In their sight and gentle on their minds!

Hmm, they had a Gordon Campbell there to wrap up the week long event, we wonder if they played any Glen Campbell music during the breaks?

The Mayor has returned from the UBCM in Victoria happy with the profile that he was able to create for Prince Rupert issues at the week long convention, The gathering of the provinces' political class, was said to be greatly interested in the developments of the North, all tied into the Pacific Gateway initiative and the Fairview container port project.

During his time at UBCM, the mayor “talked Rupert” explaining where the city is heading and what help it needs to handle its current troubles. He stressed the importance that he put on the current EI and welfare problems facing local residents and touched on some of the other issues that he spoke out on while in Victoria.

The Daily News caught up with the mayor upon his return, providing a Mayor’s review of what it is that a Mayor must do, while on the road at UBCM. All part of a page one story on the convention in Wednesday’s paper.

POND ENSURES UBCM ‘TALKS RUPERT’
By Patrick Witwicki
The Daily News
Wednesday, November 1, 2006
Pages one and three

Prince Rupert Mayor Herb Pond returned in an upbeat mood Tuesday from a busy week in Victoria at the Union of British Columbia Municipalities (UBCM) gathering.

And for good reason, as Prince Rupert was on everyone’s mind, including premier Gordon Campbell, said Pond.

“(The Premier) made a big deal about the Pacific Gateway,” he said. “And he also mentioned Terrace and Rupert by name, and talked about working pro-actively with us.”

“There’s a lot of excitement about the North. We just need to make sure we have help in the interim.”

The help that Coastal Communities are seeking deals specifically with the welfare and EI issue, which has come to the forefront in light of the dismal 2006 fish season. Pond was one of many who received the opportunity to sit down and share concerns with Claude Richmond, the provincial minister responsible for welfare.

“We talked with Claude about the need for financial assistance for our workers,” said Pond.

But councilors from all over the Northwest received the opportunity to speak with various cabinet ministers about issues that affect the North Coast directly.

“We talked about the need for assistance with growth, the transition of the Northwest with the container port, and we talked with the Minister of Finance and Forestry about issues surrounding our forests,” said Pond.

Pond was also satisfied with several topics that came out of Campbell’s speech on Friday, including the public-private partnership (P3’s) issue that has some people in B. C. worried, including North Coast MLA, Gary Coons.

“I’m not concerned about the P3s,” said Pond. “We would ‘ve always run any major project through it anyway, if a P3 was more cost-effective. If P3 is not the right solution, we’ll find another way to do it.”

Pond pointed out a recent example where the P3 system didn’t work for Northern Health.

“Sometimes, it’s tougher in the North to do that,” he said. “Northern health tried that recently regarding Acropolis Manor, but couldn’t find anybody.”

Another aspect of Campbell’s speech, the Spirit Square Program, will also be examined by council, said Pond. The program will provide up to $20 million to help communities create or improve outdoor public meeting spaces.

The initiative is timed to lead up to B. C.’s 150th anniversary in 2008.

“We will be formulating our plan how we tap into that,” he said.

Pond was also once again named a “Director-a-large” for the UBCM executive, which will go a long way in ensuring that Prince Rupert remains on everyone’s mind.

“It’s a good opportunity for our community,” he said.

Finally, Pond also attended a premier’s dinner that included various dignitaries. CN had a table at the event, and Pond accepted an invitation to sit at their table.

“I made sure everybody in the room knew Rupert was there,” he said.