Cariboo Chilcotin Beetle Action Coalition (CCBAC) manager David Majcher recently presented Rotary Club of 100 Mile House members with an update on the RuralBC project.
RuralBC was launched in 2009, as a link between government and rural communities in the province, to make recommendations on how rural communities can mitigate the challenges they face.
Majcher said the project also increases public awareness of the issues rural British Columbia is facing in a constructive and politically non-partisan manner.
Its goal is to present a convincing case to government for the resources needed to meet these challenges, he added.
Majcher outlined the recent RuralBC discussion paper, The Pathway to Prosperity in British Columbia Runs Through Its Rural Places.
He said CCBAC worked with B.C.'s other beetle action coalitions – Southern Interior Beetle Action Coalition (SIBAC) and Omineca Beetle Action Coalition (OBAC) - to jointly sponsor the paper, which is the culmination of all their work to date.
This paper focuses on suggested groundwork for developing a long-term investment strategy for further development of the province's rural regions.
"The development and implementation of a rural strategy will assist all levels of government with navigating the complex investments in social and economic development required for rural B.C. communities to succeed."
Five key recommendations made in the RuralBC report include creating: a BC Rural Development Strategy: New Rural Economic Development Programming; Rural Dividends; a Rural Advocacy and Catalyst Organization; and a RuralBC Venture Capital Program.
The strategy should include substantial and meaningful rural engagement, Majcher said, as well as multi-ministry and agency participation.
It is to identify and focus on systemic rural development issues with a commitment to concrete rural development actions, he added.
Durable, long-term funding mechanisms will be required from government to succeed, Majcher said, adding the designation of a senior cabinet minister responsible for rural development is also being sought.
While B.C. has a successful record of venture capital programs, the CCBAC manager noted the vast majority of this investment stays in urban centres.
Majcher is sharing similar information to various groups across the region. At the June 7 Board on the Road meeting in Lac la Hache, he made a similar presentation before several Cariboo Regional District directors, alternate directors and staff.
The RuralBC Project came about through an investment of $1 million annually for three years from the provincial government to each of these beetle action coalitions.
These organizations conducted a significant amount of research, along with other groups, such as the B.C. Progress Board.
Now, they will meet with government to discuss the comprehensive recommendations set out in the discussion paper.