Whereas the Community Resilience Investment Programs funding model for FireSmart related activities on private property is capped at 100,000 per local government regardless of population or geographic area; And whereas the funding model and funding eligibility requirements put geographically large regional districts at a notable disadvantage compared to local governments with significantly less wildfire interface areas: Therefore be it resolved that the Province develop eligibility requirements for Community Resilience Investment Program funding, and a funding model, that are equitable and based on local government need.
Ministry of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development The BC Government recognizes that different local governments have unique circumstances, needs and capacity to respond to wildfire risk. The Community Resiliency Investment CRI program has a number of eligible activities designed to support various local governments. Funding is available for interagency cooperation, which aims to facilitate collaboration between multiple jurisdictions in order to develop local solutions to increase community resiliency to wildfire. For example, a regional FireSmart committee could be established to leverage funding, capacity between communities and ensure collaboration between local authorities, the provincial government and other partners and stakeholders. In response to feedback from local governments and First Nations, the CRI program maximum has increased from 100,000 to 150,000. Applications that include fuel management on Provincial Crown land, primarily within administrative boundaries and including contiguous, logical treatment units that extend onto the Crown land base, may exceed the funding maximum for fuel management activities only. Funding requests from two or more eligible applicants for regional projects may be submitted as a single application for eligible, collaborative projects. In this case, the maximum funding available would be based on the number of eligible applicants included in the application. For example, a regional application with three partners could provide a number of cost efficiencies and maximize available funding to 450,000. The BC Government recognizes the need to assist residential land owners with information and funding to conduct FireSmart activities on private land. The new CRI program is now funding increased FireSmart activities on private lands. Eligible activities include planning, local rebate programs and offsite vegetative debris disposal. The local rebate program allows local authorities to provide home owners with a rebate of up to 500 for FireSmart activities such as vegetation removal or using FireSmart recommended building materials. Additionally, FireSmart assessments are an eligible cost. The Government of BC is taking further action by implementing provincial funding on Crown land in areas of higher wildfire risk near communities and is intended to complement community action. Together, these two funding streams will assist in increasing community resiliency to wildfire. Based on ongoing feedback the Government of BC is looking at ways to be more responsive to concerns that have been raised to ensure the CRI program is equitable and responsive to local government needs.