Local economic development people have issued a wish list of what they would like to see the federal and provincial governments take on as priorities when MPs and MLAs return to Ottawa and Victoria in early March.
The "asks" include an end to the duplication of federal and provincial environmental assessment processes.
"The issue is that the federal process replicates -- sometimes repeatedly -- the top-notch provincial environmental assessment process in British Columbia," say the signatories to the document. "This adds uncertainty and cost to land-based resource development, ultimately to the detriment of tax revenue and well-paid family supporting jobs for British Columbians."
On developing the capacity of Prince George Airport, they've called on Ottawa to reach "true open skies agreements," particularly in air cargo with Asian countries, to work with Nav Canada to establish a more competitive fee structure for air navigation services and to encourage Canadian Border Services to reach collective agreements that do not add additional costs "through additional overtime charges because of inflexible hours of work arrangements."
They're also seeking additional infrastructure and equipment for the airport -- specifically, open source fuel storage facilities, hydrant fueling, a cargo and ground support equipment facility and additional ground support equipment.
To meet regional economic development needs, they say College of New Caledonia requires start-up funding for engineering, mining and civil aviation programs and financial assistance for aboriginal and student housing needs. They also say targeted investment in aboriginal-oriented education is needed.
On the bio-energy front, they're seeking "accelerated efforts" to create a "world-class, forest-based bio-energy cluster" and on a related note, say the federal government should contribute to establishment of a wood innovation and design centre.
A deadline of either 2015 or 2020 to complete four-laning of the "Cariboo connector" along Highway 97 should be set and $135 million should be sunk into improvements along the Pine Pass to allow northeast B.C. oil and gas fields to be serviced from central B.C.
A deadline of 2015 or 2020 should also be set to eliminated cellphone dead zones and remaining gaps in broadband coverage and the need for fibre optic redundancy, particularly in Prince George and Prince Rupert, should be addressed, they say.
The signatories are Mayor Dan Rogers, CNC president John Bowman, Aboriginal and Business Community Development Centre chief executive officer Ray Gerow, Prince George Airport Authority chief executive officer John Gibson, Prince Rupert Port Authority chief executive officer Don Krusel, UNBC president George Iwama, Initiatives Prince George chief executive officer Tim McEwan, Northern Development Initiative Trust chief executive officer Janine North and Prince George Chamber of Commerce president Adele Yakemchuck.
