To: Constituents of Electoral Area ‘D’, Cariboo Regional District

From: Cariboo Regional District Electoral Area ‘D’ Director S. Forseth

Date: May 26th, 2018

Subject: 2018 NCLGA Convention/AGM

From May 7th – 10th, 2018 – CRD Chair Margo Wagner along with Directors Jerry Bruce, John Massier,
Angie Delainey, Joan Sorley, Al Richmond, Roger William Betty Anderson and I attended the 2018 North
Central Local Government Association (NCLGA) AGM/Convention in Fort Nelson, BC (about 1,020 kms
from Williams Lake). Directors Ted Armstrong, Dylan Cash and Brian Coakley were unable to attend

On May 7th – I attended the Rural Roundtable which is primarily to have discussions involving the
NCLGA’s 44 Electoral Area Directors’ but our municipal partners (Mayors/Councillors) are able to
participate in the discussions as well and their perspective is sometimes useful in the EA Director
discussions. Given the 2017 Wildfires – our discussions were primarily focused on that event and hope
to improve local government response to emergencies (Flood/Wildfire) going forward. Later in the
event, I participated in a 2 hour NCLGA Board Strategic Planning Session

On May 8th – Unfortunately, I missed out on my “Infrastructure” Tour, due to a misunderstanding on my

part however I took in a wonderful tour of the local Museum in Fort Nelson which explains the history of
the Alaska Highway from Dawson Creek to the State of Alaska along with the local history of CN
Rail/Canada Post Corporation, etc then in the evening, took in the 2018 NCLGA Welcome Reception for
NCLGA 2018 Delegates

On May 9th – After attending the AGM Portion and Opening Ceremonies, I took in a seminar on Local
Government Communications led by NDIT CEO Joel McKay; I participated in the Resolutions Debate.
Calm for the most part but spirited debate on a Resolution to require an elected official to take a paid
leave of absence from the time that a person is formally charged with a criminal offence until the court
proceedings are complete. As elected officials are not “employees” of the local government they are a
member of, I felt strongly that elected officials should be required to take an unpaid leave for those
proceedings that has nothing to do with their elected role and a number of my fellow NCLGA delegates
agreed however this Resolution did pass in its’ proposed form from the City of Terrace and will be
considered at UBCM in the fall. The full 2018 NCLGA Resolution Book can be viewed at

https://www.nclga.ca/uploads/2018/2018%20NCLGA%20Resolutions%20Full%20List%20March%2031.p
df

Later in the afternoon – I took in a seminar on “Local Government Q/A” on the latest on Local
Government Case Law. A big part of the time was spent discussing misconduct of elected officials and
the powers available to local government. Also, the Cariboo RD Board Vice-Chair (and Area C Director)
John Massier formally nominated me for the position of NCLGA Director-At-Large however I was not
successful. I am currently reflecting on pursuing a UBCM Director-at-Large position as one of the UBCM
Directors-at-Large will not be seeking re-election so may be an opportunity there… and in the evening,
took in the 2018 NCLGA Banquet.

On May 10th – I took in seminars on Infrastructure Funding in BC/Emergency Preparedness and heard
from Peace River North MLA Dan Davies (formerly he was a Fort St John Councillor) and via video, the
Hon. Selina Robinson (Minister of Municipal Affairs/Housing) After having lunch with my CRD
Colleagues, drove from Fort Nelson to Fort St John in the afternoon and drove back to Williams Lake on
May 11th
Costs to attend:

Travel from WL to Fort Nelson and return - $734.40

NCLGA Attendance Fees - $390
Hotels In Fort St John on May 6th/10th (outside the one the CRD Provides me in Fort Nelson) - $140.00
(all in including taxes)

Hotel in Fort Nelson – cost unavailable as it was part of a room block for attending CRD Directors at the
2018 NCLGA Convention

The Draft 2018 NCLGA Convention Minutes can be viewed at

https://www.nclga.ca/uploads/2018/NCLGA%20AGM%20Minutes%20of%20the%202018%20Business%
20Sessions.pdf

The 2019 North Central Local Government Association Convention will be held in the City of Williams
Lake. Dates are not yet determined however it is typically held in the month of May.

Respectfully submitted,

Steve Forseth
Director – Electoral Area ‘D’ (Commodore Heights – McLeese Lake)
Cariboo Regional District

SF/sf