Communities in B.C. are sharing almost $74 million to invest in policing and community safety, services and projects Coralee Oakes, Minister of Community, Sport and Cultural Development announced today.

The Strategic Community Investment Fund includes the Traffic Fine Revenue Sharing Program, Small Community Grant and Regional District Grant Programs.

Communities have discretion and flexibility to use the unconditional funding to meet their local needs in various ways including more policing, new equipment, increased community safety initiatives, infrastructure, administration and service delivery priorities. 

Examples of previous years’ funding include:  

• Additional police officers in Surrey, North Cowichan and Prince Rupert.
• Continued funding of a property crime reduction strategy in Port Coquitlam.
• Additional officers, youth liaison funding and increased downtown bike patrols in Chilliwack.
• Implementation of an improved recycling program by the Central Coast Regional District.
• Parks maintenance and green space improvements in Kitimat.
• Purchase and installation of playground equipment in Ucluelet.

Since 2009, the Strategic Community Investment Fund has provided more than $678 million to help support BC communities.

Quotes:

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

“This is money in the hands of local governments to provide local services, to provide important local programs and to invest in community safety. They make the decisions about how they spend the money according to their needs and priorities so that B.C. families derive the most benefit.”

Suzanne Anton, Attorney General and Minister of Justice -

“Nothing is more important to our government than protecting and maintaining the safety of British Columbians. One of the ways we help is through $41.1 million in Traffic Fine Revenue Sharing that supports local priorities and enhances public safety and protective services.”

Quick Facts:

• The June 2014, SCIF funding is allocated as follows:
  • Communities will receive $41.1 million in Traffic Fine Revenue Sharing. $38.6 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 $2.5 million reduction in their Provincial Police Property Tax. Traffic fine revenue comes from ticket fines and court-imposed fines on violation tickets. Since 2009, the government of B.C. has delivered 100% of collected net traffic fine revenues to communities - amounting to almost $366 million.
  • Together, communities with populations under 20,000 will receive a total of $32.1 million in Small Community Grants, and regional districts receive a total of $2.9 million in Regional District Grants. These grants are specifically meant to help address infrastructure and service delivery priorities. Since 2009, approximately $328.7 million has been provided to communities.

Learn More:

For a complete list of grants go to:
http://www.newsroom.gov.bc.ca/downloads/SCIF_Backgrounder_June_2014.pdf

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

Media Contacts:

Ministry of Community, Sport and Cultural Development
250 953-3677