More gas tax revenue collected by the federal government will roll into the Tri-Cities this year to fuel municipal projects.
A new Community Works Fund Agreement signed by the three cities and two villages in the region will result in additional cash from the Canada Community-Building Fund this year.
Disbursed by the Union of B.C. Municipalities (UBCM), the funding allocations are until 2034, based on population and indexed.
Between 2024 and 2029, local governments in B.C. will split $650 million from the $1.6 billion in the Canada fund for capital projects (in alphabetical order):
- Anmore
- Year 1, 2 and 3 = $71,029
- Year 4 and 5 = $73,870
- Belcarra
- Year 1, 2 and 3 =$65,633
- Year 4 and 5 = $68,258
- Coquitlam
- Year 1, 2 and 3 = $543,971
- Year 4 and 5 = $565,729
- Port Coquitlam
- Year 1, 2 and 3 = $262,257
- Year 4 and 5 = $272,747
- Port Moody
- Year 1, 2 and 3 = $171,842
- Year 4 and 5 = $178,716
Last month, at Coquitlam’s final meeting before the summer break, council unanimously OK’d Mayor Richard Stewart and the city clerk to ink the Community Works Fund Agreement (Coun. Dennis Marsden was not present).
Coun. Brent Asmundson said he’s glad the deal is being renewed as it underscores the importance of taking care of existing capital assets, and creating new ones, over the next decade.
In her report to council, deputy city manager Michelle Hunt wrote that the expanded agreement now allows municipal projects involving community resilience, fire truck purchases and housing planning — the latter to align with the provincial government’s housing legislation that was enacted last fall.
In the past, Coquitlam has received an average of $465,000 a year from the federal gas tax fund for parks, transportation and IT/communications projects.
UBCM convention
Meanwhile, the municipal leaders will be at the Vancouver Convention Centre from Sept. 16 to 20, 2024, for the 121st annual UBCM convention, including Coquitlam Coun. Trish Mandewo whose role as UBCM president is up for election; Coun. Craig Hodge is also on the UBCM executive.
Delegates will vote on 264 resolutions from municipal councils around B.C.; those OK’d will be forwarded to the provincial government for consideration:
- Coquitlam
- Enhanced Provincial Government Engagement Practices
- Port Coquitlam
- Gender Equity, Provision for Menstrual Supplies (co-sponsored with Port Moody)
- Port Moody
- Youth Climate Corps
- Local Government Ethics Commissioner
- Updating the Provincial Minimum Standards of Maintenance
- Incorporating Tree Canopy and Climate Goals into Housing Action
- Noise Camera Pilot Project
- Equitable Distribution of Gaming Revenue
NDP Premier David Eby will speak to delegates on Sept. 19 while BC United leader Kevin Falcon, BC Green leader Sonia Furstenau and John Rustad, BC Conservative leader, will be before the crowd on Sept. 20.
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