B.C. communities are sharing $56.2 million to invest in policing and community safety, services and municipal- level projects that are deemed priorities, Coralee Oakes, Minister of Community, Sport and Cultural Development announced today.

The Strategic Community Investment Fund (SCIF) includes the Traffic Fine Revenue Sharing Program, Small Community Grants and Regional District Grants.

Previous years' traffic fine revenue has been used for more policing, new equipment and increased community safety initiatives including:

• a new imaging camera and cycling signage in Courtenay.

• enhanced traffic/alcohol related enforcement and four police fleet vehicles in Prince George.

• additional RCMP officers to support Crime Reduction Strategy in Kelowna.

• six new police officers added in smaller communities such as Fort St. John, Summerland, Parksville and Merritt.

Previous years' Small Community and Regional District grants have been used to help address infrastructure and service delivery priorities including:

• construction of a new outdoor pool in Armstrong.

• repairing aging roadways at the entrance to Cumberland.

• accelerating harbour improvement project by two years in Port McNeill.

• hiring public works staff and seasonal workers in Harrison Hot Springs.

• a finished community wharf project, brushing initiatives, and trail maintenance and park reclamation using local unemployed labour in Port Clements.

Since 2009, the SCIF has provided over $600 million to help support B.C. communities.

Quotes:

Coralee Oakes, Minister of Community, Sport and Cultural Development -

"The Strategic Community Investment Fund is all about creating safer, healthier, more liveable communities that allow B.C. families to thrive. For smaller communities in particular, the fund often represents a major portion of their operating budget. This is money in the hands of local governments to provide local programs and services and to invest in community safety."

Suzanne Anton, Attorney General and Minister of Justice -

"Since 2001, our government's commitment to returning traffic fine revenue to B.C. municipalities has put hundreds of millions of dollars back into communities. The funds help communities support local police services and crime prevention programs, and give the communities the discretion to allocate that money in ways they believe will be most beneficial."

Quick Facts:

• The July 2013, $56.2 SCIF funding is allocated as follows:

• Municipalities will receive $31.1 million in Traffic Fine Revenue Sharing - $28.4 million will go directly to communities with over 5,000 people to help offset the cost of policing and community safety and smaller municipalities and unincorporated rural areas will receive a $2.7 reduction in their Provincial Police Property Tax. This traffic fine revenue comes from motor vehicle ticket fines and court-imposed fines on violation tickets. Since 2009, the government of B.C. has delivered 100 per cent of collected net traffic fine revenues to communities - amounting to over $300 million.

• Most municipalities with populations under 20,000 receive a total of $23 million in Small Community Grants, and Regional Districts receive a total of $2.1 million in Regional District Grants. These grants are specifically meant to help address infrastructure and service delivery priorities - since 2009, approximately $300 million has been provided to communities.

Learn More:

For a complete list of SCIF recipients, go to: http://www.newsroom.gov.bc.ca/downloads/SCIF_Backgrounder_June_2013.pdf

On the Strategic Community Investment Fund: http://www.cscd.gov.bc.ca/lgd/policy_research/local_government_grants.htm#small_community_grant

Media Contact:

Communications
Community, Sport and Cultural Development
250 387-4089