54,079
business I have here is for
communication of the primary care

802
01:06:52,160 --> 01:06:59,359
committee.
>> So

803
01:06:56,319 --> 01:07:05,039
uh there was a report at the uh
committee of the whole meeting talking

804
01:07:01,280 --> 01:07:09,359
about the communication plan for the
general public

805
01:07:07,119 --> 01:07:14,160
moving forward as we go through this
primary care process that we're going

806
01:07:11,119 --> 01:07:20,799
through. We're still basically in a
research phase. Uh we've we've had a

807
01:07:17,680 --> 01:07:26,559
committee uh of of residents who came
together and did a lot of work, a lot of

808
01:07:23,280 --> 01:07:32,640
work. And they made a recommendation to
the council which the council accepted

809
01:07:29,920 --> 01:07:41,119
u to do more research to create a
business plan and ultimately a

810
01:07:36,559 --> 01:07:47,440
uh I guess we're calling it phase two um
um of the primary care committee. We

811
01:07:44,240 --> 01:07:51,920
have an executive committee and we have
now what's called the steering committee

812
01:07:49,280 --> 01:07:55,359
which is
five of the seven. Correct me if I'm

813
01:07:53,599 --> 01:07:59,039
wrong. Is it five of the seven or seven
of the nine? I can't recall. There was

814
01:07:57,359 --> 01:08:03,119
two that that didn't want to come. Two
that that that can but the rest of the

815
01:08:01,039 --> 01:08:08,240
committee is still interested in
understanding what's happening and and

816
01:08:05,359 --> 01:08:12,079
giving us feedback as we as we work
through the research on uh on what

817
01:08:10,160 --> 01:08:18,080
primary care might look like in our
community. So, the report that came to

818
01:08:14,880 --> 01:08:22,239
us uh was an update on where we are now,
as well as asking uh for this

819
01:08:20,719 --> 01:08:26,080
communication
um

820
01:08:23,759 --> 01:08:29,279
uh plan to bring the community up to
speed on what we're doing because

821
01:08:27,199 --> 01:08:34,080
there's rumors flying around in the
community about primary care and and

822
01:08:31,839 --> 01:08:36,880
what's happening with it. And so, you
know, there are some things that we

823
01:08:35,279 --> 01:08:41,199
don't want to release yet. There's some
things that are involved in negotiation,

824
01:08:38,319 --> 01:08:45,440
but where we can, where staff feels that
there's information to be released to

825
01:08:43,440 --> 01:08:50,239
the public, it's appropriate to release
to the public. Um, they would like they

826
01:08:48,560 --> 01:08:55,920
would like us to do that at these
meetings that uh that the executive

827
01:08:53,520 --> 01:09:01,440
committee is having and the steering
committee are having. So, I would like

828
01:08:59,279 --> 01:09:06,960
uh
so maybe I'll back up a little bit more.

829
01:09:03,679 --> 01:09:11,759
the uh some of this information needs to
go to the public in a fairly timely way

830
01:09:10,000 --> 01:09:16,560
and there may not be an opportunity to
bring the whole council together to

831
01:09:13,279 --> 01:09:22,719
review each communication that staff
puts in front of us. So I would ask that

832
01:09:19,520 --> 01:09:28,080
uh the executive committee which is some
of the senior staff myself and deputy

833
01:09:25,120 --> 01:09:35,120
mayor Guring review any communicates
that staff are interested um in putting

834
01:09:31,600 --> 01:09:38,799
to the public. Uh and then we would we
would look it over and because we're we

835
01:09:36,960 --> 01:09:44,239
we're meeting weekly as opposed to every
two weeks. So it' be a little more

836
01:09:40,080 --> 01:09:49,040
timely. And then once the communicate is
um is reviewed by the executive

837
01:09:46,480 --> 01:09:52,319
committee and authorized by the
executive committee, we would then

838
01:09:50,400 --> 01:09:57,040
release it on our platforms as well as
give it to the steering committee who

839
01:09:55,120 --> 01:10:00,080
who can disseminate it to all of the
folks that they deal with because

840
01:09:58,239 --> 01:10:04,800
they've been doing a you know a great
job um talking to people in the

841
01:10:02,800 --> 01:10:09,440
community about what this what this is
all about as we do our research. So uh

842
01:10:07,600 --> 01:10:13,920
if there's any questions I will endeavor
to answer them.

843
01:10:11,760 --> 01:10:17,840
We we talked about that's a summary of
what we talked about essentially at the

844
01:10:15,840 --> 01:10:22,080
uh at the committee of the whole
meeting.

