2024 R41 – Increased Funding for Local Government Infrastructure
- Year: 2024
- AVICC Number: R41
- UBCM Number: RR27
- Comox
Whereas local governments across BC are facing infrastructure funding shortfalls to maintain current infrastructure and as a result are implementing significant municipal tax increases;
And whereas continued population growth and housing demand is resulting in the need for local governments to expand their recreation, fire, police, parks, and administration services at a level greater than can be accomplished through the use of the newly introduced Amenity Cost Contribution authority:
Therefore be it resolved that UBCM petition the Province of British Columbia to provide increased funding to support capital expansions of local government service infrastructure.
- Year: 2024
- AVICC Number: R41
- Sponsor: Comox
- Resolution Type: Provincial
- Category: Finance
- AVICC Decision: Endorsed
- AVICC Action: Forwarded to UBCM
- AVICC Response link
- UBCM Number: RR27
- UBCM Decision: Not considered - Similar ask to another resolution
- Provincial Response:RESPONSE UBCM 2024-EB26: Ministry of Housing and Municipal Affairs Infrastructure projects which trigger the environmental assessment process regularly have conditions attached to their approved Environmental Assessment Certificate to mitigate potential negative impacts such as those on local housing supply. In many cases, temporary accommodation in camp environments are used to mitigate local housing impacts. Other mitigation options include investment in local housing supply and use of hotels, campgrounds or other commercial options rather than utilizing local supply. Even for smaller projects, which may not have socio-economic effects conditions in their environmental assessment certificate or other approvals, the Province encourages project proponents to consider local housing impacts and other social and economic impacts and seek to provide mitigation options. The Ministry of Housing and Municipal Affairs is currently working with the Environmental Assessment Office to analyze the effectiveness of Certificate conditions on approved infrastructure projects with the goal of enhancing conditions for future projects. The Province launched the Rural Economic Diversification and Infrastructure Program which includes a funding stream to support planning for workforce housing. Through this sub-stream, applicants are eligible for funding for planning activities to support critical economic opportunities or sectors that are unable to fill workforce demands due to a lack of housing. Seven workforce housing projects were funded by the Province in the first two years of this program.
- UBCM Response link
The AVICC acknowledges that we are grateful to live, work, and play on the traditional territories of theCoast Salish, Nuu-Chah-Nulth and Kwak-Waka’wakw Peoples