LIVING WATER SMART IN BRITISH COLUMBIA: “I would like to say taxpayers are unhappy but that would be an understatement. They are angry! Everywhere there is distrust,” stated Arnold Schwabe, Executive Director with Asset Management BC
Note to Reader:
Published by the Partnership for Water Sustainability in British Columbia, Waterbucket eNews celebrates the leadership of individuals and organizations who are guided by the Living Water Smart vision. The edition published on February 11, 2025 featured an essay by Arnold Schwabe of Asset Management BC. He shares his vision for building on the foundation created by Wally Wells, his predecessor as Executive Director (2010-2024). His core message is that it is time for a re-set in terms of how local governments deliver services.
EDITOR’S PERSPECTIVE / CONTEXT FOR BUSY READER
“The collaborative nature of the working relationship between Asset Management BC and the Partnership, combined with our shared commitment to Asset Management for Sustainable Service Delivery, transcends our memorandum of understanding. We share a mission and represent complementary audiences and perspectives within local government,” stated Kim Stephens, Waterbucket eNews Editor and Partnership Executive Director.
It is time for a re-set in terms of how local governments deliver services
“I would like to say taxpayers are unhappy but that would be an understatement. They are angry! Everywhere there is distrust. Things are changing in local government and we need to get a better handle on what direction that change goes,” Arnold Schwabe emphasizes.
“And I believe that distrust results from failure to communicate the purposes of local government as defined in the Community Charter for municipalities and in the Local Government Act for regional districts. When elected officials get so far into the weeds that they tell staff how to do their job, that creates problems.”
“So, what do we do? We reset. It is clearly a time of change. I think it is an appropriate time for local governments to reflect and self-evaluate the services they provide and how they provide them.”
“This isn’t about blame. It is about putting pieces together. To some degree, I see Asset Management BC in the same position in its history. It has become well-established. With Wally Wells moving on, it is time for self-evaluation.”
Sustainable Service Delivery explained
Glen Brown, co-chair of UBCM, coined the phrase Sustainable Service Delivery in 2010. “It is all about the service”, said Glen Brown. “Basically, well-maintained municipal infrastructure assets are worthless IF THEY DO NOT provide a service. Also, for any asset management approach to be successful, it must not focus on the infrastructure asset by itself.”
“Asset Management is the task. Sustainable Service Delivery is the function,” Wally Wells stresses in conversations and in presentations.
To learn more:
To read the complete 3-part story, download a copy of Living Water Smart in British Columbia: Confront the problems, operationalize sustainable service delivery!
DOWNLOAD A COPY: https://waterbucket.ca/wcp/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2025/01/PWSBC_Living-Water-Smart_Arnold-Schwabe-and-Sustainable-Service-Delivery_2025.pdf