Core Business Areas

The local government core business area is resourced by the Local Government Department and is composed of four program areas: Governance and Structure; Infrastructure and Finance; Intergovernmental Relations and Planning; and Local Government Policy and Research.

Through this core business area, the Ministry:

• provides the provincial legislative, regulatory, and policy frameworks that enable local governments to address community needs;
• manages water and sewer infrastructure capital funding and infrastructure planning;
• works with local governments to develop forward-looking regional strategies;
• makes strategic investments to support community health and sustainability;
• assists local governments with incorporations, amalgamations, and boundary extensions;
• fosters collaboration among federal, provincial, and local governments;
• builds and fosters partnerships with a diverse range of stakeholders, including federal and local governments, provincial ministries, community agencies and the private sector; and
• facilitates productive relationships among local governments, provincial agencies, and First Nations.

The Local Government Department is also responsible for municipal services in the University Endowment Lands. The Local Government Department has a budget of $196.6 million for 2007/08, with a staff of 96 full-time equivalents.

The Women's, Seniors' and Community Services core business area is resourced by the Women's, Seniors' and Community Services Division. The Division comprises three policy/program areas: Seniors' and Women's Partnerships and Information Branch; Community Programs Branch; and Community Partnerships Branch. Under this core business area, the Ministry is responsible for leadership on issues related to seniors, women, inner-cities and communities in transition.

The Ministry contributes to community health and safety by contracting third-party service providers to deliver citizen-centred intervention and prevention services to women, and their children, who are leaving, or are affected by, abusive relationships. The Ministry also provides policy analysis, research, and information to government and the public on women's and seniors' issues, and funds mentoring programs for women entering, re-entering or transitioning in the workforce.

Through this core business area, the Ministry supports revitalization in inner-city communities through public, private and community partnerships. Responsibilities include: funding the BladeRunners youth employment program; coordinating resources and providing leadership to create economic and social development opportunities in inner-cities; and supporting the implementation of the 2010 Winter Games Inner-City Inclusive Commitment Statement. This initiative arose from the 2010 Bid Corporation and its Member Partners' mutual vision to create legacies for all British Columbians. The guarantee section of the 2010 Bid Book contains 37 commitments (the Inner-City Inclusive Commitment Statement) that centre on employment, economic development, housing, recreation, and culture to ensure the interests of those living in Vancouver's inner-city neighbourhoods are addressed. This core business area also leads and coordinates the Provincial Government's work to address issues faced by communities in transition dealing with significant economic change.

The Women's, Seniors' and Community Services core business area has a budget of $55.8 million for 2007/08, with a staff of 37 full-time equivalents.

The Executive and Support Services core business area is composed of the Management Services Division and the Offices of the Minister and Deputy Minister. The Management Services Division supports programs in the Ministry of Community Services and the Ministry of Tourism, Sport and the Arts by supplying services such as:

• corporate policy and planning;
• legislation, regulation, and regulatory reform;
• facilities and administrative services;
• financial services;
• freedom of information services, privacy, records management, and the intranet;
• information technology services; and
• strategic human resources.

The Executive and Support Services core business area has a budget of $9.1 million for 2007/08, with a staff of 70 full-time equivalents.

The Ministry Information Resource Management Plan overview is available on the Ministry website at: http://www.cserv.gov.bc.ca/serviceplan/irmp.pdf.