The province is sending up a cabinet minister to speak with northwestern communities about how they can benefit from potential liquefied natural gas (LNG) facilities in the region.
As many as five natural gas pipeline construction or expansion projects and an accompanying number of LNG plants at both Kitimat and Prince Rupert are in the works carrying a price tag in the tens of billions of dollars.
"We are committed to working with the local municipalities to ensure they are prepared for this growth and have a say in how the benefits are realized," said Premier Christy Clark this morning in announcing that community development minister Bill Bennett is headed north.
As it is, the City of Terrace has already taken the lead on developing a framework so that municipalities are in line for revenue sharing from proposed industrial developments.
It's arguing that while development takes place outside of municipal taxation boundaries, municipalities are often hard-pressed to provide services needed as populations and economic activity increases.