UBCM starts today

The biggest municipal event of the year, the annual Union of B.C. Municipalities convention, starts today and lasts all week.

Not only is a contingent in attendance from the City of Prince George, the Regional District of Fraser-Fort George, and the local governments of our neighbouring communities, but The Citizen will also be represented there by staff writer Frank Peebles. He will file daily reports from the floor of the Whistler Conference Centre.

"This annual event allows us to participate in strategic policy sessions and discuss best practices," said mayor Dan Rogers. "Additionally we will engage (provincial cabinet) ministers on key initiatives from council's strategic plan including RCMP contract negotiations, housing opportunities, and flood protection grant support."

Prince George-Valemount MLA Shirley Bond agreed that these were key meetings on the provincial calendar each year.

"(I have) a packed week ahead with the Union of B.C. Municipalities meetings," she said. "It is a chance for local government leaders to meet and part of the schedule includes opportunities to meet with provincial cabinet ministers. I will be attending a number of meetings with the communities I represent, but I will also have dozens of meetings in my capacity as Minister of Transportation. This is an important process for sharing information and dealing with local issues."

For more, see Monday's Citizen.