The District of Tumbler Ridge has established an Economic Resiliency Task Force. The goal of this new task force is to “identify, investigate and recommend impactful ways that the municipality can best respond to the ongoing business and social challenges that have been brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic.”
This includes business and economic concerns and community impacts, especially in terms of job losses and associated effects of those losses.
The first priority of the task force is to “address the current fall-out from the current virus crisis and Tumbler Ridge’s longer term recovery plan after the pandemic threat has passed.” However, the town has gone through a number of economic disruptions in its short life, and the task force will also develop plans and guidelines to “help the community to respond faster and more objectively should future wild fire evacuations, mine closures or other internal or external disasters happen.”
The task force will also “assist in communicating key messaging to the outside world, future investors and local people. This messaging will highlight that Tumbler Ridge is pro-business and its Council is willing to do what it takes to support, grow and diversify the local economy.”
Council held a special meeting on Monday, April 27 to establish the task force. “We could have waited until next week,” says Mayor Bertrand, “But I thought it was important.”
The initial group will be in force for six months—from May to November. In November, they will review the work the group has done and the state of the economy and determine whether the group is still needed.
However, a number of councillors were opposed to the idea of a task force. “I don’t think surveys are much use, and I don’t see a need for the task force,” says Councillor Howe. “I think it’s a waste of time.” He suggests talking to the residents to get their feedback. Or, if they insist on a survey, Councillor Krakowka says staff could send it out.
Others were strongly in favour. Councillor Norbury says that Council needs to make decisions based on data. “It’s not anecdotal. I’ll talk to three people. Councillor Howe might talk to six. But we only talk to people who are comfortable talking to us. We need some sort of data to go on. Some people will feel comfortable giving you heck over a bad decision, but a lot of people aren’t.”
In addition to the mayor and a pair of councillors and the Economic Development Officer, the group will include between seven and 11 residents, including a representative from the Tumbler Ridge Chamber of Commerce, a representative from Love Tumbler Ridge, a representative from one of the local major industries and up to four residents.
The group’s first act will be a community survey—one for business and one for the residents—which was also approved at the special meeting, though with a number of changes.
