Three members of the South Cariboo Chamber of Commerce addressed the South Cariboo Joint Committee to present their thoughts on a governance change in the South Cariboo.
They were also seeking input from the committee members on their desire for such a change and the best way to do it.
Chamber president Tom Bachynski, Rick Takagi and Maureen Pinkney made the joint presentation to the Cariboo Regional District (CRD) Area G, H and L directors and District of 100 Mile House Mayor Mitch Campsall and councillors.
Armed with a survey from its membership, the chamber representatives pitched moving toward a county system, which would still have the three CRD directors, a mayor and four councillors but they all would govern the South Cariboo together.
Pinkney noted there was a 56 per cent response to the survey they sent to the chamber membership, and 80 per cent were in favour of moving to the county system.
The impetus for the survey is to find a way to get the business vote re-instituted in local government elections, and they felt the county system would provide that option.
Takagi went through the strength, weakness, opportunities and threats of remaining under the current governance, as well as going to the county system.
Details of the presentation can be downloaded online at www.cariboord.bc.ca/WhatsNew/Agendas.aspx. Scroll down to find the South Cariboo Joint Committee listings on the right side, and click on April 23, 2012. Then double-click the file to open or save the .PDF document.
The only way to become one governing body, Pinkney said, is through ministry approval by either political request or a petition by the people.
“In conversation with Community, Sport and Community Development Minister Ida Chong this spring, she believes it’s the way of the future and is very open to this change by either method.”
There are two examples of county system in the province folks can research – the Fort Nelson Region (www.northernrockies.ca) and the Lake Country (www.lakecountry.bc.ca).
Pinkney said the chamber would like to work collaboratively with the joint committee on the initiative.
Bachynski said this presentation was provided to the membership at the last chamber meeting, and it was felt “we had to be top of shelve with this.”
“We struggle with how we can be top of shelf without saying, ‘if you don’t do something about it, we will’. I guess that’s where we’re at this particular time.
“We want to be able to work with the elected body to see if this model works for the South Cariboo, but it is a big undertaking and it is pretty easy to put it on the bottom shelf.”
Noting they were looking for direction about where to go from this point in the discussion, Bachynski asked for questions.
While there was some discussion about the chance of the business vote coming back, the support of the Prosperity Mine and consultation costs, the elected officials did not say whether they would favour a change in governance style.