Whereas many communities are wrestling with increased infrastructure costs for essential services and in finding adequate sources of funding; And whereas small communities have very limited funding options for providing basic infrastructure for their residents: Therefore be it resolved that UBCM work with the Province and federal government to develop future infrastructure funding programs that provide for a lower cost-share threshold for communities under 5,000.
Ministry of Municipal Affairs Housing The Province of British Columbia appreciates that small communities are concerned with the increasing costs of infrastructure for essential services. The Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing Ministry continues to work on delivering funding that meets the needs of local governments, including small communities, ensuring that there is a fair and equitable process of distribution of funds across the Province. The Province acknowledges that programs such as the Gas Tax Strategic Priorities Fund and Community Works Funds, which provide up to 100 funding, and the Federal-Provincial Clean Water and Wastewater Fund, which required only a 17 percent funding contribution from local governments rather than a one third contribution, provide opportunities for all communities, including small communities, to construct vital infrastructure that may otherwise be difficult to finance. The Province is currently in discussions with the Federal Government regarding the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program ICIP. For joint Federal-Provincial programs, the Federal share is set by the Federal Government, who often identifies the partner cost-share requirements. As with the development of past programs, the Ministry will consider the challenges of small communities and analyse the cost-share formula in the development of future funding programs, including ICIP, with regard to the Provincial cost share as well as cost share requirements by third parties. The ministry has heard UBCMs request for a 40 provincial cost share portion and will take that forward to government for further consideration.
Ministry of Infrastructure and Communities Under the Rural and Northern Infrastructure Stream of the Investing in Canada Plan, the Government of Canada will invest 2 billion to support a broad range of infrastructure projects. The Government will invest up to 50 percent for provincial, municipal and not-for-profit projects, and provinces will have to cost-share on municipal projects at a minimum of 33.33 percent of eligible costs. This stream will meet the cost-sharing needs of small and rural communities, and will apply to communities which fall under a certain population threshold, to be set by the Government of British Columbia.
FCM At the latest board meeting in March 2018, the FCM Board of Directors considered the resolution and categorized it as Category D In accordance with existing FCM policy. This category contains resolutions that have been considered by FCM in the previous three years or that are in accordance with FCMs standing policy and advocacy priorities. In this case, the resolution was received by the Board of Directors for information only.