WHEREAS the incidence of potential and real states of emergency within local government jurisdictions caused by natural events such as flooding, wildfires, landslides and earthquakes is increasing throughout the province; AND WHEREAS the importance for rural communities to be able to fairly access the means to set in place plans to address preparing for, and dealing with these events is critical to the emergency preparedness of each community: THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Union of British Columbia Municipalities appeal to the Province to direct Emergency Management BC to develop and implement an application based process for communities to obtain funds for emergency preparedness and mitigation works planning.
Ministry of Public Safety Solicitor General Emergency Management BC EMBC, through the Provincial Emergency Program, supports two grant programs available to local governments for the enhancement of community disaster resiliency. The federally funded Joint Emergency Preparedness Program JEPP is a cost-sharing arrangement which supports initiatives such as emergency plans, training, and equipment. JEPP is open to municipal governments, regional districts, and First Nations and is administered by the Provincial Emergency Program PEP. BC was allocated 410,000 in JEPP funding for 2008. The Union of BC Municipalities UBCM Emergency Planning Grant program has received 3 million in funding since 2004 from both the Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General and Ministry for Aboriginal Relations and Reconciliation. This program is specifically targeted to the activities of local governments for the planning and exercising of their emergency programs, including mitigation and preparedness activities. In 2008, 250,000 was available for uptake by local governments. The Province has also committed 10 million per year for ten years 100 million to address flood hazards in BC. The Federal government has committed to match funding on eligible projects over the next six years through the Build Canada Plan. An application process has been developed to rank the projects against criteria and distribute the funds. Additionally, UBCM in conjunction with the Ministry of Forests and Range administer the Community Operational Fuel Treatment Program Application Guidelines to assist communities in the treatment of forest fuels identified during the planning process, in order to mitigate the potential impacts of wildfire in the interface.