Whereas regional district fire services across British Columbia are facing increasing financial pressure with respect to replacing fire apparatus and are not permitted to utilize long-term borrowing from the Municipal Finance Authority to purchase the same without costly referendum processes; And whereas should these referendums fail, communities will be left without fire protection during a time that sees increasing risk from wildfires as well as increased insurance rates, particularly for those without fire protection services: Therefore be it resolved that UBCM ask the Province of British Columbia to enact legislation to permit regional districts to utilize long-term borrowing from the Municipal Finance Authority over the life-span of fire apparatus without the requirement to go to referendum, subject to the service having been established through a referendum process.