845
01:10:19,679 --> 01:10:28,719
So I would be looking for a resolution
from council that authorizes the primary

846
01:10:25,199 --> 01:10:34,960
care executive committee to review and
authorize public communication.

847
01:10:33,280 --> 01:10:40,800
» So move.
>> Thank you. So that's moved by councelor

848
01:10:37,840 --> 01:10:45,679
Andrews and seconded by councelor Souls.
Is there any further discussion? Oh, I

849
01:10:43,760 --> 01:10:51,840
guess just for the public that may watch
this, the information that we're giving

850
01:10:48,320 --> 01:10:56,480
is is not the plan. It's just the things
that we are doing. Once a decision is

851
01:10:54,800 --> 01:11:03,120
close to being made, there will be a
complete uh public process,

852
01:11:00,400 --> 01:11:10,719
a community engagement process to ensure
that people are fully informed uh in in

853
01:11:06,400 --> 01:11:15,760
in what the future plan for uh primary
care in this community will be.

854
01:11:13,520 --> 01:11:20,400
Okay, there's nothing else. Uh all in
favor, are there any opposed?

855
01:11:18,480 --> 01:11:23,400
Seeing none opposed, that passes. Thank
you.

856
01:11:24,080 --> 01:11:31,600
Okay, that brings us to councelor
reports. Deputy mayor Gwing, please.

857
01:11:29,440 --> 01:11:37,040
» Yeah. And just so that you know Brenda
has a report, but she can't her hands

858
01:11:35,360 --> 01:11:41,880
» her hands not coming up.
>> Her hand is missing and I need a

859
01:11:38,880 --> 01:11:41,880
teenager.

860
01:11:43,199 --> 01:11:46,719
» Okay.
>> Okay.

861
01:11:44,480 --> 01:11:52,800
» So, uh, Deputy Mayor Ging first and
then, uh, and then councelor Enax.

862
01:11:50,400 --> 01:11:57,520
» Okay. Um going to back up a little bit.
So August the 11th, I met with Jennifer

863
01:11:55,199 --> 01:12:03,440
Moore, who's the chair of Northern
Lights College Board. Um we had a great

864
01:12:00,080 --> 01:12:07,920
discussion. She was wanting to um talk
to me about how the college might

865
01:12:05,440 --> 01:12:14,159
increase their presence within Fort
Nelson. Um given that they don't have a

866
01:12:11,199 --> 01:12:19,520
whole lot of money. But yeah, so I we
had a probably an hourong meeting and

867
01:12:17,600 --> 01:12:24,880
yeah,
August 14th, I attended the opening of

868
01:12:22,159 --> 01:12:30,880
Red Apple along with the mayor and I was
so impressed with the lineup awaiting

869
01:12:28,000 --> 01:12:36,159
the 900 a.m. opening. It was down around
the building. Um they were offering a

870
01:12:33,520 --> 01:12:41,840
$10 gift card and a free laundry basket
to the first I forget how many C first

871
01:12:39,600 --> 01:12:45,440
100 customers through the door. So then
the mayor and I were chatting. We

872
01:12:43,280 --> 01:12:50,960
thought maybe we need to give away gift
cards or free swim passes for anybody

873
01:12:47,760 --> 01:12:52,560
that attends the budget openings, right?
So

874
01:12:51,280 --> 01:12:56,400
» we need to bottle what they did.
>> We need to do that because man, them

875
01:12:54,480 --> 01:13:00,880
people, they were crazy.
>> No, I didn't think of that.

876
01:12:58,480 --> 01:13:06,080
» I didn't either. I gave my gift card to
somebody. Um August 19th, I attended the

877
01:13:04,080 --> 01:13:11,360
BC Rural Health Network executive
meeting followed by the implementation

878
01:13:08,320 --> 01:13:17,280
meeting on August the 20th. And on um
August 25, I participated in the

879
01:13:14,080 --> 01:13:22,560
election candidate information session,
followed by having dinner with the Wild

880
01:13:19,600 --> 01:13:27,040
Wolves motorcycle charity, who along
with the mayor, Scott Barry, and

881
01:13:24,239 --> 01:13:32,480
councelor Enex. And just a reminder that
the Wild Wolves are planning a 100 plus

882
01:13:30,080 --> 01:13:37,040
rider event through the Northern Rockies
next summer and they're headed north to

883
01:13:34,800 --> 01:13:41,520
deliver food and other essentials to
communities in need. And le last lastly,

