City to support local MLAs on business and retail crime response forum

The City of Prince George will support the three area MLAs at a business and retail crime response forum later this year.

At last night’s (Monday) meeting, Prince George City Council was presented with a notice of motion from Councillors Kyle Sampson and Tim Bennett, calling for the facilitation of a forum on the topic.

“These conversations are talking about the issues on the ground, and that’s the information we’re trying to bring forward to the province,” Sampson said.

“In a forum like we’ve proposed here that we can discuss these issues with the RCMP, with the province, and with the retailers providing those services in our community, it helps inform the province further, rather than just a group of us going to Victoria and banging the drum, it shows those front line voices bringing those issues forward as well.”

Sampson also said he spoke with Prince George-Mackenzie MLA Kiel Giddens, saying the three Prince George area MLAs have been hearing similar concerns and are planning a similar event to take place in the fall.

Sampson put forward an amended version of his proposed motion to support the MLA’s forum rather than hosting the City’s own:

1. That Council acknowledges that our three local MLAs have received similar feedback and concerns from the retail and business community, and are now currently working to also develop a forum focused on addressing retail crime and violence.
2. That Council directs administration to liaise with and partner, where appropriate, with the three local MLA offices to coordinate and support their proposed Business & Retail Crime Response Forum currently in development, and endeavors to see that the intent behind the original Notice of Motion on the July 28th, 2025, agenda is meaningfully integrated into the fall forum through the City’s participating partnership. And, that Administration provides appropriate staff support and City resources to assist with planning and facilitation, and that any necessary costs associated with the city participating in the forum or coordinating related activities be absorbed within the existing administrative operating budget.

“The gist here is we would support the MLAs in the forum that they’re looking to host,” he explained.

“We believe this is primarily based in the provincial jurisdiction, and if they would like to take the lead, that’s great, but we want to make sure that we participate in a way that gets the challenge we’re experiencing and seeing across in a supportive way.”

Councillor Garth Frizzell put forward an amendment to remove the last sentence of the second recommendation. (And, that Administration provides….)

“I think around the horn we’ve had the discussion that that first sentence would cover what Councillor Sampson and Bennett have discussed without us committing to spending any necessary costs associated,” he said.

City Manager Walter Babicz said he considered that as staff providing “in kind support only”.

Frizzell’s amendment was passed, and the main motions were passed as well.