RBA’s Mission

Since 2015, the RBA has engaged the BC government to discuss the region’s challenges in raising the revenues required to build the necessary community infrastructure to support resource development and the social infrastructure required to ensure that Northwest communities are places where industries, businesses, workers, and their families can thrive.

RBA’s Request

Members of the RBA are seeking Provincial commitment to:

• Recognize the role that Northwest BC has in the provincial economy.
• Provide long-term, sustainable funding for capital projects and operating costs to address local infrastructure and servicing needs in Northwest BC.
• That the Province continue to invest in supporting infrastructure outside of the local government purview, including housing, health care, childcare and education.

Following the 2017 provincial election, the RBA successfully engaged the province to begin negotiating a new funding agreement. This process is currently underway based on a strong commitment from the Premier.

The provincial government has provided $300,000 in funding to be used, in part, to enable the RBA to work closely with stakeholders, including project proponents, labour, First Nations, local businesses and the social services sector.

The RBA and the provincial government share a vision of economic development that creates sustainable communities and good local jobs. It is the RBA’s intention that when a funding deal is reached with the province, it will help achieve the objective of creating sustainable communities that will be able to support economic activity in the Northwest now and into the future.