FRONTCOUNTER BC TO SERVE PRINCE GEORGE AND AREA CLIENTS

PRINCE GEORGE – FrontCounter BC is now open in Prince George to serve natural resource-based clients who want to start up a new business, or renew licenses or permits for an existing one, Agriculture and Lands Minister Pat Bell announced today.

“One of the reasons we created FrontCounter BC was because our natural resource clients told us they were frustrated with chasing down permits and licenses in several different locations,” said Bell. “FrontCounter BC simplifies the process by serving as a single point of contact for people interested in investing in our province’s natural resource industry.”

FrontCounter BC is part of government’s ongoing, long-term plan to deliver services when and where they are needed. The goal is to give natural resource business clients access to the services they need in one location instead of having to make numerous queries at several different natural resource agencies. Ultimately, FrontCounter BC fosters vibrant, robust B.C. communities by making it easier for businesses to invest in natural resource opportunities.

“This is an exciting time for Prince George because FrontCounter BC will help citizens and small-to-medium-sized natural resource-based clients start up a new business or continue operating,” said Prince George-Mount Robson MLA Shirley Bond. “This gives clients direct access to highly trained and knowledgeable staff who can help them navigate the license, permit and registration processes from start to finish.”

Obtaining permits and authorization can be a complex and time-consuming process. For example, a guide outfitter operating in the north requires an estimated 12 to 24 licenses and permits from up to five different provincial natural resource agencies and 8 other agencies. FrontCounter BC simplifies the process by offering single access to the required permits and authorizations.

“This is a fantastic new government service for natural resource-based clients,” said Prince George-Omineca MLA John Rustad. “Clients have noticed a huge improvement in services as FrontCounter BC provides a single window to access information about natural resource permits and authorizations.”

FrontCounter BC provides complete information across the provincial natural resource sector and accepts applications and fees for approximately 85 permits, licenses, tenures and related authorizations on behalf of partner agencies. Clients can pay for services using cash, debit or credit card. Staff do not ‘lobby’ to have projects approved, they act as liaisons between the client and host ministries and agencies, advocating for timely decisions and responses. In March, FrontCounter BC gained major recognition by taking top honours in the cross-government integration category at the Premier’s Innovation and Excellence Awards.

In addition to its single-window service for clients of provincial natural resource ministries and agencies, FrontCounter BC also offers OneStop Business Registry services as well as access to a wide range of government information and services available online via a Community Access Terminal (CAT).

Prince George is the second of several FrontCounter BC offices opening across the province, Kamloops opened in September 2005. Additional FrontCounter BC centres will open officially in Nanaimo and Surrey this summer, and Cranbrook, Williams Lake, Fort St. John, Smithers and Victoria later this year.

For more information on FrontCounter BC, visit www.frontcounterbc.gov.bc.ca

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Backgrounder attached outlines some of the natural resource-related permits and authorizations handled by FrontCounter BC.

1 backgrounder(s) attached.
Media contact:	Liz Bicknell Communications Director Ministry of Agriculture and Lands 250 356-2862 250 213-3072 (cell)

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