Whereas BC local governments are facing increasing challenges in meeting their infrastructure needs including: legislated housing growth and densification, existing and emerging environmental regulatory requirements, and addressing the existing infrastructure deficit; And whereas local governments do not have financial tools linked to population and economic growth that could fund the capital renewal, expansion, and ongoing maintenance required; And whereas delays in provincial permitting processes have significant consequences to the viability and ultimate costs of infrastructure projects; And whereas local governments are increasingly taking on tasks that have historically been the responsibility of the provincial and federal government including providing lands and other financial supports for non-market and supportive housing, while also bearing costs related to medical emergency response, and managing encampments for growing numbers of unhoused British Columbians: Therefore be it resolved that the Province invest in a long-term, predictable, allocation-based funding program to support local government infrastructure servicing needs, protecting our communities against future climate related risks and stimulate growth of the provincial economy; And be it further resolved that the Province invest in its own areas of responsibility including provincial infrastructure investments and provincial permitting processes required to support housing-related population growth.
