HIGHLIGHTS OF PREMIER GORDON CAMPBELL SPEECH TO UBCM

· A commitment to increase the shelter allowance for income assistance recipients in next provincial budget.

· A commitment to work with municipalities to build more affordable housing, new facilities, and supports for people with mental illnesses and addictions through concerted actions aimed at increasing densities, reducing building costs, and achieving net benefits for the environment.

B.C. Spirit Square Program

· Up to $20 million to assist communities in creating or enhancing outdoor public meeting spaces.

· Spirit Squares may take the shape of traditional town squares or community commons with design and location up to each community.

· The Province will share up to half the capital costs of projects, up to $500,000, that reflect their community, their diversity, their cultural and First Nations Heritage, and their history.

Green Cities Project/LocalMotion Fund

· Annual Green City Awards at future UBCM conventions to be given to communities encouraging physical activity, energy conservation, and environmental benefits.

· LocalMotion Fund of $10 million per year for four years ($40 million in total) to help build bike paths, walkways, greenways, improved accessibility for persons with disabilities, and support programs to get kids playing in communities and parks. Province will provide 50 per cent of capital funding, up to $1 million per year.

· New financial incentives to help municipalities shift to hybrid vehicle fleets and retrofit dirty diesel vehicles with cleaner technologies.

· $2,000 tax break on hybrid vehicle purchases will be extended beyond current March 2008 deadline in next provincial budget.

· As of 2007, all new cars leased or purchased by provincial government will be hybrids.

· A Provincial commitment to contribute one third of the capital funding towards the best, lowest cost solution that will provide proper sewage treatment in Greater Victoria.

Towns for Tomorrow Program

· Targeted to communities with a population under 5,000 and their infrastructure projects that are often ineligible for larger federal-provincial programs.

· $21 million program – $7 million a year for three years to support small towns’ infrastructure priorities on cost-sharing basis whereby the Province will fund 80 per cent of project cost and the municipalities fund the remaining 20 per cent, up to a maximum total value of $500,000.

· Program to be overseen by the Premier’s new Parliamentary Secretary for Rural Development, Kevin Krueger (MLA for Kamloops-North Thompson).

Getting Best Value for Taxpayers

· A new capital standard that will require all provincially-funded capital projects with a value of over $20 million to be considered first by Partnerships BC to be built as public-private partnerships unless there is a compelling reason to do otherwise.

· Public-private partnerships to date have resulted in significant benefits, including $131 million in additional benefits on the Sea-to-Sky Highway, $92 million in benefits for the new Canada Line, $39 million in benefits on the Abbotsford Hospital and Cancer Centre, and $25 million in benefits from the new William R. Bennett Bridge.

· The Province will provide one third of the capital funding for the Capital Regional District to provide proper sewage treatment in Greater Victoria, as long as Partnerships BC takes a hard look at how project can be done as a P3.

· Work with municipalities to harmonize municipal business licences by 2008 so businesses can operate freely across the entire province.

Building Canada’s Pacific Gateway

· Push for unified Pacific Port Authority to ensure co-ordinated trade through all BC ports.

· Work with Northwest to establish an integrated port plan for the millions of container shipments that will come from increased trade.

· Work with Prince George to establish inland port to move air, sea, and land cargo through to Asian and North American markets in record time.

· Work with Kamloops and Ashcroft to develop the best possible Southern Interior inland port.

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Media contact:	Mike Morton Press Secretary Office of the Premier 250 213-8218

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