Okay, welcome everybody. I will uh I
will call the committee the whole
meeting uh to order for May the 21st.
I'd like to take a moment to acknowledge
that this meeting is being held in the
Northern Rockies Administration Center
which is in the heart of the traditional
territory of the Den Cree and Dan
people, our friends, neighbors and
treaty partners. Um, we further uh
recognize our rights and the rights
contained within that treaty and we also
celebrate the contributions and enduring
pres presence of the matey people in our
region. Please be advised that this
afternoon's meeting is being is
available to the public to attend
virtually and is being streamed and
recorded.
Uh, are there any staff additions? No.
Okay. Any council additions?
Okay. The agenda is pretty
straightforward. I think our first
discussion is uh is committee the whole
report 1226 talking about the uh UBCM
convention
um meeting schedule. So I will turn it
over to staff.
» Um thank you mayor. So, this is our
run-of-the-mill annual discussion about
um the topics and ministries that
council would like to to um submit
requests to for UBCM this coming fall.
So, we look back to last year and and um
gave a bit of a some thought around
council's strategic priorities and the
progress made to date and created some
suggestions there um for your
consideration. But as always, these are
this is council's opportunity to meet
with the politicians of the province to
advocate and lobby as you see fit. So,
open for discussion. One add one one
additional note. Um Christa Vanderstein
brought it to our attention this
afternoon that the TAC has requested
council
um
council resolve to write a letter to the
province around permitting. So they've
created a open um a public portal for
permitting for some some tourism
operators but not really tourism
operators that would be impacted at at
our level. and like a fraction of the
overall tourism um industry. So their
hope is that that could be opened up to
all tourism operators to streamline that
process because things like hunting out
hunting, guiding, outfitting um
backcountry access is still a very
timeconuming process for the permitting
um to be approved or not. So
>> um that'll be coming at the next council
» um that'll be coming at the next council
meeting but just something to bear in
mind as you discuss uh the ministries's
overall.
» Okay. Any thoughts? We'll throw one at a
time. I mean for sure the Minister of
Forest,
we've got lots to talk about with the
Ministry of Forest. Uh some things we
can talk about open, some things maybe
not so much. So uh again asking for
supply review. I think what you've got
in here is is good and then in camera we
can talk about uh a couple other things
that I think need to be spoken with.
Ministry of Force
uh Ministry of Health. How many how many
times have we asked for a meeting and
not got it? Is it what are you on? Nine
years now. Well, last year she was you
know she thought to try to get us in at
the last minute but we weren't able to.
So, let's try to get one right up right
at the start this year. And uh and
again, all all the issues that we want
to talk about with the Ministry of
Health, particularly around the CT
scanner and and how we're how we're
making headway with that.
>> Questions, comments?
» Questions, comments?
I mean, housing, municipal affairs,
that's we have we have to do that the
IDCA agreement.
Um,
have we ever really heard back about the
fire safety act? Did they
>> Yeah.
» Yeah.
>> No, no update since last year.
» No, no update since last year.
>> Since we talked to them last year.
» Since we talked to them last year.
>> No.
» No.
>> No. besides I mean they've indicated
» No. besides I mean they've indicated
that they're working on it in the
background at that time and uh where
where our aware of our stand and all
indications are it's going to change but
we intend to from a staff perspective
get an update when we go back if you
don't have one in the meantime.
» Well, we we've got to sort that out. So,
I guess we should try to talk to them
again. Just say we haven't heard back. I
think I think it makes sense if there's
no if if if the situation hasn't been
resolved. I think it makes sense as from
an elected official perspective to to
have that conversation again with
ministers so that we can keep our finger
on the pulse.
>> Yeah.
» Yeah.
>> Last year we were had a lot of things we
» Last year we were had a lot of things we
were concerned about with the RCMP, but
most of that has seemed to have worked
itself through.
>> Yeah.
» Yeah.
>> The situation. So,
» The situation. So,
okay.
uh economic development, we always need
to be talking to them about rail.
Always.
