At Tuesday's regular meeting, Kootenay-Columbia MP David Wilks reported to council that “the historic agreement with the European Union is a big win for workers, business and families right here in British Columbia.”
The Canada-European Union Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) is designed to reduce trade barriers between the signatories.
“Throughout the province, hard-working people of B.C. will benefit, especially in key sectors of our local economy,” he said.
In response to a question from Regional District of Central Kootenay Area B director John Kettle, Wilks said that it appears that the agreement paves the way for dairy farmers to export milk without affecting their quotas for sales within Canada.
•Kerri Wall, community health facilitator for Interior Health, spoke to council about opportunities for local governments to partner with IH under the Healthy Communities Initiative, which is designed to ease pressures on the medical system by taking proactive health and fitness measures.
•Council adopted the 2013-2014 corporate strategic plan, which is available for viewing on the Town of Creston website, www.creston.ca.
•Mayor Ron Toyota will attend a Local Government Leadership Academy in Vancouver in February.
•Council supported a request from the Pet Adoption and Welfare Society to use part of a Columbia Basin Trust grant for portable fencing instead of stationary fencing.
•A staff report on the implications of Creston becoming a city was presented. Finance and corporate services director Steffan Klassen estimated that “hard costs” would exceed $25,000 and there would be no clear benefit from making the change. The report was received for information.
•Council received a letter from a local resident requesting that mobility scooter operators be licensed. The writer described a situation in which the inattention of a scooter operator nearly caused a severe accident. Toyota reported that the Union of BC Municipalities has recently discussed the issue and a motion to encourage senior governments to take action was defeated. He said the comments he heard at the convention suggested the issue should be addressed by ICBC.
•A rezoning proposal and application for a development variance permit for a Ninth Avenue South property will proceed, with neighboring residents being invited to submit comments and attend a public hearing.
•Council passed a motion confirming that it “is receptive to a realignment of the Town of Creston boundaries.” The motion authorized staff to continue discussions with the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure to realign the town boundary along 1.9 kilometres of Erickosn Road from the centerline to the northern right of way, and realign the boundary to the north to take in all of Ash Road to the unction of McMurtrie Road, including two cul-de-sacs at the south end of Ash Road.