Council discussed meeting requests for the 2026 Union of BC Municipalities convention. The group identified a focused set of priorities to raise with provincial leaders and discussed how to divide the delegation to cover the most important conversations.
Health Health remained the clear top priority. Council will continue advocacy for a CT scanner and pursue discussions about primary care capacity, the role of nurse practitioners, and staffing challenges — including the impact of extended absences at the hospital. These items will be kept on the meeting list and scheduled if Minister availability allows.
Energy & Utilities A number of energy issues were raised for Minister‑level discussion. Council wants to address BC Hydro and the Ministry of Energy about right‑of‑way vegetation management, energy planning to support northern economic growth, and recent changes to grid connection rules. Councillors also noted a potential opportunity around available grid capacity and pricing that could affect future northern projects and data‑hub prospects, given the region’s natural cooling advantages.
Forestry, Environment & Economic Transition Council intends to meet with the Minister of Forests regarding a supply review and provincial policies that have impacted local operations. Discussion will include how regionally specific policies are influencing the transition from a resource‑based economy toward service and logistics sectors, plus broader environment and climate matters.
Economic Development & Transportation Support for rail and efforts to position the Northern Rockies as a logistics and data hub were raised as strategic priorities. Council plans to press for Provincial policies and supports that enable this economic shift.
Tourism & Parks Permitting for tourism operators and visitor fee structures — including concerns raised about fees at Muncho Lake and other Provincial sites — will be included in the delegation’s tourism conversations. The aim is to balance visitor management, local economic benefit, and the costs borne by local government.
Local Stewardship Issues Council also flagged region‑specific stewardship items such as water and land management and ongoing support for initiatives like the Northern Rockies roundtable. These items will be raised where relevant with appropriate Ministries.
Multiple Councillors plan to attend UBCM; the delegation will likely split to cover multiple meetings. The CAO and staff will pursue meeting confirmations and may schedule or cancel items based on minister availability.
The meeting concluded after a closed session, with nothing to rise and report.
May 25 COTW Agenda | Video Recording
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