884
01:13:39,840 --> 01:13:47,040
I just want to thank everyone for their
patience uh for the past couple of weeks

885
01:13:44,080 --> 01:13:52,320
as I've been navigating some family
illnesses um necessitating my absence

886
01:13:49,520 --> 01:13:58,000
from the community and my very delayed
responses to many emails. I'm very

887
01:13:55,280 --> 01:14:03,440
sorry, but I'm back on it now. So, I
appreciate everybody's support during

888
01:13:59,760 --> 01:14:07,280
this time. Thank you.
>> Okay, council. Thank you for that. How

889
01:14:05,760 --> 01:14:11,199
many days?
>> Yay. Council

890
01:14:09,679 --> 01:14:13,600
Reax, would you like to give your report
please? You should include that in your

891
01:14:12,960 --> 01:14:20,800
report.
>> So August 20th, I attended the special

892
01:14:15,920 --> 01:14:26,400
council meeting and August 22nd and 23rd
um along with the Northern Rockies

893
01:14:22,480 --> 01:14:33,679
Tourism Event Society. We helped execute
the first Northern Lights Flaming Grill

894
01:14:28,880 --> 01:14:37,840
Fest which astounded all of us. Um I
hope all of you were able to take take

895
01:14:35,600 --> 01:14:44,800
in part of it. We just need need to
thank the NRM for Art Fraser Park. Um

896
01:14:41,760 --> 01:14:50,400
the tents and the showmobile and a big
shout out to Morgan Hansen.

897
01:14:47,520 --> 01:14:56,080
Any event that we have um that he's
involved with. As soon as he's on shift,

898
01:14:53,040 --> 01:15:00,159
we have nothing to worry about. So,
thanks to Morgan for all his help

899
01:14:58,080 --> 01:15:04,640
throughout that entire weekend. Um,
August 25th,

900
01:15:02,320 --> 01:15:09,920
I I attended, like Lorine, um, Councelor
Ging had said, with Mayor Mayor Fraser

901
01:15:07,360 --> 01:15:15,360
and CEO Barry, the meeting with the Wild
Wolves motorcycle um, club. Looking

902
01:15:12,640 --> 01:15:18,800
forward to that.
There 100 plus crew coming through here

903
01:15:17,520 --> 01:15:25,120
next summer. It would be pretty
exciting. And SE September 2nd, I had a

904
01:15:22,560 --> 01:15:28,640
meeting with Russell.
And I'm not one to sit indoors,

905
01:15:26,880 --> 01:15:35,600
especially on a beautiful day. So, I
asked him if he wanted to go on a road

906
01:15:30,960 --> 01:15:41,120
trip and he graciously said yes. Um, I
didn't lose him. We drove out across the

907
01:15:39,040 --> 01:15:46,800
river. Um, some great friends out at
FNFN. Um, we started out at the health

908
01:15:44,400 --> 01:15:52,640
and wellness center and had a tour of
that. Took him into the beautiful arbor

909
01:15:49,199 --> 01:15:56,960
that Shel had unlocked for us. Um, from
there we went over to the administration

910
01:15:54,239 --> 01:16:02,719
building, had a tour in there. Uh Bonnie
Gardner hopped in with us. We took a

911
01:15:59,840 --> 01:16:07,520
tour over to the mill site and were able
to see the beautiful cabin that was

912
01:16:05,120 --> 01:16:12,080
built that they're going to um hopefully
sell and continue to build and sell. And

913
01:16:10,239 --> 01:16:16,480
we ended up at the Chalow School with a
bunch of excited teachers and staff

914
01:16:14,480 --> 01:16:21,520
getting ready for the the new school
year. And our 1-hour meeting turned into

915
01:16:19,520 --> 01:16:25,520
two. And it would have been longer had
it not rained because I really wanted to

916
01:16:23,600 --> 01:16:31,600
go down to the old fort. that that last
corner is a doozy. So, we didn't do

917
01:16:28,640 --> 01:16:37,600
that. And September 3rd, I attended the
Heritage Society meeting at the museum.

918
01:16:36,000 --> 01:16:42,800
» And that and now I'm currently out of
town, but I should be back tomorrow.

