It seems as though the provincial government may be preparing some policy gifts for local leaders attending this year’s SILGA conference.

The agenda for the Southern Interior Local Government Association annual meeting — to be held in Kamloops this year — is now out, and includes presentations from five different provincial ministers.

SILGA General Manager Alison Slater says there is an expectation the province will be unveiling some form of an announcement of interest to the delegates on May 2nd ahead of Municipal Affairs Minister Anne Kang’s address the Conference.

“There’s actually going to be an announcement coming,” said Slater.  “I do not know what it is, but I gather the Parliamentary Secretary [for Rural Development] Roly Russell is going to be making an announcement just prior to her session.”

Slater notes Kang is one of five BC government ministers set to address SILGA this year.

“They include Minister of Forests [Bruce Ralston], Minister of Mental Health and Addictions [Jennifer Whiteside], Walrus, as we call them, the Minister of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship [Nathan Cullen] and, of course, the Minister of Emergency Preparedness and Climate Readiness [Bowinn Ma],” noted Slater.

However, Slater notes the SILGA delegates will not be getting any direct ‘face time’ with the top government officials.

“Unfortunately the House [Legislature] is in session, so the ministers are very…it’s difficult for them to get to any SILGA convention,” said Slater.  “We always overlap with the House in session.”

This year’s SILGA Convention, which runs from April 30th to May 3rd at the Coast Hotel and Convention Center, will include debate on 46 separate resolutions being brought forward by various communities represented in SILGA.

Kamloops councillor and prospective provincial NDP candidate Bill Sarai is the 2nd Vice President of SILGA.