The Northeast BC Resource Municipalities Coalition today announced the Independent Contractors and Business Association of BC (ICBA) as its 1st Associate Member. The announcement was made today at a Coalition Community Luncheon in Fort St John. The Coalition’s Associate Membership program has several categories aimed at allowing companies, associations, institutions, organizations and individuals who support the Coalition’s goals and objectives to demonstrate their support by becoming an Associate Member. 
ICBA Vice President, Regional Initiatives Mike Davis states “ICBA is really pleased to become the 1st Associate Member of the Coalition. We’ve seen the Coalition as a very proactive organization that brings together municipalities and rural communities in Northeast BC with industry, government and other organizations to support and enhance existing communities and to support responsible resource development and access to new markets.
Resource industries are vital to the growth and development of communities in Northeast BC as they are to growth and development of British Columbia and Canada. Our 1200 members support responsible resource development and growing the economy. We believe the Coalition is working hard to support its member municipalities and organizations and to encourage British Columbians who support responsible resource development to make their voices heard. Becoming an Associate Member of the Coalition is one way ICBA can support the Coalition to achieve this objective.”
Coalition Executive Director Colin Griffith said “The Coalition welcomes ICBA as its 1st Associate Member. The Coalition believes the goals and objectives of ICBA align nicely with those of the Coalition. ICBA’s current public awareness and education program ‘Growing the Economy’ is an excellent example of an industry organization helping British Columbians understand how much our provincial economy depends on responsible resource development and the projects and infrastruture required to sustain and grow these resource industries. The Coalition and ICBA believe the number one issue facing British Columbia and Canada is gaining access to world markets for all resources. Whether its natural gas, forest products, coal, minerals, agricultural products or clean energy, none of these industries can grow and create new economic acticvity without access to new markets.”
ICBA has also decided to support the Coalition by becoming a sponsor of the 2016 Fall Forum Nov 29-Dec 01 in Taylor and Fort St John. This year’s Fall Forum panels and keynote speakers will discuss the importance of supporting responsible resource development in Northeast BC and the importance of resource industries to municipalities and rural communities. The Fall Forum will also feature a workshop hiosted by the University of Northern BC’s Cumulative Impacts Research Consortium (UNBC CIRC) and a keynote speech by well-known Vancouver Sun Columnist Vaughn Palmer who will preveiw some of the issues and challenges expected to be part of the BC election campaign as British Columbian’s prepare to vote on May 9, 2017.
WOW—So encouraging to read about people who have common sense and are willing to stand up for the betterment of BC. and really for all of Canada —I appload you !!!