Whereas the Interior Health and Northern Health regions of BC in combination make up the largest number of fatalities for vehicle incidents in the province, being 189 out of 331 deaths in 2023 or 57, while only representing 22 of the provinces population; And whereas the Interior Health region has a death rate of 15.2 per 100,000, and the Northern Health region has a death rate of 18.1, both of which are well in excess of the provincial average of 6.0; And whereas the safety of highways in the Interior Health and Northern Health regions impacts all British Columbians due to the centrality of these highways; And whereas the provinces commitment to a 728 million to upgrade Highway 1 between Kamloops and the Alberta border mitigates safety issues on one specific corridor, but does not address safety concerns on the many other highway corridors in Interior and Northern BC: Therefore be it resolved that the Province work with regional districts and municipalities in the Interior Health and Northern Health regions to prioritize upgrades, as well as ongoing road maintenance standards and oversight, to provincial highways within municipal borders and in regional districts; And be it further resolved that the Province commit to funding improvements with the goal of reducing death rates in the Interior Health and Northern Health regions.
