Nathan Cullen, Minister of Municipal Affairs, has issued the following statement to mark World Refugee Day on Monday, June 20, 2022:

To ensure Ukrainians fleeing violence who are arriving in B.C. have access to the services they need, and to co-ordinate the generosity of British Columbians, the Province is updating supports.

Lytton will benefit from more than $8.3 million in funding from the Province to support ongoing village operations and recovery.

B.C. local governments and modern Treaty Nations can apply for grants to support crucial local services that respond to the impacts of homelessness worsened by the pandemic.

The Province and Union of BC Municipalities will work together to review the local government finance system in B.C.  to ensure that municipal governments and regional districts remain resilient in the face of economic changes.

People in B.C. communities will benefit from legislative amendments that give local governments more powers to simplify and speed up their development approvals processes, helping to get the homes people need built faster.

Forty-three local governments throughout British Columbia are receiving grants to create more efficient development approvals processes that will help people get the homes they need built faster and support economic recovery.