By Abigail Popple, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, RMG
MLA for the Prince George-Valemount riding Rosalyn Bird had an informal meeting with Valemount Council last Thursday, November 28th. In an interview with The Goat, Bird said she and Council discussed opportunities to collaborate with other rural communities in the riding, ways to promote tourism to the Robson Valley, and the economic impacts of this summer’s highway closures.
The issues that Valemount Council raised are shared by many rural communities in the PG-Valemount riding, Bird said. For example, Bird hopes to promote energy redundancy in Valemount, McBride and Blue River, to reduce the chance of having unplanned power outages.
Tackling shared issues may be a way to build collaboration between different communities, Bird added.
“We talked about building out relationships between communities … having more collaboration with Avola, Blue River, Valemount, McBride and Dunster,” she said, adding that she will encourage collaboration with Simpcw First Nation and Lheidli T’enneh First Nation as well.
One opportunity for collaboration may come through addressing the economic impacts of August’s Highway 16 and Highway 93 closures, she said. Although businesses in Valemount and elsewhere are struggling to recoup the costs from the lull in tourism, Bird hopes it is possible to attract would-be Jasper visitors to the Robson Valley.
“It might be a good time for the valley to collaborate as a whole, all the way up to Prince George, and see if we can push the valley as a tourism destination,” Bird said. “It’s not because we want to gain from Jasper’s loss. I don’t feel like the Robson Valley has really been pushed out to the level it could be in regards to what it offers and who we could draw here.”
While issues like power outages and a struggling tourism sector are common ground throughout the southernmost parts of her riding, Bird acknowledges there are Valemount-specific issues, too. Reducing wood smoke and supporting the construction of a hospital are two topics she discussed with Council.
“We talked about the [Clean Air Task Force] and the challenges they are facing with a lot of people who just don’t have another option than wood,” Bird said. “I was already aware of that, but I did not know you had an air quality committee… that gives me someone to work with on those challenges.”
Councillors also asked Bird if she would support the construction of a hospital in Valemount. While the answer is a definite “yes,” Bird says she would consult with other communities to ensure they are getting equitable access to healthcare.
“I would prefer to do it in collaboration and with the understanding of other communities that currently have a hospital, including McBride,” she said.
Bird invites constituents to contact her full-time constituency assistant, Wanda Jones, at (778) 744-8598 to share their concerns or feedback. She added that she is exploring the possibility of opening a constituency office in one of her riding’s rural communities – McBride, Valemount or Blue River.
“These are just the beginning conversations,” Bird said. “I’m trying to think of things we could collaborate on moving together so everybody feels like they’re getting a piece of the pie.”