919
01:16:40,800 --> 01:16:48,960
» Good.
Okay. So, since the 10th of August, uh I

920
01:16:47,040 --> 01:16:54,239
did all that. We did the ribbon cutting
ceremony and uh you've heard how how

921
01:16:51,199 --> 01:16:57,760
that went. It went well. I attended a
barbecue with the RCMP, which a couple

922
01:16:56,239 --> 01:17:02,719
of you have forgot you guys were there
as well, uh where we were able to uh

923
01:17:00,640 --> 01:17:09,040
meet with the new executive out of
Prince George for uh for the area as

924
01:17:05,520 --> 01:17:13,520
well as some of the new officers. Uh so
that was good uh to get to know their

925
01:17:11,120 --> 01:17:19,040
names and uh sort of some of their their
plans for the area. Um, I've been

926
01:17:16,480 --> 01:17:24,719
attending the mayor's fire updates that
the uh that the province has been

927
01:17:22,320 --> 01:17:28,640
putting on every second weddednesday.
I've been attending those. Of course,

928
01:17:26,239 --> 01:17:33,679
it's we've been in pretty good shape
here um with respect to this year's fire

929
01:17:32,159 --> 01:17:39,920
season where others in the Lower
Mainland uh have not. So, uh very

930
01:17:37,760 --> 01:17:45,199
interested in in listening to uh to
those updates. Uh we had a community

931
01:17:43,360 --> 01:17:51,199
fire smart resiliency committee meeting
on the 20th that I attended. I did

932
01:17:47,440 --> 01:17:56,719
rifest and I also agree that it was it
went over very very well. In fact they

933
01:17:52,960 --> 01:18:01,679
ran out of food. So you know so that's
that it bad that they ran out of food

934
01:17:58,719 --> 01:18:06,000
but good because it was very successful
uh for them. So uh next year they'll

935
01:18:04,400 --> 01:18:10,880
have a little bit better idea what to
expect and and hopefully this will

936
01:18:07,679 --> 01:18:16,480
become an an annual event.
um Chamber of Commerce, I uh sat with

937
01:18:13,199 --> 01:18:21,760
them on the 27th to uh update them on
some of the things that we are doing.

938
01:18:19,440 --> 01:18:26,280
Um
Russell's first day was the 31st.

939
01:18:27,760 --> 01:18:34,239
There's something else here that I
missed that I don't have it on here. Oh,

940
01:18:31,360 --> 01:18:41,440
I wanted to say that um MP Bob Zimmer
made a a burn and turn yesterday. Came

941
01:18:38,320 --> 01:18:46,320
to the community. So, uh, yeah. So, I
met with him in the office upstairs

942
01:18:43,520 --> 01:18:50,239
yesterday. I talked to him about
kickstarted the re kickstarted the

943
01:18:48,080 --> 01:18:55,280
forest industry and what we're trying to
achieve there. I talked to him about

944
01:18:52,080 --> 01:19:01,440
rail. Uh, I talked to him particularly
the the information that I got from

945
01:18:57,840 --> 01:19:07,120
Penware. Uh, I showed him the video that
was from the um

946
01:19:04,320 --> 01:19:10,719
from he's not a senator. He's a house.
What's the other house in the states? Uh

947
01:19:09,199 --> 01:19:18,960
what do they call them? Representative
House representative uh u from

948
01:19:14,480 --> 01:19:23,440
Washington gave a an overview of of the
relationship that Canada has with

949
01:19:20,800 --> 01:19:27,840
Alaska, particularly Western Canada, and
their need for transportation. Uh

950
01:19:25,600 --> 01:19:33,199
they're pushing hard for for rail
service. And if we don't get BC

951
01:19:30,800 --> 01:19:39,760
interested in rail again, at least by
having some kind of a some kind of a

952
01:19:37,840 --> 01:19:44,480
regulatory body or something that's
driven by this by this province with

953
01:19:41,920 --> 01:19:50,320
rail, we are going to miss out on on the
major opportunity that that this might

954
01:19:46,800 --> 01:19:54,480
uh that this might present itself. Uh we
also talked about the immigration uh

955
01:19:52,640 --> 01:19:59,600
pilot that we have and why it's
important and if he can do anything in

956
01:19:56,159 --> 01:20:05,920
Ottawa to make sure that that sort of
program continues if not expands because

957
01:20:04,320 --> 01:20:11,840
you know all of the problems they have
with with immigration fraud uh in the

958
01:20:09,520 --> 01:20:18,080
bigger cities is really eliminated when
you get local governments involved who

959
01:20:13,920 --> 01:20:21,360
have the ability to vet the employers.
um

960
01:20:19,600 --> 01:20:25,600
deal with the applications that are
coming through and these are the people

961
01:20:23,679 --> 01:20:31,440
who you know make our beds when we're in
the host in the in the hotels and serve

962
01:20:28,239 --> 01:20:35,840
us our coffee and our drinks and our
meals at different so we have a we've

