About the Municipality
Northern Rockies Regional Municipality - BC's First!
What does it mean for you?
The NRRM, incorporated on February 6th, 2009, is the first Regional Municipality in BC and officially combines the former entities of the Town of Fort Nelson and the Northern Rockies Regional District. The boundaries of the NRRM mimic that of the previous Regional District, encompassing about 10% of provinces landmass (85,148.87 km2 or 32,876.16 square miles).
Some of the key differences between the former local government system and the new Regional Municipality are:
- The NRRM will be responsible for rural public roads and rural policing
- The Province no longer collects the Provincial Rural property tax and tax collections in the rural areas are transferred to the Regional Municipality
- Rural subdivision approval is transferred to the Regional Municipality
- The powers and responsibilities of a Municipality including planning, land use, and bylaw application now extend to the border the new Regional Municipality
"Fort Nelson has a long history of introducing positive changes to local governemnt in BC starting with the incorporation of the Village of Fort Nelson in 1971 as BC's first and only 'Resource Municipality'."
--Former Mayor Chris Morey
The NRRM, based in Fort Nelson, is also home to one of the most progressive tax regimes in the province and is endorsed by CEPA and CAPP. The "3.3 Ratio Industrial Rate Policy" firmly links residential and industrial property taxes to industrial taxes providing all parties with tax fairness, certainty and predictability.
The groundwork for the formation of a Regional "Economic Forum" is currently underway. This entity will bring together the four key partners - First Nations, Industry, the Province, and the Municipality - regularly to plan and coordinate future development.
Local access to the regional tax base, the simplification of single-tier government, the broadened authority of local government, and the formation of the Economic Forum to facilitate meaningful and effective communication and co-operation will all work to the benefit of all citizens of the Northern Rockies.
Related Documents
- Northern Rockies Partnership Brochure [PDF - 2.8 MB]
- The Formal Restructure Study [PDF - 3.7 MB]
- Capital Needs Assessment and Budget [PDF - 7.4 MB]
- October 29th FN News Supplement [PDF - 2 MB]
- November 5th FN News Full Page Ad [PDF - 444 KB]
- Minister's Order for Vote [PDF - 43 KB]
- Size of Council [PDF - 73 KB]
- Public Meeting & Chamber of Commerce Presentation (June 28, 2006)
- Frequently Asked Questions [PDF - 177 KB]
If you have any comments or questions, please write to us via our Contact Us page.
Go to Top