Minister of Municipal Affairs, Nathan Cullen, meets with the Northwest BC Resource Benefits Alliance

Minister of Municipal Affairs, Nathan Cullen, meets with the Northwest BC Resource Benefits Alliance

The Northwest BC Resource Benefits Alliance (RBA) is an association of 21 local governments
across the Northwest from Masset to Vanderhoof. Formed in 2014, the RBA includes all
member municipalities and electoral areas of the Regional District of Bulkley-Nechako, the
Regional District of Kitimat-Stikine, and the North Coast Regional District. The RBA was formed
to seek a sustainable funding agreement with the province that ensures more of the revenue
generated from the northwest, remains in the region. A funding agreement will allow local
governments to better encourage economic development in the northwest and ensure that
development creates good local jobs and sustainable, livable communities.

On April 22 & 23, 2022, Minister of Municipal Affairs, Nathan Cullen, met with members of the
NW Resource Benefits Alliance, in Terrace, B.C. The purpose of the meeting was for the
province to engage with Mayors, Chairs and Electoral Directors to discuss regional challenges
and infrastructure and service delivery needs so that the Northwest benefits from the
tremendous level of economic development activity in the region. Local governments are feeling
the pain of growth and council’s and regional boards are strained to meet these challenges
while trying not to burden their overtaxed citizens.

The Minister was well received by the group and his participation in understanding the dilemma
we have in such a highly dependent resource section of the province. The Minister committed to
working out a path forward with us through a process-oriented Memorandum of Understanding
anticipated to be signed at UBCM this September, in Whistler, B.C.

Quotes:

“People in every corner of the province deserve access to the critical services we all rely on –
and that includes communities across the northwest. Having represented this region for nearly
two decades, I’m aware of the challenges faced by many communities in our region and am
committed to working with our local government partners in the RBA to develop a new MOU that
lays out the path forward for how we can better work together to support the region.” – Nathan
Cullen, Minister of Municipal Affairs and MLA for Stikine

“We thank the Province and Minister Cullen for meeting with the Resource Benefits Alliance and
understanding the unique challenges we face in the northwest. We certainly look forward to
working with him on a funding agreement that addresses our infrastructure needs and helps
generate revenue for the province.” - Sean Bujtas, Co-chair RBA Steering Committee

Media contact for the RBA

Ron Poole,
RBA Management Consultant
250-615-3694

For more information about the Northwest BC Resource Benefits Alliance, please click here.