WHEREAS regional district fire departments provide essential lifesaving and emergency response services to communities throughout British Columbia; AND WHEREAS the funding of essential capital infrastructure and equipment such as fire halls and emergency vehicles is very challenging for small fire departments and communities: THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Province of British Columbia work with UBCM to identify mechanisms and strategies to assist in generating sustainable funding for rural fire departments.
Ministry of Justice The Province recognizes that throughout BC, rural fire departments provide a critical service of fire and life safety response within their jurisdictions, and that these programs face a number of challenges. The Province shares UBCMs concern regarding the challenges faced by rural fire departments. The Province, through the multi-stakeholder Fire Services Liaison Group FSLG Report Leadership Group including UBCM, has worked on practical responses to the recommendations in the 2009 FSLG report, many of which relate to the challenges faced by rural departments. The Leadership Groups search for solutions has recognized the fiscal constraints faced by local authorities and the Provincial government. In November 2012, the Office of the Fire Commissioner released a report titled Improving Fire Services: The Office of the Fire Commissioners Response to the FSLG Report which sets out a number of actions designed to address the issues identified by the FSLG. However, new fire services funding is not anticipated in the short term. Consistent with the recommendations of the Leadership Group, the Office of the Fire Commissioner will also be consulting with a Fire Services Advisory Committee on an ongoing basis regarding these and other fire service issues.