Provincial Climate Action Funding After CARIP

Whereas the Ministry of Municipal Affairs announced in May 2021, without consultation, the cancellation of the of the Climate Action Rebate Incentive Program CARIP without identifying any new funding for the development, implementation or administration of local government climate action programs, undermining the ability of local governments to participate in climate action initiatives; And whereas 187 local governments in British Columbia have voluntarily signed onto the Climate Action Charter and by doing so have been able to access the Climate Action Rebate Incentive Program; And whereas under the CleanBC Plan, the Province of British Columbia recently amended the Climate Change Accountability Act to include a sectoral GHG emissions reduction target of 59 to 64 below 2007 levels by 2030 for buildings and communities, requiring the development and implementation of comprehensive climate action initiatives and regulatory programs by local governments: Therefore be it resolved that UBCM ask the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change to replace CARIP with a new, non-competitive funding program commencing in the 2022 fiscal year that provides equivalent or better funding to all local governments, enabling them to be effective and accountable partners with the Province.