Northern B.C. underscored its importance to the rest of the province during a provincial study session exploring challenges in the resource sector.The session held during Monday's opening of the Union of British Columbia Municipalities conference comes on the eve of a provincial election campaign likely to be decided in the suburban ridings of Metro Vancouver.
"So the highways," Frenkel said."We still have horrible cell coverage in northern British Columbia. Internet is bad. Rail systems are poor." But the study session also revealed various fault lines. Prince George Mayor Simon Yu, who described his community as the"epicentre" of the economic developments within the region, said the time for action is now.The provincial government had previously touted Prince George as a future hydrogen hub in light of plans by Fortescue Future Industries to build a $2 billion green hydrogen and ammonia plant in Prince George.
Another point of discussion has been the role of community forests representing about four per cent of the annual harvest. Garry Jackman, Electoral Area A Director for the Central Kootenay Regional District, said he would like to see more community forests pointing to regional initiatives. But he also questioned their economic return.
The discussion comes just days after the Conservative Party of B.C. released its proposals for the ailing forestry sector.