Whereas a purpose of the Community Charter is to provide municipalities and their councils with the authority and discretion to address existing and future community needs and the flexibility to determine the public interest and to respond to the different needs and changing circumstances of their communities; And whereas the availability of high speed broadband service has become critical to economic development, education and communication, and has recently been declared a basic service by the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission CRTC; And whereas there may not be a viable business case for a commercial or business undertaking to provide high speed broadband service to a community; and in particular, to rural communities: Therefore be it resolved that the Province of British Columbia be encouraged to amend the Community Charter and the Local Government Act to create an exception to the general prohibition against assistance to permit municipalities and regional districts to operate the service of providing capital financing for services provided by a broadband service provider.
Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing The Province recognizes that fast, reliable, internet service results in better access to provincial programs and services, and supports economic development in rural and remote parts of the Province. The Ministry is currently reviewing this matter and undertaking work to better understand the challenges including the differences between municipal and regional district contexts on this issue and to determine how it may be addressed within the legislated rules that govern local government assistance to businesses.