Local representatives come together to sign agreement on regional challenges

Prince George area politicians came together at City Hall this afternoon (Wednesday), to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on the shared challenges the area faces.

The MOU reads:

“We, the undersigned, recognize the challenges our region faces as compounding crises in healthcare, mental health, addictions, and natural disasters continue to impact Canada, British Columbia and our region. We recognize that these issues overlap with all levels of jurisdiction and need joint leadership. We commit to working together as representatives from five orders of government to address these issues. Taking a regional approach, we commit our efforts to establishing the necessary regional services for the area to flourish.” 

The MOU outlines the following regional priorities:

• Expanding addiction treatment options, with a focus on establishing a regional treatment centre;
• Enhancing regional healthcare services, particularly in staffing;
• Ensuring timely public safety responses that address both immediate needs and root causes; and
• Promoting economic development opportunities, including tools to address local infrastructure.

The full MOU can be found here.

Today, the document was signed by Mayor Simon Yu, Lheidli T’enneh Chief Dolleen Logan, Regional District of Fraser-Fort George Chair Lara Beckett, Prince George-Valemount MLA Shirley Bond, and Prince George-Cariboo MP Todd Doherty.

Prince George-Northern Rockies MP Bob Zimmer signed prior to today, and Prince George-Mackenzie MLA Mike Morris will sign at a future date.

“It means that we, as elected officials put our signature on the piece of paper, that we want to work together to advance the region,” Mayor Yu said.

“The files, the issues we’re facing out there, it’s complicated ones, it requires the coordination, the collaboration of all levels of government, and we want to use this signing of the MOU to make a commitment, not just to ourselves, but to show the future leaders that in order to get things done, we need to get together as a team.”

Bond, who’s time as MLA will be coming to a close in the coming weeks, told her fellow signatories to “make this more than names on a piece of paper.”

“There will be people who will say “oh, this is nothing, it’s just people signing a piece of paper,”” Bond said.

“Today is really the beginning of a promise to the people of Northern British Columbia that says “we hear you, you want us to work together to make a difference in this community,” so I am looking forward to watching the evolution of this agreement as it moves forward.”

Earlier this summer, Prince George City Council resolved to organize discussions with local representatives from all orders of government to develop the MOU.