The Cariboo Regional District (CRD) proposed several successful resolutions at the North Central Local Government Association (NCLGA) annual general meeting and convention last week.
Regional district chair Al Richmond says the CRD board's ideas for legislation to increase its authority to control noxious or nuisance plants and to develop a strategy for prohibiting the sale of invasive plants and seeds were both approved.
"We're asking for an ability to require land owners or agents to remove some of these noxious weed and other growths."
He notes the CRD is under pressure to get rid of some of these plants, but the current provincial policy doesn't define noxious weeds specifically enough.
Some invasive plants and seeds sold, such as those used in decorative ponds, get into the waterways and then become a huge problem, Richmond explains.
Transmission taxation
The CRD's concept for taxing BC Hydro for its property rights-of-way for transmission lines was passed at the AGM.
The utilities that aren't Crown corporations pay property taxes, he says, adding the BC Hydro power lines go through CRD communities, and even residents' backyards.
"We have a lot of power going through the lines that isn't just benefiting British Columbia; it's being exported to the United States."
Tourism relief
The CRD chair says a resort taxation resolution was successfully passed this year, noting the board had changed it somewhat from its 2010 resolution, which had not been approved.
This time it suggests revising the Tourist Accommodation Assessment Relief Act to increase property value exemption limits to bring some tax relief to seasonal resort owners.
"We're suggesting that they increase the [tax] exemption up from $150,000, which hasn't been changed in over 15 years."
Communication expansion
A resolution to expand the availability of cell phone and high speed Internet services received unanimous support, and Richmond says it appears to be a common concern throughout northern British Columbia.
"It's a safety issue and, of course, you can do high speed Internet over cell service now, so some see that as an economic [benefit]."
Phone booths necessary
He says the CRD was also able to get support for prohibiting the removal of public phone booths in rural communities.
Lack of support
Resolutions not approved at NCLGA included ideas for implementing an environmental levy on incoming freight to raise funds for combating invasive species, a pet food tax to provide financial support for the SPCA, and refundable deposits for all glass containers.
All of the resolutions approved at NCLGA will be voted on at the Union of British Columbia Municipalities conference in September, and if passed there, will go forward to the provincial government for proposed legislation.
