The Village of 亚洲天堂 Lake is set to receive $9,657,270 as part of the Northwest BC Resource Benefits Alliance (RBA)'s distribution of a $250 million infrastructure grant, announced by the province of B.C.

Mayor Henry Wiebe expressed his satisfaction with the RBA agreement, which he signed in Smithers on July 12, alongside provincial government representatives and RBA steering committee members.

Formed in 2014, the RBA is a coalition of 18 communities and three regional districts, from Vanderhoof to Haida Gwaii. It aims to secure a fair share of government revenue from future resource developments in the Northwest.

鈥淚t wasn鈥檛 the amount that we were hoping for, but it is a game changer for sure鈥�. I am excited about the possibilities this presents,鈥� Wiebe said.

亚洲天堂 Lake will receive $1.9 million a year for five years. Explaining the formula used for allocation of the funds, Wiebe said the calculation was based on population.

The mayor said the funds will be used to upgrade aging infrastructure and build new services that have been difficult to achieve in the past as they always had to rely solely on grant funding.

鈥溠侵尢焯� Lake has an aggressive community building plan that focuses on building a community that will provide housing and services for people from all walks of life,鈥� Wiebe said, adding, 鈥淭hese funds will help us get some of these projects completed much faster.鈥�

Wiebe said discussions on possible projects are still ongoing at council meetings but no decisions have been made yet. 

Highlighting the significance of the revenue-sharing agreement that made this funding possible for northwest communities, Wiebe said he is sure that in five years there will be a noticeable difference in all the northwest communities that are part of this agreement.

RDBN will receive $14,426,166 under the RBA agreement. This amount will be paid in annual payments for five years, said Chief Administrative Officer, Curtis Helgeson. 

Helgeson said RBDN's Board of Directors will be reviewing the terms of the agreement and making decisions in the coming months on where to best allocate the funds. 

Meanwhile RDBN Chair Mar k Parker said the agreement has been a long time in the making while acknowledging the legacy and
support that previous RDBN Board Chairs.

"Many people have worked tirelessly to get us here, and we are thrilled to be signing this critically important agreement to
help ensure that revenue generated from industry in our region results in re-investment in the communities that we live in and love, Parker said鈥�

Former 亚洲天堂 Lake Area Director for Regional District of Bulkley-Nechako (RDBN), Bill Miller who was an integral part of the Resource Benefits alliance when it was formed, hailed the announcement.

鈥淭he infrastructure and services in our communities and rural areas often exceeded their expected lifespan, making this revenue agreement crucial for sustainability,鈥� he said.

Miller lauded the efforts of all local councils and regional districts that secured this deal.

鈥淧rovincial, federal, and even international policymakers would do well to learn from the governance model of our local communities,鈥� he said.

Miller who was co-chair along with the Mayor of Kitimat and Mayor of Masset in the RBA鈥檚 formative years said they dedicated significant time and effort to advocating for this agreement with the province, knowing as local politicians that it was the right course of action. 

鈥淲hile we initiated discussions, subsequent board members had to persistently work hard to bring a deal to fruition and agree on a revenue-sharing model that benefited everyone,鈥� he said.

鈥淭he collaboration among the three regions, despite their individual needs and differences, speaks to the resilience of our region. It was the determination of all local councils and boards that secured this deal.鈥