What is a regional municipality and how would it benefit the South Cariboo ?
The concept has recently been a topic of discussion in 100 Mile House.
Mayor Maureen Pinkney says it would combine the District with Areas G, H and L in the Cariboo Regional District.
She is also a former CRD Director.
“I got into politics in 2002 and did two terms as Area L Director, and I just that there could be more efficiencies and I wanted a say in what was happening in my community, and that’s where we hear most of it from is from the people and especially in an election year wondering why can’t they vote for their Mayor and Council.”
Pinkney says 100 Mile is in a unique situation with a population of less than 2,000 in town and the bulk of the population living outside community boundaries where they typically bank, go to school and work.
She says there would be a lot of benefits including some cost savings by streamlining things and growing the tax base.
“When people look up the District of 100 Mile House, people might say hey that’s a great little place, you should check that out and invest there, and then they look and they can go there’s not even 2,000 people and that’s as far as they look. Under a regional municipality they would look and see there’s 20,000 people, that’s a good place to go.”
In terms of efficiencies, Pinkney says right now there is a lot of duplication.
“I mean if we’re working on a mutual aid agreement or something there is two sets of political people, two sets of staff, you know if it’s something that requires a contract, you have two lawyers, it would just streamline everything.”
Pinkney says there are however, some potential hurdles to becoming a regional municipality as well.
“We realize there is a big barrier if the province doesn’t want to keep the policing and roads the same financial status as it is, and there’s always a balance to all of it where the three areas, they also need to be on board and that’s why we’re not going further with this right now, is the three areas haven’t decided that this is the better way and so we respect that as well.”
The cost for policing goes up considerably, from approximately 33% to 70%, for communities with a population over 5,000.
Pinkney says the cost when it comes to roads would also be a sticking point.
“The municipality pays for roads within the boundary of their town. Regional Districts do not, it’s done through the province, so if they continue that model then that’s affordable. Otherwise, our new regional municipality would never be able to pay for all those roads, that are used by industry and tourists, you know it’s not like they’re local roads that only these taxpayers pay for.”
Pinkney says nothing is imminent but they remain committed to working collaboratively with the CRD and neighbouring First Nations communities to deliver responsible, affordable and effective services to residents.
