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.
Ministry of Housing and Municipal Affairs The Province recognizes the pressures on local government infrastructure, amenities and services with aging infrastructure, increased growth, and climate change impacts. In this time of economic uncertainty, working together across levels of government to build a strong, resilient BC economy is a high priority for this government. The Province continues to advocate the federal government for bilateral funding programs that support local government infrastructure needs. The Canada Community-Building Fund, a tripartite agreement between the Government of Canada, the Province, and the Union of BC Municipalities, was renewed for another 10 years in 2024, and is a good example of long-term, predictable funding towards local governments that supports their infrastructure priorities. A suite of legislative changes has been put into place over the last two years to improve local governments ability to finance development-related infrastructure and to enable local governments to access borrowing more efficiently. This includes amending the Local Government Act and Vancouver Charter to provide new and updated development finance tools that local governments can use to help fund the costs of infrastructure and amenities to support complete and livable communities. Changes to legislation included updating the scope of infrastructure eligible to be funded through Development Cost Charges DCCs to include fire protection facilities, police facilities, and solid waste facilities; and, a new development finance tool called Amenity Cost Charges ACCs that allows local governments to collect funds from new developments that increase the number of residents or workers to help pay for amenities like community centres, recreation centres, daycares, and libraries to support this community growth. DCC and ACC best practices guides are available to support local governments as they develop and implement new bylaws. Additional changes created new site-level infrastructure authorities. This includes expanded works and services powers that enable local governments to require a broader range of infrastructure such as roads, water, sewer, drainage, street furniture, parklets and sustainable design features at the building permit stage. It also expanded road dedication authority to secure space for wider sidewalks, street trees and traffic calming measures. In 2025, the Province amended the municipal liabilities regulation and the short-term capital borrowing regulation to give municipalities more flexibility to plan and finance infrastructure projects. Municipalities can now borrow, without elector approval, for debt costs up to 10 percent of their annual revenue. In addition, the dollar limit for short term capital borrowing has been increased from 50 to 150 per capita. The Province anticipates that these measures will save time and costs and help municipalities deliver a wide range of essential infrastructure more efficiently.