I I think it would be good that we put
our uh delight study in front of them.
you know, talk about,
you know, I don't know if we'll get into
the policies of the provincial
government, how they've been negatively
impacting the resource industry here,
but, you know, it's pretty clear to me
that based on that delight report that
we're making a transition from a
resource-based economy to a
service-based economy. And uh at least
in the in the near term until something
happens either we see a new government
or or we start to see some some
different policies around carbon
particularly the carbon taxes that's got
these guys hamstrung for the most part
cuz they have to generate their own
electricity.
So, uh, yeah. So, I guess we should
continue talking to them about that
and any support we can get for the rail
and potential, uh, idea of becoming a
logistics hub here.
I see here is environment and climate.
Is that actually BC Hydro? Like did that
fall under them
or does it fall
>> or sorry energy? What have I
» or sorry energy? What have I
>> Where did we put that?
» Where did we put that?
>> Yeah, you put that Ministry of
» Yeah, you put that Ministry of
Environment and Climate Solutions.
>> Sorry, that should have been Energy.
» Sorry, that should have been Energy.
>> Yeah,
» Yeah,
>> Ministry of Energy.
» Ministry of Energy.
>> Yeah.
» Yeah.
>> Yeah,
» Yeah,
>> we missed We both missed that.
» They change so often. I thought maybe
it'd just be under a new one now.
Well, we have ministry environment
already a second time here. So, yeah,
myself and Jay both missed that as we
were going through this.
But yeah, so there's a couple of things
here. I mean, the hydro rightway
vegetation issue is
to me that's a compliance and
enforcement issue that that probably
falls someplace else, but but but we can
bring that up. uh energy planning you've
got here response to economic growth.
I wonder if we should be talking to them
about these um data hubs
and their procedure around
um encouraging data hubs in the north
and the need for electricity.
I I think that's a very so since we're
we're act in the background we're having
those discussions right now with hydro
but I think it's important to have that
discussion at that venue for sure and
the other interesting dynamic what's
we're seeing the shift and but not quite
sure from a provincial perspective but
federally it was announced last week
that from a energy perspective
um the feds are supporting nuclear and
natural gas generated power
which is a 180 from where the province
of BC is
>> with our long-term plan or the BC
» with our long-term plan or the BC
Hydro's long-term plan with this
particular generating station. So, the
question is what does that look like?
like cuz it's it's a complete
>> opposite of what of what the feds are
» opposite of what of what the feds are
saying and we're being told from a hydro
perspective that I think it was 2040 at
least that that that that particular
generating station
>> um needs to uh transition into something
» um needs to uh transition into something
other than natural gas. And then the
other piece in our initial conversations
when we talk potential data hubs or AI
hubs or whatnot um there seems to be I
very initial conversations but lack of
clarity in terms of where we sit as a
community because we're not we're not on
the grid right so there's regulations
that provinially they have in terms of
who can tie into the grid and what that
maximum amount is or or uh from a from a
kilowatt perspective or megawatt
perspective I guess Um,
so we we have more work to do
internally, but I think it makes sense
as we move forward that that
conversation occurs at the minister
level too, especially considering that
the other issue we have a long-term plan
is that there's there's no growth
projected. Meanwhile, there's this
opportunity there potentially to, you
know, we have a perfect environment when
it comes to potentially around data hubs
um or cooling, right? Because we have
natural cooling six months of the year.
Um, so I think there's a lot to be asked
and try to kind of
>> and that adds to the electrical
» and that adds to the electrical
requirement, right? Because most places
are using uh they're using cooling
system, right? Yes. So they have to have
extra power just just to cool where here
you they've got a reduced requirement
for that. So when I was at the uh
economic development uh forum,
they uh I I sat in on a session that
talked about powering the future and uh
the province is changing its well the
province/BC hydro is changing their uh
their mind with respect to data hubs but
because it requires so much power
they're making these companies apply to
them and they'll get they'll pick
winners and losers with respect to who
gets power and who doesn't, right? So,
it's not just a straight outright ban
anymore that they can't connect if
they're part of the grid or they can't
connect to the grid if if that's the
technology that they're that they're
trying to support. So, they're they're
changing that philosophy to uh oh yeah,
you know, you you can make an
application to us now. We'll have a
certain window of opportunity and uh
we'll pick whoever whoever can fit.
