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Wide range of issues considered at AKBLG AGM
By Christina Benty,
AKBLG President and Mayor of the Town of Golden
April in local government world means area association meetings throughout the province.
In the Kootenay/Boundary area, elected officials attended the Association of Kootenay Boundary Local Governments (AKBLG) Annual General Meeting on April 9-11 in Creston.
The mission of the AKBLG is to “promote effective, responsible, and accountable local government for the benefit of all citizens in our member communities.”
The theme of the conference was ‘Tying Communities Together.’ These gatherings serve to highlight our commonalities and unite our voices as we strive for the betterment of the communities and regions we have been elected to serve.
Resolutions are submitted from local governments on various matters of concern with the purpose of garnering regional support. Resolutions debated at the AGM are sent to the provincial association, the Union of BC Municipalities (UBCM) with the intention of shaping public policy at the provincial level.
At this year’s AGM, members deliberated over issues ranging from aerodrome placement to provincial funding for municipalities with no residents.
AKBLG is the regional oriented function designed for all local elected officials. It is a critical forum for those elected to truly understand their role through connecting with peers, debating resolutions, and attending educational workshops. Training and education are an investment in the people who chose public service in a complex environment. Part of the role of local politicians is to govern wisely by understanding the broader issues of local government, and its relationship to the province.
In order to be relevant and influence change in the government structure, you have to be part of the larger system that can influence that change.
Being a mayor, a regional district director, or a councillor in a community means much more than dealing with local matters with local people, but also ensuring you are recognized on a larger stage where public policy, government funding, and economic development issues are constantly in motion and under discussion.
For more information go to www.akblg.ca .
