Local Government — Continued

Goal: Open, accountable and effective local governments

Planning Context

There are 152 municipalities and 27 regional districts incorporated under the Local Government Act in British Columbia. Two municipalities, the City of Vancouver and the Sechelt Indian Government District, are incorporated under their own Acts. Predominantly, municipalities take the form of cities, districts, towns and villages.

Local governments range from the Village of Zeballos with a population of 243, to the Greater Vancouver Regional District with a population of 1,978,523, from the Village of Silverton with an area of 63 hectares to the Peace River Regional District with an area of 11,933,655 hectares. Local governments also have a wide disparity in the resources available to them. For example, the District of Wells has an annual budget of approximately $230,000 while the City of Vancouver had an annual budget of $664 million in 2002.

The planning context for local government includes such divergent influences as provincial policies, growing federal government interest in communities, greater demand for local public services, and public awareness of environmental issues such as the need for clean water.

In other areas, too, the role of local government is increasing in complexity and potential impact as citizens demand that local governments address the impacts of changes to the social and economic fabric of their communities. The new roles for local governments have led them to demand increased local autonomy, and with it a more collaborative approach to government-to-government relations, between and among local governments or with the province. Closely linked are increased public demands for efficient, effective and accountable local governments.

A key challenge for the local government department in achieving its performance objectives is to effectively implement the Community Charter so that local governments and the general public understand and accept the legislation and take advantage of the opportunities. The Community Charter defines a new relationship that embodies the strategic shift to local autonomy and addresses the need for increased coordination among different orders of government.

Objectives	Key Strategies
1. Local governments are able to effectively exercise broader authority in the context of enhanced accountability to citizens.	• Develop and implement Community Charter municipal provisions. • Define scope and develop second phase of Community Charter.
2. Communities are able to provide safe drinking water and appropriate sewage treatment.	• Deliver Canada/BC Infrastructure Program. • Deliver infrastructure planning grant program.
3. Efficient and effective local government systems.	• Assist communities engaged in restructuring activities. • Allocate unconditional grants to communities. • Co-ordinate provincial government actions in high growth regions and facilitate cooperation among governments.
4. Public libraries are able to provide accessible service on an equitable basis to allBritish Columbians.	• Develop a strategic plan for public libraries in British Columbia.