NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release 2011CSCD0028-000825 July 6, 2011

Ministry of Community, Sport and Cultural Development

 

B.C. invests $91 million in local services and safety

 

VICTORIA – The Province is helping communities deliver essential services and keep families safe with a $91-million payment – the second 2011 instalment of the Strategic Community Investment Fund (SCIF).

 

This investment includes advance payments of Small Community and Regional District Grants and the Traffic Fine Revenue Sharing program. A first instalment of $60 million was paid to communities in March of this year and future instalments are planned for June 2012 and June 2013.

 

 

Quotes:

 

Ida Chong, Minister of Community, Sport and Cultural Development –

 

“The Strategic Community Investment Fund is all about creating safer, healthier, more livable and resilient communities that allow B.C. families to thrive. It also gives local governments more certainty about their fiscal future.”

 

“For smaller communities in particular, the grant part of the fund often represents a major portion of their operating budget. With this advance funding, they’re more equipped to make long-term plans for how to best meet the needs of their residents.”

 

Shirley Bond, Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General –

 

"Families want to live in safe and healthy communities. Programs like this which provide communities with additional resources to help improve community safety are important, and they are working. Today B.C.'s crime rate is the lowest it has been in three decades and that is good news for all of us."

 

 

Quick Facts:

 

·         This SCIF instalment includes:

o   $43,167,814 in Small Community and Regional District Grants.

o   $47,657,649 in Traffic Fine Revenue Sharing program funds.

·         The Traffic Fine Revenue Sharing program assists eligible municipalities that pay police enforcement costs directly.

·         The grants come from ticket fines and court-imposed fines on violation tickets, and the amount of money a municipality receives is based on its contribution to total municipal policing costs.

·         The Small Community and Regional District Grants are unconditional grants to local governments, to assist them in providing basic services. Grant amounts are based on a formula that factors in a base amount, population and assessment values.

 

 

Learn More:

 

B.C. local governments: http://www.cscd.gov.bc.ca/lgd/

 

For a list of local governments receiving funds through Small Community and Regional District Grants and the Traffic Fine Revenue Sharing program, go to:

http://www.newsroom.gov.bc.ca/downloads/BG_SCIF_June_2011.pdf

 

Contact:

Gillian Rhodes Communications Manager Ministry of Community, Sport and Cultural Development 250 356-6334

Connect with the Province of B.C. at: www.gov.bc.ca/connect