Whereas highway rescue services should be consistent throughout the Province of British Columbia, available on all provincial highways and funded in full by the provincial government; And whereas highway rescue services are available on some highways, but: 1. Funded through local taxation if the incident location is within the local rescue service area boundary; and 2. Funded in part by Emergency Management BC if the incident location is outside of the local rescue service area boundary; And whereas the Province is responsible for maintaining all provincial highways in the Province of British Columbia: Therefore be it resolved that the provincial government assume the responsibility of ensuring that highway rescue services are provided in a consistent manner on all provincial highways and are fully funded by the Province.
Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General For areas of the province where road rescue is not provided as part of a local government service, the Province provides support to road rescue providers that are willing and able to undertake a response outside of their jurisdictions. Under the policy, reimbursement rates are intended to offset costs directly associated to the response and it provides for WorkSafeBC coverage and exemption from civil liability under the Emergency Program Act. Currently, the Province is working with the Fire Chiefs Association of BC to examine road rescue issues and to develop a proposed governance framework for road rescue. Such a framework will then be used to examine the suitability of possible funding solutions.