Sicamous is looking to move forward with priority projects like crucial infrastructure construction with newfound provincial support.
The Union of B.C. Municipalities (UBCM) Conference was held Sept. 18-22 in Vancouver and the contingent from the District of Sicamous were among a record number of delegates in attendance.
More than 200 resolutions were brought forward for consideration at the event, including three from Sicamous that focused on Trans-Canada Highway improvements, Riparian Areas Protection Regulation compliance and greater enforcement for the province’s Invasive Mussel Defence program, all of which are issues that have been discussed at length by council in the past.
All three were endorsed at UBCM, and will be sent along to the B.C. government or other organizations for a reply.
The resolution for Trans-Canada Highway Improvements explains that in 2021, the B.C. government committed $837 million over three years to projects in its “Highway 1 - Kamloops to Alberta - Four-Laning” plan to get traffic moving more safely and efficiently. However, several projects identified in the plan are not yet underway, including the replacement of the “deteriorating R.W. Bruhn Bridge that poses significant public safety concerns.”
This resolution asks for UBCM to request that the province initiate projects currently identified in that 2021 plan.
Read more: Highway 1 bridge replacement project at Sicamous moves closer to construction
Regarding the Riparian Areas Protection Regulation, council has previously discussed the delay involved in submitting an assessment report from a qualified environmental professional (QEP) before development in a riparian area can proceed, and how the report then has to be approved by the Ministry of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship.
The resolution states “the Ministry response time to review QEP reports continues to increase, unreasonably delaying local government development and significantly impacting local economies” and “the effectiveness of the Riparian Areas Protection Regulation relies on local government compliance which is compromised by the Ministry’s lack of resources and inability to respond in a timely manner.”
The resolution asks the province to grant local governments authority to accept and review QEP reports within their own jurisdictions.
Read more: Ministry addresses Sicamous council’s concerns over riparian report timelines
The invasion of zebra and quagga mussels is of top priority for Sicamous council as well, and the resolution on the topic states “the primary vector for invasive mussels is watercraft entering the province,” adding “the provincial Invasive Mussel Defence Program is the first line of defence and remains grossly underfunded with less than 10 watercraft inspection stations throughout the province.”
Asking for “pull-the-plug” legislation that requires watercraft owners to ‘clean, drain and dry’ vessels before moving from one body of water to another or stopping at mandatory inspection stations, the resolution calls for increased funding for messaging, legislation and more watercraft inspection stops within the province.
Read more: Prevention working to keep invasive species out of Shuswap waters
Sicamous’s mayor, councillors and staff also attended meetings with several provincial representatives, including the Municipal Affairs Minister Anne Kang.
Mayor Colleen Anderson said the meetings went well, aimed at discussing extra funding for the projects the district has on the go like its housing project, the multi-family and commercial space development and the Shuswap Healing Centre.
“As a council, that was mostly our mission, to find extra cash and support services,’ said Anderson. “We’re looking for ways to make this process more feasible for those that are putting their needs forward. And I think we did have success at the meetings, no one can make a promise but [the ministers] did share some good ideas and gave us some good direction to go with.”
A meeting was attended with Forests Minister Bruce Ralston and another with his ministry staff. Meetings were also had with the Ministry of Climate Change, one with Parliamentary Secretary Aman Singh and two with staff, and another with Rural Development Parliamentary Secretary Roly Russell.
Alongside the district’s specific resolutions, Fisheries and Aquaculture Parliamentary Secretary Kelly Greene and Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure staff also sat down with the Sicamous delegation.
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