Whereas the economies of northern communities as well as the wider economies of British Columbia and Canada are closely linked to the ability of resource industry products to be transported from their source to export markets; And whereas the transportation of natural resources is often challenged and impeded in routes that traverse large, urban centres: Therefore be it resolved that UBCM lobby the provincial and federal governments to develop a Northern Resource Corridor Plan to enhance and coordinate railway, road, pipeline and power infrastructure across northern BC with the goal of faster, safer and more cost effective resource transportation.
Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure The B.C. Government recognizes the importance of B.C.s natural resource industry, which is supported by northern communities and relies on having access to an efficient transportation network. Government recognizes that a reliable transportation network is critical to B.C. and Canadas economy, and it is imperative we plan today to ensure we are prepared to capture the opportunities of tomorrow; that is why Government is investing in northern and rural infrastructure to help grow local economies, build stronger, more inclusive communities, and help safeguard the environment and the health of British Columbians. One of the priorities of the Ministry is to undertake planning in a manner that enables us to strategically leverage our transportation investment and policy decisions to support the growth of a sustainable economy, while at the same time making life more affordable for British Columbians and improving their access to services. The Ministry recognizes that the best way to achieve these outcomes and enable the continued growth of our economy is by continuing to collaborate with industry, Indigenous, community and labour leaders to ensure our efforts to strengthen our infrastructure in a way that is strategic and coordinated. The Ministry is leveraging federal funding to support the delivery of Northern infrastructure programs. As part of an agreement under the Investing in Canada Plan, the B.C. and Canada governments have committed up to 95 million towards an initial intake of the Rural and Northern Communities Program, which was announced in September 2018. One of the core outcomes of the program is to have reliable and improved road, air and marine infrastructure.
Minister of Infrastructure and Communities Concerning the proposed plan for a Northern Resource Corridor, Infrastructure Canada recognizes that rural and and northern communities have particular infrastructure needs. Investing in modern and efficient infrastructure supports local economies, which in turn can create job opportunities, improve household incomes, and enhance quality of life for those living and working in rural and northern regions. The Government of Canada is investing 2 billion in infrastructure in rural and northern communities over 10 years. Since the matter of natural resource development falls under the purview of the Honourable Amarjeet Sohi, Minister of Natural Resources, I have taken the liberty of forwarding a copy of your correspondence to him for consideration.