North Coast MLA Jennifer Rice has weighed in on the topic of the ongoing dispute over the Ridley Island Tax Sharing agreement between Prince Rupert and Port Edward.
As the MLA provides a rather instructive glimpse into how the provincial government is viewing the increasingly nasty spat between the two communities that are part of her constituency.
In an interview with CFTK's Brittany Webster this week, Ms Rice made note that a recent request by Mayor Lee Brain that Port Edward should be de-incorporated has not made much headway with the province.
With the MLA observing that province will only support that call, when a community indicates that it wants to de-incorporate or amalgamate with a neighbouring community and that is rare that the province would act to force communities to do so if they didn't wish to do so.
For its part, the District has strongly affirmed for the province that they have no such desire to de-incorporate or become part of a larger Prince Rupert municipality.
Ms. Rice also noted that she has held numerous meetings with Selina Robinson the Minister of Municipal Affairs, with the Minister well aware of the situation between the two communities.As part of her comments for the TV station, Ms. Rice added that there is not likely to be any kind of a resolution to the situation until "people are a little bit more calm and rational in the process"
You can review the full interview here.
While the issue once again became a heated one during the last municipal election campaign Prince Rupert Mayor Lee Brain has not spoken much publicly on the Ridley Dispute in recent months.
As we noted yesterday, the Ridley Tax issue also did not make for part of the Mayor's annual letter to residents that accompanies the city's annual tax notice.
And other than in passing as part of the narrative to the budget discussions, the topic has not been raised in any detail during any of the Public Prince Rupert City Council sessions this year.
As well neither Mr. Brain, nor any member of City Council, has yet to this point, provided for any public comment on the reports of the city's letter calling for the District of Port Edward to de-incorporate or be forced to amalgamate with the city.
The contentious issue has also not been part of the prolific social media flow of the Mayor's Facebook page. A portal which of late, seems to be mostly a relay station for some of the many favourable themes of interest on civic governance from the weekly newspaper.
You can review some of the recent history to the dispute below:
April 17 -- The bully boys of Third Avenue West?
March 29 -- Money for Diana Lake, promise of update on Ridley Tax Dispute among notes from Port Edward update
March 22 -- And then they rode ... Mayor Brain and Council take tour of Watson/Ridley Industrial sites
March 15 -- Temperatures on the rise over Ridley Island Tax Dispute
March 8 -- Some unfinished updates for Prince Rupert City Council to take care of ...
March 5 -- Budget engagement includes online presentation of Five Year Financial Plan
February 28 -- Bomben's Budget Blue Print, Council comments both point to increased confidence in city's financial results
To refresh our memories on the nature of the long running and now somewhat acrimonious dispute, let's hop into the time machine for a review.
October 2018 -- The Prince Rupert City Council Forum: Eight variations of a similar theme
September 2018 -- The Victory speech he won't have to make: Mayor Brain's Northern View podcast moments
September 2018 -- Ridley Island Tax issues with Port Edward remain a concern for City officials
June 2018 -- Annual Report presentation channels many of the Hays 2.0 themes
June 2018 -- Partnerships and Solutions part of the focus for City of Prince Rupert's 2017 Annual Report
May 2018 -- In your mailbox this week ... your 2018 Property Tax Bills
May 2018 -- City releases notes on recent audit of 2017 finances
April 2018 -- Small Business Committee Report finds common ground with many City Council initiatives
April 2018 -- City's Small Business advisory committee to deliver report to Council tonight
March 2018 -- In final year of their mandate, City Council's list of feuds continues to grow
March 2018 -- City's Budget Presentation now available online; providing City's message along with a review of revenues, expenses and taxation loads
March 2018 -- Some rumblings of discontent from one of the BC NDP's most loyal constituencies
February 2018 -- Budget preview charts course towards public consultation period in Prince Rupert
February 2018 -- Council members to receive Chief Financial Officer's 2018 fiscal blue print tonight
June 2017 -- City's Annual Report available online; public comment session set for June 26th
June 2017 -- City's tax notices make their journey to your mailbox this week
May 2017 -- Prince Rupert City Council's election Quiz
March 2017 -- Familiar themes and a mill rate increase mark Budget Presentation to council
Back in 2016 the District did offer up a different interpretation when it comes to the Service Agreement and noted at the time, that they were planning to seek out a legal opinion on the Tax Agreement prior to any further discussions with the City of Prince Rupert.
A look at the work of the North Coast MLA in Victoria can be reviewed here.
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