Strathcona Regional District directors are inviting a B.C. cabinet minister to the community.
Cariboo North MLA Coralee Oakes, Minister of Community, Sport and Cultural Development, wrote a letter to local B.C. governments extending an opportunity to schedule a meeting during the Union of B.C. Municipalities (UBCM) convention in Vancouver Sept. 16-20.
At a regional district board meeting on July 10, Area D Director Brenda Leigh said she was putting a request in to discuss water rates in Area D as well as the city’s boundary extension proposal which, if approved, would join a portion of Area D with the City of Campbell River.
The board decided to have regional district board Chair Ted Lewis as well as the regional district’s chief administrative officer join Leigh in her meeting with Oakes.
Lewis also thought the board should invite Oakes up to Campbell River to meet with the directors on their own turf – and before the UBCM convention.
While Mayor Walter Jakeway, also a director on the board, warned that it would be highly unlikely Oakes would have the time to take the board up on its invitation, directors went ahead with endorsing the invite.
The board also voted to have the chair and vice-chair of the regional district board put in a request to meet with Oakes at the Union of B.C. Municipalities conference.
Oakes was appointed as Minister of Community, Sport and Cultural Development on June 10, 2013 by Premier Christy Clark following the May provincial election.
The Community, Sport and Cultural Development Ministry is charged with working with communities to help them prepare for investment and growth.