963
01:20:33,760 --> 01:20:39,199
built trust with them and you know if
there's funny business they're going to

964
01:20:36,960 --> 01:20:44,159
let us know so that we can pass it on to
the right people and and so from an

965
01:20:41,040 --> 01:20:48,800
immigration perspective allowing a
system like this uh in small rural

966
01:20:47,199 --> 01:20:52,320
communities ities, whether or not you've
got to collect them together like we're

967
01:20:50,239 --> 01:20:57,280
doing now or you give it to the to the
small communities

968
01:20:54,159 --> 01:21:03,280
um is just another it's not a it's not a
way around the immigration process. It's

969
01:21:00,080 --> 01:21:09,920
another opportunity that people have to
to um to become residents in in Canada.

970
01:21:07,520 --> 01:21:14,719
So, it's working well for us. We got a
we've got a we got a review or sorry, I

971
01:21:12,800 --> 01:21:20,719
a report a little while ago on on how
well it's working. So I just wanted to

972
01:21:16,560 --> 01:21:25,280
impress upon him that uh that that it's
working for us. So and then he was off

973
01:21:23,199 --> 01:21:30,880
to his next meeting and and then he was
going home the same day. So

974
01:21:27,920 --> 01:21:38,000
okay, that's my report.
Okay. And next week it is UBCM which

975
01:21:33,600 --> 01:21:43,679
came up on us so so fast. So fast. Uh we
have many meetings with ministers and

976
01:21:41,040 --> 01:21:47,920
and staff. Our staff are meeting with
provincial staff this week uh so that

977
01:21:46,400 --> 01:21:55,120
the staff will be available for meetings
that we have uh next week. Okay.

978
01:21:52,639 --> 01:21:58,560
Council reports.
Uh

979
01:21:56,800 --> 01:22:04,960
do we want to do the government transfer
policy update

980
01:22:00,719 --> 01:22:09,760
or did we cover that off under under
old sorry uh minutes

981
01:22:07,840 --> 01:22:13,360
» business arising from minutes? That was
that whole discussion. Okay.

982
01:22:11,760 --> 01:22:15,360
» She jumped the queue on us, but that's
okay.

983
01:22:13,679 --> 01:22:18,800
» That's fine. That was a good place to do
it.

984
01:22:17,120 --> 01:22:24,320
Okay. Uh, are there any notice of
motions for the next meeting?

985
01:22:22,800 --> 01:22:28,600
Seeing none, is there any public that
would like to ask any questions?

986
01:22:29,600 --> 01:22:35,199
Okay. Res we'll have a resolution to
move into a closed meeting to speak

987
01:22:33,199 --> 01:22:40,159
about personnel information and
negotiations.

988
01:22:37,280 --> 01:22:44,639
Moved by Deputy uh Mayor Gruing and
seconded by Councelor Andrews. All in

989
01:22:42,320 --> 01:22:49,040
favor? Opposed?
That's carried. Okay, we'll take a few

990
01:22:46,480 --> 01:22:53,120
minutes to uh clean out the room and
then we'll we'll have a bit of a bio

991
01:22:51,679 --> 01:22:56,440
break and then we'll get back at it.
Thanks everybody.

992
01:22:56,719 --> 01:23:05,360
Okay, thank you everybody uh for being
patient with us. Uh we do have a report

993
01:23:01,920 --> 01:23:10,080
to uh rise with. So I will uh I'll get
staff to uh read this resolution,

994
01:23:09,520 --> 01:23:14,960
please.
>> Uh to rise a report moved by councelor

995
01:23:12,960 --> 01:23:18,000
Enoch, seconded by councelor Souls that
staff proceed with the purchase and

996
01:23:16,239 --> 01:23:20,960
furnishing of a condominium unit to
provide additional housing for

997
01:23:19,040 --> 01:23:25,280
healthcare professionals and that a
budget of $150,000 be established and

998
01:23:23,440 --> 01:23:29,920
fully funded by a contribution from the
financial stabilization fund carried

999
01:23:27,360 --> 01:23:33,159
unanimously.
Thank you.

1000
01:23:33,360 --> 01:23:41,840
So we are uh finished with that part of
the meeting and adjournment is in order

1001
01:23:39,679 --> 01:23:46,159
for the regular council meeting. Moved
by deputy mayor Ging, seconded by

1002
01:23:44,080 --> 01:23:50,800
councelor Andrews. All in favor?
Opposed? Carried. Thank you everybody.

1003
01:23:47,920 --> 01:23:50,800
We are journed.