>> Yeah. A lot of the latest conversation I
» Yeah. A lot of the latest conversation I
have with BC Hydro with Bob Gammers PR
which was only a couple couple of weeks
ago specific to that is what it looks
like they're doing is having an
opportunity for free bringing up for
lack of better words 400 megawatts of
power.
>> Yeah.
» Yeah.
>> And having companies essentially bid or
» And having companies essentially bid or
and and didn't really know he didn't
really know what that would look like
besides possibly maybe the part of their
proposal is how much they're willing to
pay per megawatt. But at 400 megawws and
looking at what sometimes for an
investment perspective to make the
investment work from what we're hearing
you're anywhere from 80 to 100 megawatt
requirement so that might allow more
>> yeah on the AC grid and when I ask what
» yeah on the AC grid and when I ask what
are we included in that bigger picture
or separate because we're not in the
grid they didn't have an answer for that
so we are working on having a follow-up
discussion
>> yeah regards to that so
» yeah regards to that so
>> so that fits with the long-term energy
» so that fits with the long-term energy
planning and the conflicting policies
between the feds and the province
>> 100%.
» 100%.
>> Okay.
» Okay.
Well, this list is starting to get
longer and longer.
uh and Northern Health I think the
dialogue is probably happening well
enough that we don't need to spur a
meeting with them right based on the
dialogue that we're having around
primary care and our committee and them
and then uh and then the CT scanner. I
mean those are the main issues we've
been trying to push. So, I don't know
that we need a meeting at at UBCM, but
you know, for sure I'll defer to uh
Deputy Mayor Gerwing on that. You got
any thoughts, Ray?
>> Yeah, I do have a few thoughts on that.
» Yeah, I do have a few thoughts on that.
Um, I know we've been have been
concentrating on the CT scanner, but
depending on what happens with our
primary care situation in the community,
there might be an opportunity to
speak more formally with Northern Health
and I don't know if they'll have a board
representative there. Um, just in terms
of nurse practitioners and the health
authorities stance on that by time
September rolls around, I know that
there are some
clinics in other health authorities that
are run by nurse practitioners.
I don't know that there's any in the
Northern Health region, but the little
bit of research I've been able to do
since I've learned a few things at the
NCLGA
is that if you work with your health
authority, there is an opportunity for
nurse practitioner primary care clinics.
Um so as we are doing that research, um
September might be a good chance to um
talk to Northern Health about that. If
we don't talk to them prior to that, you
all have a good conversation going with
Northern Health now. So, it might be a
mute point, but if it's not, then that
would be an opportunity for us to
discuss things like that.
» So, primary care. So, I'm going to put
them on the list. You can always cancel
it. I was going to say we we can always
request a meeting and then if if similar
to just the recent NCLJ conference if we
don't see there's a need to based on
other discussions or continue
discussions we can always cancel.
>> Yeah.
» Yeah.
>> Yeah.
» Yeah.
>> Yeah. I think the other point too is
» Yeah. I think the other point too is
that um
staffing at the Fort Nelson General
Hospital might be something we want to
talk about and
extended absences that aren't
necessarily covered by a human on site.
Um
unless we deal with beforehand, I don't
know.
>> At the management level.
» At the management level.
>> Yeah.
» Yeah.
Okay.
Well,
we might have to split up and do some of
these meetings.
>> Well, on some of these points too, we
» Well, on some of these points too, we
want to probably want to talk to if we
are lucky enough to get a meeting with
the minister. It would it would be a
good opportunity for us to discuss our
concerns on that end with her as well.
Okay.
Uh, Ministry of Environment and BC
Parks,
do you guys think you uh you got a point
across at at NCLJ that we still need to
talk to?
>> I don't know. Can we talk about that?
» I don't know. Can we talk about that?
>> It was a good discussion.
» It was a good discussion.
>> You all would be so proud of us.
» You all would be so proud of us.
