Whereas local governments are required to provide drinking water services and most supply irrigation for agriculture to their communities and BC faces real threats to the health, security and supply of water to our rapidly growing communities over the next decade and beyond, and all BC municipalities have high growth targets to achieve; And whereas the 100 million announced in the BC 2023 budget to kickstart support for watershed security is insufficient to ensure adequate restoration and long-term security for drinking water, cultural heritage values, and agriculture needs: Therefore be it resolved that UBCM requests the Province of BC build on their initial investment in the BC Watershed Security Fund to create a dedicated, sustainable, annual funding source that provides 100 million annually for community-driven watershed security initiatives.
