'This NDP government has some explaining to do' MLAs call on province to provide more services to rural communities

VICTORIA -- Although Northern B.C.’s resource sector generated over a billion dollars in revenue for the province in the latest fiscal year, there is growing sentiment from rural MLAs of service inequities.

Cariboo North MLA Coralee Oakes called out the NDP government for a lack of adequate housing, crime, and healthcare supports.

Speaking in the legislature, Oakes said the province’s urban centres continue to benefit from revenues generated from the energy and forestry industries, while Northern residents are being left without services.

“Time after time after time, this government comes forward and says that we have services in our communities, which we do not,” said Oakes.

Oakes says rural British Columbia is being abandoned by the NDP government when it comes to housing support for seniors, access to healthcare, and community safety.

“Come to rural B.C. and look rural residents in the eye because this NDP government has some explaining to do,” said Oakes.

The sentiment is shared by MLA Mike Bernier, who says Northeast B.C. provides hundreds of millions of dollars more to the provincial economy than what is received back in services.

“This government has been very public that they are trying to put the supports where the votes are because they want to win the next election," said Bernier in an interview with CJDCTV.

The MLA for Peace River South says there has been some successes, including the approval of a new hospital being built in Dawson Creek, but more still needs to be done when in comes to staffing and addiction supports.

“We're kind of the breadbasket for the province and we never seem to get back our share of what we really put into what we contribute into the budget for the province of British Columbia,” said Bernier.

Bernier says revenues although revenues from industry are down by the billions, it is impart due to provincial tax policy that doesn’t support oil and gas, mining, and forestry.

“You would swear that they have no problem if it slowly just goes away quietly into the night and they don't have to talk about it or think about it anymore,” said Bernier.

The MLA also shared his optimism it being an election year.

“People can decide if this is the path they want to continue on or look at something different,” said Bernier.

According to provincial report, in the latest fiscal year ending March 31^st, natural gas royalties sat at about $684-million, while forestry revenue reached $691-million.