The provincial government has announced $100 million in funding to address northern B.C. infrastructure needs.
Premier John Horgan unveiled the Northern Capital and Planning Grant alongside Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing Selina Robinson and a number of northern mayors in Terrace Saturday.
The grant money will be spread across the regional districts of Fraser Fort George, Bulkley Nechako, Kitimat Stikine, and North Coast and their 22 municipalities.
“The rich resources and hard-working people of the Northwest have long contributed more than their fair share to the prosperity of our province,” said Horgan in a news release. “Unfortunately the benefits of success have been slow to flow back to the region, leaving communities with aging infrastructure that does not meet their needs or the needs of industry.”
Municipalities with more than 10,000 people will receive between $6 million and $9 million while regional districts and communities with with fewer than 10,000 people will receive between $1 million and $6 million.
Terrace mayor Carol Leclerc
Photo Province of B.C.
Terrace mayor Carol Leclerc called it a “wow day” and shared a group hug with Horgan and Robinson. The grant program is expected help prepare communities for the influx of people expected along with the LNG Canada project in nearby Kitimat.
“This is the largest grant the City of Terrace has ever received, and it represents one-third of our annual budget. It gives us the chance to address some of the many outstanding projects we would like to tackle. We are grateful to the provincial government for recognizing the needs of northern communities.”
Prince Rupert Mayor Lee Brain says the grant is a great first step. Brain says he’d like to see this type of revenue on a consistent and annual basis over a 25-40 year period, which he says is the ultimate goal of the Northwest BC Resource Benefits Alliance.
Brain says Northwest B.C. communities will continue to work with the province on a long-term revenue sharing agreement modelled on the fair share agreement in the Peace region.