The Ministry of Municipal Affairs provides local governments with infrastructure funding through a variety of grant programs to help support water-related infrastructure.

The ministry also provides resources to local governments to plan for and mitigate the impacts of drought.

Since 2019, $383.6 million in federal/provincial and provincial-only funding has gone toward 43 projects to support construction of drinking water infrastructure. Projects improve the reliability of water systems, maintain the health and safety of communities and help protect coastal waters. These investments supported projects with total costs of approximately $620 million.

Spending on critical community infrastructure 

Announced as part of Budget 2023, the Province has invested $450 million in critical community infrastructure to support clean drinking water, treatment of wastewater and solid waste, and greenhouse gas reduction through public infrastructure projects in communities provincewide. This investment supports 22 targeted projects and will help address key projects to ensure the continuation of infrastructure improvements in B.C. communities, including Indigenous communities. 

Projects underway include a $2.8-million investment for residents in Strathcona Regional District on Vancouver Island and $3 million for the community of Merritt for water meters. New meters will monitor and reduce water consumption, limit water waste and support the sustainability of local ecosystems.

Infrastructure Planning Grant Program

Municipalities and regional districts can apply for grants that support projects related to the development of sustainable community infrastructure through the Infrastructure Planning Grant Program (IPGP). The program is open for applications year round, with regular processing deadlines.

In the past five years, the IPGP has invested more than $640,000 in 67 drinking water infrastructure related plans, studies or design work.

Grants for as much as $10,000 are available to help local governments develop or improve long-term comprehensive plans, including, but not limited to:

• asset management plans;
• integrated stormwater management plans;
• water master plans; and
• liquid waste management plans.

Grants can be used for a range of activities related to assessing the technical, environmental and/or economic feasibility of local government infrastructure projects.

The next deadline for applicants is Jan. 10, 2024.

• To learn about the Infrastructure Planning Grant Program, visit: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/governments/local-governments/grants-transfers/grants/infrastructure-planning-grant-program

Growing Communities Fund

Announced on Feb. 10, 2023, the Growing Communities Fund provides a one-time total of $1 billion in grants distributed among all of B.C.’s local governments.

Growing Communities Fund grants support the delivery of infrastructure projects necessary to enable community growth. Eligible projects include drought mitigation, water conservation, public drinking water supply, treatment facilities and water distribution.

It is up to local governments to choose which projects they wish to fund using money from the Growing Communities Fund.

• For a full list of fund recipients and amounts, visit: https://news.gov.bc.ca/files/BG_GrowingCommunitiesFund.pdf
• To learn about the Growing Communities Fund, visit: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/governments/local-governments/grants-transfers/grants/bc-s-growing-communities-fund

Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program (ICIP) – Environmental Quality Program 

From 2018 until 2022, the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program – Environmental Quality Program (ICIP-EQ), representing $669 million in support from the Province and the government of Canada, was dedicated to capital infrastructure that supported:

• access to drinking water;
• treatment and management improvements for wastewater;
• treatment and management improvements for stormwater;
• increased capacity to divert and manage solid waste; and
• increased capacity to reduce or remediate soil and air pollutants.