Vibrant, Connected, Environmentally Sustainable Communities

British Columbians have incredible spirit. Our sense of community is strong, and we love to celebrate our diverse cultural origins. Our diversity and spirit make our communities stronger and help us to be socially responsive. But we can, and must, do more.

Next year B.C. will celebrate BC2008, the 150th anniversary of the founding of the Crown Colony of British Columbia in 1858. Every community in B.C. is invited to participate in this year-long celebration of B.C.’s cultural diversity, community strength and widespread achievement. The Province has announced funding of up to $20 million for Spirit Squares to help communities to create and enhance public outdoor meeting spaces where British Columbians can celebrate their community pride and spirit. Spirit Squares may take the form of a traditional town square or community commons. They will reflect the diversity of each community’s citizens, their culture, their First Nations heritage and their local history. Pacific Gates will celebrate our province’s significant Asian heritage and culture.

In 2006, the Task Force on Community Opportunities proposed to local government leaders that they take action to put in place more citizen-centred delivery of fire and water treatment services, and ways to make business licensing more seamless and business-friendly to encourage economic development. Local government leaders are assessing these proposals and have the opportunity to work with the provincial government and others to implement these ideas.

Ensuring that there are appropriate affordable housing choices for all members of society is a key concern for British Columbia communities. Many communities are also facing challenges addressing homelessness. The provincial government is providing $40 million annually towards a new Rental Assistance Program that will assist 15,000 families. The provincial government has also expanded the Emergency Shelter Program to 1,300 year-round beds. Premier Gordon Campbell has challenged local government leaders to take specific actions to reduce urban sprawl and make housing more affordable. Increasing densities and reducing building costs can make housing more affordable and also have net benefits for the environment.

Government is promoting environmentally sustainable communities by investing in new initiatives such as the Green Cities Project to encourage cities to expand their networks of pedestrian paths, cycle ways, green ways and wheelchair-accessible green spaces. The Green Cities Project will promote, recognize and reward B.C.’s best designs and programs for encouraging physical activity, energy conservation and environmental benefits in communities of all sizes, and a Green Cities Award will be presented each year to honour and learn from the best practices that are being used across the province.

Towns for Tomorrow will provide $21 million, over four years, for projects in B.C.’s communities with populations under 5,000. With the funding, communities may choose to make water quality improvements, develop recreation and cultural amenities, undertake environmental energy improvements, or invest in protective and emergency services infrastructure and community development. More than $150 million in funding is available to all B.C. communities under the Canada/BC Municipal Rural Infrastructure Fund for water and sewer infrastructure projects.

The government’s new LocalMotion Fund of $40 million in matching grants is aimed at getting people moving on their own steam and getting British Columbians out of their vehicles. The funds will be available to local governments to be used to help build bike paths, walkways and greenways, improve accessibility for persons with disabilities, and support programs to get kids playing in communities and parks.

An estimated $50 million is available for cycling and pedestrian infrastructure for the Gateway Program in the Lower Mainland, that includes $10 million of matching funds available to engage municipalities in linking into the regional cycling network. In addition, the Cycling Infrastructure Partnerships Program makes available up to $2 million annually to help local government enhance the attractiveness of cycling as a commuter option. Government will also continue the $2,000 tax break on hybrid vehicle purchases that is available to any British Columbian.

Community transition planning to assist communities affected by the mountain pine beetle infestation is identifying innovative solutions and opportunities for those communities to pursue new types of economic development.

British Columbia is globally acknowledged as one of the most beautiful parts of the world. We have many unique ecosystems and dramatic geography. B.C. has taken unprecedented steps to preserve these special features for our children, grandchildren and visitors. A total of 13.8 per cent of B.C.’s land base is protected – the largest percentage of any jurisdiction in Canada.

While B.C. is a world leader in protecting our unique spaces and biodiversity, we must recognize that our global environment is changing. Setting aside unique ecosystems and encouraging British Columbians to lessen their impact on the environment will not be enough to address environmental issues. Our growing economy and population continue to put new pressures on our environment. For example, demand for electricity is expected to increase by 45 per cent over the next 20 years, and our increasing trade with Asia requires that we improve our transportation networks. At the same time, British Columbians are becoming much more conscious of our impact on the land, water and air. We are concerned about the challenges of climate change and are ready to lead Canada in reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

The provincial government will be releasing a new climate change action plan to tackle the challenge of global warming. The Province will also be releasing a new energy plan so that we can be electricity self-sufficient with environmentally sustainable energy sources and still have competitive energy costs. Conservation is the first component of meeting electricity needs, and a key component of the energy plan. If less electricity is consumed, fewer new sources of supply need to be developed.

Government will be introducing measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in transportation and increase energy efficiency in buildings, and will be setting new emission standards and new global targets to combat climate change.

To conserve water resources and improve water quality, government will introduce measures to improve groundwater drinking quality, and address waste water treatment. Government has committed to provide one-third funding for secondary sewage treatment in Victoria.