The Alberni-Clayoquot Regional District was successful in getting all three of its resolutions passed at the Union of B.C. Municipalities convention in Vancouver last week.
The ACRD had sponsored three resolutions: to re-examine raw log export policies, to fully fund police-based victim services programs and to establish a fund for search and rescue operations.
Passing of UBCM resolutions does not ensure provincial approval, it simply lends weight to municipalities’ requests.
But it’s not just the resolutions that make the UBCM worthwhile, said Mayor Mike Ruttan.
“Lots of connections with other communities” is a big benefit of the UBCM, Ruttan said.
“Good connections with people in various Ministries,” he added.
Coun. Chris Alemany echoed the networking aspect of the UBCM.
“We were in a speed meeting with the Ministry of Forests for 15 minutes to talk about trying to get more direct lines of communication between municipalities and forest companies enshrined in the Private Managed Forest Land Act,” said Alemany, adding that the Minister himself was not present.
“I will be surprised if anything immediate comes of it, but they were at least willing to listen and receive our information,” he said.
For Ruttan, the meetings helped him get an idea of how things are run at a higher government level.
“It’s helped put things into perspective,” said Ruttan. However, while the UBCM was valuable, Ruttan said he will wait and see just how useful the resolutions are.
“Do those decisions that are made have any influence whatsoever on the provincial government? I don’t know.”
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