A new rural advisory council is the key commitment from the Province’s new report on rural development, Supporting Rural Development: Creating a Voice for Rural British Columbia.

The Rural Advisory Council will provide input to government policy decisions to best support thriving rural communities, while keeping in mind government’s need to control spending and ensure an overall balanced budget for the Province. The initial focus of the council will be to provide advice on:

• Avenues to support greater rural access to capital;
• Stronger business development support for rural entrepreneurs and businesses; and
• Moving forward on the Rural Dividend.

The Rural Advisory Council will have representation from throughout rural British Columbia with membership to be announced before the end of December. The initial intake of council members will consist of two- and three-year appointments.

At the September 2013 Union of British Columbia Municipalities (UBCM) annual convention, Premier Christy Clark tasked Minister of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations Steve Thomson and Parliamentary Secretary Donna Barnett with being responsible for rural development. After meetings and discussions with key stakeholders, and considering recommendations from the Rural B.C. Working Group in June 2014, the provincial government released the report, Supporting Rural Development: Creating a Voice for Rural British Columbia.

The report was released by Barnett during the 2014 UBCM Annual Convention. A copy of the report is available online at: http://www.for.gov.bc.ca/mof/reports.htm

Quotes:

Minister of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations Steve Thomson -

“While the majority of the province’s population is in urban centres, the majority of wealth is generated by resource development in rural areas. We need to ensure that rural British Columbians have an equitable share in the economic benefits generated. A rural advisory council will provide advice to government on how to make that happen.”

Parliamentary Secretary for Rural Development Donna Barnett -

“As a former mayor of 100 Mile House and long-time advocate for rural British Columbia, I believe the creation of a Rural Advisory Council will play an invaluable role in helping to shape government policy.”

Media Contacts:

Media Relations
Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations
250 356-5261