Category:

On May 22, 2014, it was announced that the Administrative Agreement on the Federal Gas Tax Fund in British Columbia (the GTA) had been signed between Canada, British Columbia and UBCM. “Leading into our negotiations with Canada and BC, we reached out to the membership to gather feedback on the first nine years of the program. What we heard is that there was a desire to see the program streamlined, and more room provided for local decision making,” said UBCM President Rhona Martin.

“The web-based Drainage Infrastructure Screening Tool is designed to help local governments implement a watershed-based approach, one that results in affordable and effective Asset Management. In an era of fiscal constraints and increased emphasis on accountability, the tool allows local governments to demonstrate prudent use of scarce financial resources to achieve more at less cost,” reports Kim Stephens.

“The change is here, and it is accelerating. Local governments have an opportunity to adapt and mitigate these changes and improve resiliency of communities within existing legislative authority and current best practices,” states Kim Fowler.

“Sustainable Service Delivery integrates all the principles of Asset Management. It understands the value of land-use planning; and it understands the impacts that land-use planning has on service delivery. It also integrates the ‘design with nature’ philosophy,” states Derek Richmond.

“We cannot move forward with Asset Management without consideration of the environment, and therefore the watershed. Sustainable Service Delivery builds on the principles of Asset Management. It is going to be a component, and a requirement, under the next Gas Tax Grant Program. This is where we will find traction in moving Sustainable Service Delivery forward,” stated Glen Brown.