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).

The Province is continuing its strong support for the work of British Columbia's Provincial Sport Organizations (PSOs) by providing them with more than $9 million in funding for 2011/12.

Public-minded citizens knowledgeable about property appraisal and real estate values can serve their community by becoming a member of the B.C. Property Assessment Review Panel.

The Province is delivering $32.2 million to the Peace River Region through the latest instalment of the FairShare Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to support economic development and address infrastructure priorities in B.C.'s Northeast.

The Province is helping small, rural communities address infrastructure priorities with an investment of $17.2 million through the Towns for Tomorrow program.

The Province has introduced legislation to allow the City of Richmond to provide targeted, transitional tax relief to commercial property owners in the Brighouse area, announced Ida Chong, Minister of Community Sport and Cultural Development.

May 15-21, 2011 has been proclaimed Local Government Awareness Week, announced Minister of Community Sport and Cultural Development Ida Chong and Union of British Columbia Municipalities (UBCM) president Barbara Steele.

Significant changes to local government election rules will be put in place for the 2014 elections.