WHEREAS local governments provide important and vital services to the residents of British Columbia; AND WHEREAS small communities have come to rely on provincial revenues, in the form of Unconditional or Small Community Protection grants also known as Community Strategic Investment grants, in order to support their ability to provide such services to the residents of this province; AND WHEREAS the Government of Canada has just recently recognized the true importance and value of strategic, predictable and long term investments in local government infrastructure to Canada: THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that UBCM encourage the Government of British Columbia to commit to ensuring stable, predictable and sustainable funding for small communities in British Columbia to ensure adequate revenue resources for these communities to allow them to continue to provide essential infrastructure and local government services to the residents and businesses of their respective communities and to the Province of British Columbia as a whole.
Ministry of Community, Sport Cultural Development The Province of British Columbia understands the importance of the Small Community Grants SCG which help fund critical services in smaller communities. Thus, between 2005 and 2014, the Province has doubled the total annual SCG from 24 million to 48.5 million. The Province remains committed to the continuance of this program for the benefit of small communities throughout British Columbia.