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Putting a rural lens on decision-making

Area C rural director Grace McGregor also sits as chair of the Rural BC Project, which was presented at the 2013 UBCM convention.

Each year the UBCM convention provides local elected officials the opportunity to attend clinics and workshops that allow focused discussion around topics of interest and vital importance.

Last week participants at a Tuesday clinic heard a convincing case made for a long-term strategy of investment in the social and economic development of British Columbia’s rural regions.

The Rural BC Project is an initiative to stimulate discussion and understanding of these challenges and to prompt focused action to help rural BC communities succeed.

Rural BC Project Chair and Regional District of Kootenay-Boundary Director Grace McGregor emphasized that a healthy rural BC is essential to a healthy BC. She outlined the components of a rural strategy, as captured in their report, “The Pathway to Prosperity in British Columbia Runs Through Its Rural Places”.

The Project is a four-year effort by the province’s three Beetle Action Coalitions (BACs) to coordinate across regions and draws on successful experiences in other jurisdictions in the U.S. and Canada.

Improved infrastructure, including water supply, roads and broadband Internet service, is fundamental to any strategy.

The Project calls for a “rural lens” to be put on provincial decision-making in the wake of numerous impacts including the mountain pine beetle, centralization of government services and the decline in resource-based economies.

McGregor told The Times that she was pleased with the reception the Project received at the convention.

“The Premier actually gave a nod for Rural BC in her speech,” said the Area C rural director. “We asked for a minister. She won’t give a new minister but she’ll put it under Steve Thomson, Minister of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations and will have one-to-one access with Donna Barnett, Parliamentary Secretary for Rural Development – herself a long-time BAC member.

“Donna will be working closely with us and taking our messages to the Rural Caucus,” said McGregor.

“We presented as a clinic and I have heard nothing but positives out of that. We presented to the Rural Caucus and we presented to Christie Clark. I got really good feedback with everyone involved.”