I think it's fair to say that the the
local parks director and uh and the
members of council that were NCLJ had a
a impromptu meeting on the street where
where some very good discussion
happened. Well, it wasn't on the street.
It was part of a it was part of a it was
part of the NCLA. had a the evening
where they had a you know these food
trucks come in and they had a bunch of
local vendors and stuff and it was just
kind of a a street sort of an affair and
they were able to it was just funny but
they they you know they they got some
good points out with respect to with
respect to Muncher Lake Park right and
uh and this idea of $20 fee
>> uh for folks from out of out of out of
» uh for folks from out of out of out of
the uh out of the province. So I think
it was a it was a good discussion but I
suppose we would want to speak to the
minister if if we don't see any action
on on those
even though you guys got you know some
pretty good feedback from the guy who
really is pushing on you know on our
behalf. Anyway,
>> I've had some happy locals hearing the
» I've had some happy locals hearing the
news of the extra charges for out of
province.
>> They think it's a good thing. Yeah, I've
» They think it's a good thing. Yeah, I've
had a lot of people come to me tell me
how how they appreciate it because of
the lack of camping we have in our area.
They're hoping that it'll limit the out
of province so that we can enjoy our
background or back country again.
>> Yeah, I think I've I've heard some of
» Yeah, I think I've I've heard some of
that too, but the point that we made is
we're spending money on tourism. So
we're asking encouraging
that tourism economy which and then on
the other hand the province institutes
this charge without speaking to anybody
and then what I don't know maybe you all
realized it but I didn't it's like so if
you you're let's just say you're coming
from the Yukon you stop at the hot
springs so that's like 40 bucks or 49
bucks for that if you're out of province
right you spend a night or two at the
hot springs and then you go to Muncho
Lakes So then you have to pay that 20
additional dollars again and then you
stop at Summit Lake to you know do the
hikes around there that's another $20.
So what I have been hearing both sides
for sure and there's pros and cons I
fully realize but if we are going to be
encouraging that tourism economy people
are just going to be driving right
through because I don't know that people
are going to be spending 60 extra bucks
in addition to the 60 so 120 bucks right
I don't I don't know whether they will
or not or they'll just drive straight
True.
» So for sure it's something that we can
continue to bring up if we don't see any
uh any movement on on those.
>> Yeah.
» Yeah.
>> Uh waterlands resource stewardship. I
» Uh waterlands resource stewardship. I
mean for sure the bison elk management
discussions that we're having at the uh
the northern Rockies round table. I
think it's important that we bring
those. And what's not on here is support
for that table. Right. The the province
continues to say that they won't support
that table. And you know, I think
there's enough people there and we have
enough topics here that we shouldn't
just be lumped in with the with the
Northeast uh round table stakeholders
group. But you know, I think there are
issues here that are specific to our
region that that that table is is
important enough to to be supported. So
we'll I think we continue to uh to beat
that drum whenever we're down there as
well.
So good report. We've added a few things
in there. I think that
yeah, I don't know if we'll get them all
or not, but you know, if if they end up
starting to be too close together, then
obviously we'll have to we'll have to
split our delegation up and and do
multiple meetings at the same time.
We're in Vancouver, right? Yeah. So,
it's the venue's close anyways.
>> Yep.
» Yep.
>> But it's I know it's it's a lot with
» But it's I know it's it's a lot with
this many topics.
um I won't be able to keep it all
straight. So we'll need leaders in these
meetings to right so you can so so they
can focus on on the particular topics
because it'll just be too many for you
know for the mayor to to try to remember
everything.
So if we break up if we get all these
meetings and we break up then we can uh
I think we'd be a little more focused.
I guess we should discuss um who from
council is thinking about attending. So
that might guide what we want to do as
well.
>> No.
» No.
>> So we're talking middle midepptember
» So we're talking middle midepptember
September
>> 14th I think. Uh bear with me here.
» 14th I think. Uh bear with me here.
Sorry. 14th
>> 14th
» 14th
>> 14th to 18th. Yeah. It's earlier this
» 14th to 18th. Yeah. It's earlier this
year. It's an election year a week
earlier.
>> Yeah.
» Yeah.
