Whereas local governments are facing significant financial pressures due to the expansion of services which are being downloaded by the provincial and federal governments on many issues including housing, community safety and climate change; And whereas local governments must share the capital infrastructure project costs for healthcare facilities with the provincial government through their Regional Hospital Districts with 60 percent contributed by the Province and 40 percent contributed by Regional Hospital Districts; And whereas local governments must provide the 40 percent voluntary contribution towards the provincial governments health care capital costs, including any cost overruns, or risk losing those projects to other areas of the province: Therefore be it resolved that the provincial government work with Regional Hospital Districts and UBCM to review the cost-sharing model for funding health capital projects in BC, and acknowledge that the reliance on property taxes to fund areas of provincial health care responsibility is inconsistent and unsustainable for BC local governments.
Ministry of Infrastructure Regional hospital districts are key partners in building and maintaining local health facilities. Health authorities work closely with districts to determine the level of cost sharing that may be possible for specific capital projects within approved capital plans. Regional hospital districts are expected to contribute 40 percent of capital project costs within their region. The Province recognizes that regional contributions towards health capital projects vary by district and from project to project. When there is an opportunity to review the Hospital District Act, a review of the cost-sharing model for funding health capital projects in BC could be considered. This could be accompanied by consultations with all stakeholders, including regional hospital and the Union of BC Municipalities.