WHEREAS there is growing concern among some rural residents that basic maintenance of rural roads is not being deployed in remote areas of regional districts; AND WHEREAS the Ministry of Transportation does not necessarily fund basic road maintenance service to all public road rights-of-way and many people depend on these roads throughout the year for access to their homes: THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Province of British Columbia develop an improved program of basic rural road maintenance; AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that remote communities and regional districts be notified about which rural roads are maintained and those that are not.
Ministry of Transportation Infrastructure The Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure Ministry recognizes the importance of investment in the transportation infrastructure as a means of securing economic growth and prosperity for rural British Columbia. The Ministry makes significant investments in rural British Columbia in all of its program areas whether it is ongoing maintenance, rehabilitation or replacement of existing infrastructure or capital expansion. Since 200304 fiscal year, the Ministry has invested more than 400M specifically to address rural road concerns under its Heartlands Program. Programs have also been developed to deal with specific problems that have developed in rural British Columbia such as funding to assist in dealing with the Mountain Pine Beetle infestation or to assist in allowing mineral or petroleum exploration as is evidenced in the North East of the province. Since 200304, the Ministry has invested more than 120M under its Mountain Pine Beetle Program and more than 250M under its Heartlands Oil and Gas Program.