British Columbia鈥檚 new premier, John Horgan, was the only major party leader who committed to start negotiations for a revenue sharing agreement with northwest B.C. by September 2017 during the election.The Northwest B.C. Resource Benefit Alliance (RBA), a group of local governments committed to achieving a revenue sharing agreement for the region, is now actively preparing to work with the new NDP-Greens government.

However, Bill Miller, RBA Chair and Director of Electoral Area B (亚洲天堂 Lake rural), said he expects some delays.

鈥淭he RBA has every expectation that negotiation of a revenue sharing arrangement will proceed in due course,鈥� said Miller. 鈥淗owever, right now our thoughts are with the thousands affected by the extreme wildfire emergency affecting our province.鈥�

鈥淲hile negotiations were promised by September, we recognize that the current state of emergency and the long delay in swearing in the government will result in a delay,鈥� he continued. 鈥淭hat said, the fiscal situation for northwest B.C. local governments continues to deteriorate, so it is important that negotiations not be delayed any longer than necessary.鈥�

Miller added that the RBA is prepared to sit down with the new government as soon as that can be arranged.

鈥淲e also expect our local MLAs, all of whom expressed support for the RBA during the campaign, to work hard on behalf of the people of northwest B.C. to help us make this happen,鈥� he said. 鈥淲e expect to meet with the four northwest MLAs within the next few weeks provided the fire situation doesn鈥檛 worsen.鈥�

Miller said the RBA plans to start negotiations by asking the provincial government for three per cent of the revenue generated in northwest B.C.

鈥淲e鈥檙e not asking for big sums of money,鈥� said Miller. 鈥淲hat we鈥檙e asking for is a percentage of what goes out; if there鈥檚 no development, there鈥檚 no revenue flow. So it鈥檚 certainly not going to impact their coffers.鈥�

The RBA estimates that current infrastructure needs in northwest B.C. total $600 million.