City of Powell River officials are pursuing an initiative to become part of a sister-city relationship with Putian in China.
Fred Bates, the former mayor of the Village of Cumberland, and Jenny Cai, a cultural consultant and interpreter, attended the November 15 committee-of-the-whole meeting. Bates and the mayor of Putian, a city in the Fujian province of China, signed a sister-city agreement in 2007, designed to open up cultural and economic ties between the two municipalities. The Comox-Strathcona Regional District also signed the agreement.
In his introductory remarks, Mayor Dave Formosa explained how the connection between him and Bates was made. Formosa said he had been exploring the possibility of Powell River having a sister city, an idea which originally focused on Japan. After speaking with other elected officials, he was led to Bates. “I reached out to Fred,” Formosa said. “We had a great conversation. He invited me to his meetings on the island and explained to me that for the majority, his team of people, were no longer in office.”
Bates, who did not run in last year’s local government elections, wanted to see the initiative continue and expand, Formosa said. “He feels it’s ripe for the picking, and he would love to see somebody step in, because he’s retired, but doesn’t want to see all that work and investment go away,” Formosa said. “You can imagine I was quite excited about having a race car to jump into.”
Bates and Cai travelled to Powell River to meet with Formosa recently, as well as Councillor Chris McNaughton and Jay Yule, president of Powell River Regional Economic Development Society (PRREDS) and superintendent of schools for School District 47.
Another connection is the fact that Mac Fraser, the city’s new chief administrative officer (CAO), had been the CAO of Cumberland when the sister city project was initiated.
Bates, who has made three trips to China, beginning with a trade mission in 2006, gave an overview of the relationship with Putian, which included pictures from his trips to China. He explained that Putian has a population of 3.5 million and its economy is number six in China. It is one of the ports that accept logs from overseas and its woodcraft is well known.
Bates said he believes there is much to be gained from a strong relationship with China. “I think it’s naïve to think that China isn’t going to play a major role in Canada’s future,” he said. “I also happen to believe that’s not a bad thing.”
Canada needs diversity from trading partners, Bates added. “Being dependent on one, which we’ve been for many, many years, gives them all the power to tell us how it’s going to be,” he said. “Last year, China bought more lumber products from us than the US.”
Bates also said he was “very impressed” with Formosa’s enthusiasm for the project. “I’d be happy to turn over the reins of this group that we are establishing for the area,” he said. “I’m confident that he can lead a partnership with Powell River, Campbell River, Port Alberni, Comox Valley to establish a stronger and more viable relationship than we have now.”
Formosa said the project could include a trade mission to China. “We’re really hoping that if we can get council’s support, this will be part of our economic revitalization plan that the community will see within the next two to three months,” Formosa said.
McNaughton pointed out that discussions are taking place with Vancouver Island University as well as Powell River’s school district to talk about twinning from an international education perspective. Bates confirmed that Putian University is keen on exchanging teachers as well as students.
McNaughton also said he has been speaking to MP John Weston, who represents West Vancouver-Sunshine Coast-Sea to Sky Country and who lived in Taiwan for a number of years, about the project and his staff is looking for funding sources. As well, Scott Randolph, PRREDS manager, has been exploring provincial funding sources.
Councillors directed staff to continue to research Powell River’s participation in the project.
