WHEREAS many of the perceived benefits of centralization have caused essential service providers such as the RCMP, health care and social services to locate specialized facilities and resources in medium to large centres as part of their strategic planning which has created an unacceptable travel overhead for rural communities and the delivery agencies; AND WHEREAS these small rural communities are frequently the source of major provincial revenues from natural resource processing in mills and mines whose personnel and families require access to the government mandated services in proximity to their rural work locations, especially in the event of accidental calamities: THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that UBCM lobby the Province of BC to direct their agencies in their strategic planning to recognize the local needs of small rural communities by making qualified, live-in delivery personnel permanently funded and resident in our towns while also taking integrated cognizance of BC Transit needs, the lack of both of which are draining our communities of their lifeblood as evidenced by the results of the 2011 Census.
Ministry of Citizens Services and Open Government The Province recognizes the service needs of citizens in small rural communities and continues to support the commitments made at previous UBCM conventions regarding the provision of health and other essential services in rural communities. The Ministry of Citizens Services and Open Government provides a wide range of provincial government services through 60 Service BC Centres located across the Province. Almost all of these centres are located outside Greater Vancouver and Greater Victoria. In response to concerns about the centralization of services into larger centres to the detriment of smaller, rural communities, the Government of British Columbia is committed to maintain direct, in-person access to a full range of government services through the 60 Service BC Centres in rural communities across the Province.