July 23, 2010
Funding Helps Serve Okanagan Priorities

KELOWNA- More money in the hands of local governments will support vital local public safety initiatives and other important community services.

“Communities have shown real leadership in the way they use Strategic Community Investment funds during these tough economic times,” says Westside-Kelowna MLA Ben Stewart. “By putting these dollars in the hands of local governments, we’re able to help them support vital public safety initiatives and other important community services.”

“More than $300,000 in Small Community Grants for Okanagan communities are a great opportunity for low population municipalities to access dollars to invest in projects that are important to them,” says Kelowna-Lake Country MLA Norm Letnick.

“Since 2004, the province has returned 100 per cent of traffic fine revenues back to communities to assist them in funding their local public safety initiatives,” says Kelowna-Mission MLA Steve Thomson. 

“Thanks to this funding initiative, communities like Summerland are able to hire additional police officers to help ensure public safety,” says Penticton MLA Bill Barisoff.

                                                  Small             Traffic Fine                Total Funding
                                                  Community    Revenue                     for Community
                                                  Grant              Sharing

·      Central Okanagan              $30,888           --                                  $30,888

·      Kelowna                             --                      $581,335                     $581,335

·      North Okanagan                 $47,737           --                                  $47,737

·      Peachland                           $139,454         --                                  $139,454

·      Penticton                            --                      $182,341                     $182,341

·      Summerland                       $98,971           $28,372                       $127,343

·      West Kelowna                    --                      $39,999                       $39,999

The Strategic Community Investment Fund is a restructuring of provincial grants, consisting of the Traffic Fine Revenue Sharing program and Small Community and Regional District Grants. This payment of $38.6 million to B.C.’s communities is the third instalment of a total $227 million provided to local governments since 2009; a first instalment of $133 million was paid to communities in March 2009 and a second instalment of $55.5 million was paid in September 2009.

Since 2001, the Province has given communities $413 million in traffic fine revenues and $363 million in Small Community and Regional District Grants.

Visit Ben’s website at www.benstewartmla.bc.ca
Visit Norm’s website at www.normletnickmla.bc.ca
Visit Steve’s website at www.stevethomsonmla.bc.ca
Visit Bill’s website at www.billbarisoffmla.bc.ca

-30-