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Powell River Regional District expands staff

Reorganization underway for local government in wake of provincial requirements
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PASSING THE BUCK: A 2014 provincial fire commissioner's report on standardized training levels for regional fire departments is one example of increased expectations the province has put on local governments. Peak archive photo

Powell River Regional District administration is reorganizing its operations and hiring more staff in order to meet increased expectations from the provincial government.

Regional district board chair Patrick Brabazon announced Monday, May 15, that due to increased demands in provincial reporting and regulations the regional district will be creating eight new positions, four of which will require new staff to be hired.

“We have to up our performance to meet the provincial standards,” said Brabazon.

The newly created positions include manager of asset management and strategic initiatives; manager of operational services; manager of technical services; occupational health and safety coordinator; accountant; GIS/survey technician; operational services clerk; and technical services clerk.

The increased costs of hiring four new staff members is built into the 2017 financial plan, said Brabazon.

Brabazon said the new positions have been created to relieve the current overload on existing staff.

“We are not unique in the province,” he added. “Every local government is facing the same problem.”

According to a report from regional district chief administrative officer Al Radke, there are at least 30 different areas where the provincial government has increased its requirements, including wastewater treatment, cemeteries, Crown land lease reporting, garbage management and recycling, asset management and others.

Brabazon said the former provincial government’s mantra of small government has caught up to the regional district. Less provincial government simply means transferring that responsibility to the local level and translates to greater financial reporting and complexities, he said.

One of the clearest examples, according to Brabazon, is the implementation of the 2014 provincial fire commissioners report on standardized training levels.

“We have no choice,” he said. ”All of our fire departments have to be upgraded to meet this new standard mandated by the province.”

Regional district manager of emergency services Ryan Thoms said that BC fire commissioner Gord Anderson’s 2014 training guide has clarified the minimum requirements for training and competency for firefighters.

A revamped provincial Fire Safety Act was passed in 2016, but has yet to be implemented.

“With the revamped act, it sure looks like there will be more pressure applied on local governments and fire departments to step up,” said Thoms.

Brabazon said the region’s fire departments were “perfectly competent yesterday, but just not competent today, according to the paperwork.