Beetle coalition faces end of funding

Local politicians are scrambling to keep the Omineca Beetle Action Coalition alive in the face of an end to direct funding from senior levels of government.

Formed in 2005 to develop strategies to mitigate the economic fallout from the mountain pine beetle epidemic. It will have gone through $5.6 million worth of funding from the federal and provincial governments by the time it’s wrapped up the last of its current tasks at the end of March 2017.

But with the spruce beetle now threatening 156 square kilometres of forest north of Mackenzie and a looming downfall in the annual allowable cut, “it’s even more important than ever to have an organization like OBAC,” said Albert Koehler, one of two Prince George city council members who sit on the coalition’s board of directors.

OBAC’s board is made up of council members and regional district directors representing communities from Valemount to Mackenzie to Smithers. The sum total of its achievements has amounted to a series of strategic plans and research projects aimed at strengthening various economic sectors across the region.

OBAC board of directors chair Bill Miller said keeping the organization running will benefit the provincial government by continuing to provide sound advice.

“We’ve been working with the province and their ministries to make sure that we get really good information out so that the decision makers can make really good decisions,” said Miller, who represents rural Burns Lake on the Regional District of BulkleyNechako.

OBAC has also acted as a “conduit” between the provincial government and various privatesector and non-profit groups, according to Miller.

“Some of the comments that we’ve been getting from the middle management of the provincial ministries is that they’re able get some work done instead of trying to engage and explain our position to the public... we’re able to depoliticize a lot of the decisions that they’re having to make.”

He said OBAC is now seeking money to cover operating costs and will look to other sources to attract funding for projects.

It looks doubtful the province will come through with more funding for OBAC and its sister coalitions for the Cariboo-Chilcotin and the Southern Interior, at least directly.

“We recognize the great work OBAC has done in the ten years since the BACs were formed and they should be proud of their achievements,” Shirley Bond, B.C.’s Minister of Jobs, Tourism and Skills Training, said in a statement. “At this time, we are not considering providing additional funding to OBAC.”

She pointed to other programs now established to soften the impact of the mountain pine beetle.

They include the rural dividend fund, announced last year to help smaller communities and $75 million over three years has been committed to the effort and Vanderhoof mayor Gerry Thiessen sits on its advisory council as well as on OBAC.

Former Houston mayor Bill Holmberg and McBride council member Rick Thompson also sit on the advisory council.

A further $85 million was committed to the Forest Enhancement Society of B.C., unveiled in February to create jobs in mountain pine beetle impacted regions and reduce the threat of wildfire. Also in February, the province topped up the strategic wildfire interface fund to the tune of $10 million.

It will have gone through $5.6 million worth of funding from the federal and provincial governments by the time it’s wrapped up the last of its current tasks at the end of March 2017.