Whereas the intention of the Rural Dividend program is to provide funding to support economic diversification beyond resource development in rural, remote and Indigenous communities that are currently forest dependent; And whereas the Rural Dividend program has been effective at diversifying economies and enabling local governments to deliver important projects; And whereas the recent decision from the Provincial Government of BC has migrated funding from the Rural Dividend program to a reactive support to communities impacted by mill closures and curtailments: Therefore be it resolved that UBCM request that the Province of BC reconsiders their decision to reallocate funding from the Rural Dividend program in order to maintain continuous delivery of the Rural Dividend program while identifying alternative funds to simultaneously deliver supports for communities impacted by mill closures and curtailments.
Ministry of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development Government is providing 69 million in programming to assist impacted workers and communities as they face an unprecedented situation in the forestry sector. Support for this essential programming required that funding in the Rural Dividend Program the Program be temporarily reallocated. Government made the decision to use the funding to provide critical supports to workers, families and communities impacted by mill closures and curtailments because there has not been another industry in British Columbia where significant job loss of this nature has been experienced. It is important to note that the Program has been suspended, not cancelled. In Budget 201819 Government extended the Program until 202021. As a result, further application intake periods are anticipated. Applications submitted in the 2019 intake period will be retained for future vetting and funding consideration. The Ministry of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development FLNRORD is aware that funded projects have had a significant impact on economic development and diversification in rural BC. As a result, Program staff remain active in supporting and monitoring previously funded projects. Program staff have worked with colleagues across other ministries to identify options for alternative funding, with an emphasis on community economic development and diversification. A list of alternative funding sources is now posted on the Program website at https:www.gov.bc.caruraldividend. Additionally, FLNRORD Regional Economic Operations staff are also available to provide support for the development and implementation of economic priorities in rural BC.