>> And it's in Vancouver. Do I plan on
» And it's in Vancouver. Do I plan on
attending? I don't know. Has anybody
else looked at the calendar that far
forward?
>> Okay.
» Okay.
>> Yeah. Council Roer, have you
» Yeah. Council Roer, have you
>> uh I will if I can. Uh I I'm not going
» uh I will if I can. Uh I I'm not going
to know for sure until a little bit
closer, but uh count me as very
interested for sure.
>> Okay. I'm in the same boat. I'd like to.
» Okay. I'm in the same boat. I'd like to.
>> Okay. Well, being that it's in the lower
» Okay. Well, being that it's in the lower
mainland, I believe we're going to be
actually down there until the 11th. So,
I'll see what what happens down the road
a little ways.
>> Right.
» Right.
>> Then I can make a decision.
» Then I can make a decision.
>> It's at the end of something you're
» It's at the end of something you're
already doing down there. So, maybe you
can tack it on.
>> That's
» That's
>> Yeah. Okay. Well, that's uh
» Yeah. Okay. Well, that's uh
Council Ging, I'm sorry, Deputy Mayor
Guring, have you given a thought?
Uh well, we'll see. I mean, if we get a
meeting with the health minister, I will
endeavor to ensure that I am there at
least for that. Um yeah, but I'll know
closer to the time as well.
>> All right.
» All right.
How about rooms? Have we have we have we
got a block of rooms already enough?
>> Yep.
» Yep.
>> Yeah, we made arrangements for plenty in
» Yeah, we made arrangements for plenty in
the fall of last year after UBCM. should
>> um
» um
before council moves on from the
ministries. So with regard to the topic
that was raised or that will be raised
by the TAC
um is there a desire to look at seeing
if we can get a meeting with the
Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture?
» Yeah.
>> Okay. I think that the topic will be
» Okay. I think that the topic will be
covered off under some of like it could
be an additional topic to ministries
that are already on the list but tourism
wasn't on the list. So
>> we can always pitch rail as tourism too.
» we can always pitch rail as tourism too.
>> Correct.
» Um and then the last question is just
around additional attendees. So last
year we had the
the benefit of the chiefs attending with
us. So um that's something we can extend
the invitation again. Um but we'll wait
maybe to see what the outcome of the
election is before we do that.
>> Yeah.
» Yeah. And and see who we're actually
going to meet with, you know, because
they they'll uh they'll want to know who
we're meeting with, right? And and
whether or not it fits it fits their
agenda or not.
Yeah. But sometimes we don't know that
till too late,
right? Sometimes they don't tell us who
we get a meeting with till
we're pretty close to
>> August anyways.
» August anyways.
Couple of weeks before
uh their election is July. No, it's
early this year, right? Yeah, they moved
it up early.
>> July 13th, I think. I think it's it's in
» July 13th, I think. I think it's it's in
July.
>> All right. Well, we'll prepare a report
» All right. Well, we'll prepare a report
and and send it to the new council and
and say, "Here's who we've asked. Are
you interested?" I think that's probably
the best way to participate with us.
>> And just lastly, BC Hydro also reached
» And just lastly, BC Hydro also reached
out um because we didn't we didn't uh
meet with them last year. We did the
year before specific like directly with
BC Hydro. So, I just wasn't sure if
that's something uh
because that's a separate meeting
request also if we go specific to BC
Hydro. So not sure if council wish would
want to meet similar with the
conversations uh that we earlier talked
about uh with the uh ministry of energy.
You want to have those direct
conversations with or not.
>> Yeah.
» All right. Put them on the list. We'll
see who we get.
Full
>> full court process here.
» full court process here.
All right.
So, I think we've got everything.
There's no additions. Any uh any public
that want to ask any questions about
that? Anybody in the room? No. Okay.
Then we will go into a closed meeting
for 91J, the community charter. We'll
close this meeting uh for a discussion
that we'll have with a private company.
Okay. Thank you everybody. We are uh we
are back in from the uh closed portion
of the meeting. There is uh no report
for us to rise with. So having said that
then the committee the whole meeting is
adjourned. Thank you very much.