Prince George City Council will be calling on provincial ministers and entities for a meeting regarding the city’s social issues.
At tonight’s (Monday) regular city council meeting, council voted in favour of a notice of motion set forward by Councillor Kyle Sampson that featured three recommendations.
Those recommendations centered around inviting the Ministers of Social Development and Poverty Reduction, Mental Health and Addictions, Health, as well as the Attorney General and the Minister Responsible for Housing, Northern Health, and BC Housing to Prince George to discuss the city’s social issues.
“Premier Eby is having other meetings just this week, he’s been meeting with organizations in Vancouver on the downtown east side, and he’s expressed his interest in hitting the ground running,” Sampson said.
“I think Prince George needs to get out there and work with the ministries under Premier Eby to make sure that Prince George is getting the attention it needs.”
Premier Eby’s cabinet will be announced and sworn in on Wednesday.
Sampson added that other levels of government would also be invited, such as Liberal MLAs Shirley Bond and Mike Morris, Cariboo-Prince George MP Todd Doherty, Prince George-Peace River-Northern Rockies MP Bob Zimmer, Lheidli T’enneh Chief Dolleen Logan, and Regional District of Fraser-Fort George chair Lara Beckett.
“This is not a one-stop shop, this fits everything, this not is our entire advocacy strategy for the term,” Sampson said.
“This is one component to help get the ball rolling and get us started. If there’s additional ministries we want to touch base with throughout the term, we can, this is just a starting point.”
Other items discussed at last night’s city council meeting included an update on significant capital projects, as well as a pair of delegations from UNBC classes on the importance of green spaces in the city.