Initiatives Prince George (IPG) gave suggestions for how the provincial government could develop and renew the city's downtown when the standing committee on finance and government services was in Prince George this week.
Specifically, IPG president Tim McEwan said the province should support a "contribution" to bringing a performing arts centre to the area, "In synergy, if practicable, with the recently announced wood innovation and design centre."
The province should also consider relocating provincial government offices from southwest B.C. to Prince George, said McEwan, and listed the forests, lands and natural resource operations ministry and the energy and mines ministry as top candidates.
Prince George Airport could use help urging federal authorities for relief from NavCanada fees for cargo tech-stops, reinstatement of pre-9/11 security coverage and continued support of liberalized rules for international aviation markets, international trade and reduced government intervention.
And McEwan urged completion of improvements along Highway 97 in the Pine Pass area to improve access to opportunities from oil and gas and the proposed Site C hydro project in northeast B.C.
The Prince George Chamber of Commerce called for a balanced budget before undertaking any new expenditures.
"We recommend that any new revenues should first be applied toward reducing the deficit," the chamber said. "Half of any revenues, in surplus of current budget needs, should be used to pay down the debt; the other half should go to strategic investments that will continue to move the province forward as we see economic recovery."
The chamber also expressed support for establishment of civil and mechanical engineering at University of Northern British Columbia, and of civil and mechanical or mining technologies programs at College of New Caledonia.
And the chamber said aboriginal land claims need to be settled.
"All citizens need to be treated justly, and settling land claims in mutually agreeable ways would be a step in that direction," the chamber said. "We need to reduce the barriers to conducting business as well as remove the uncertainty surrounding land claims."
College of New Caledonia board of governors vice chair Bob Murray warned that a majority of the college's 600,000 square feet of facilities are now 30 to 40 years old and reaching the stage where significant maintenance and improvements are needed.
"During the past year we updated our inventory of repairs, upgrades and energy conservation projects that we believe will be required over the next five years," Murray said. "We estimate that the total cost for those projects is approximately $10 million."
The committee was in Prince George on Tuesday as part of a province-wide tour seeking public input in the lead up to the 2012-13 provincial budget.
