Premier Launches Green Cities Project

October 27, 2006

VICTORIA – The BC Liberals government will invest $40 million over the next four years in a new LocalMotion Fund aimed at getting British Columbians out of their vehicles as one element of the Green Cities Project to help B.C. communities improve environmental sustainability, Premier Gordon Campbell announced today in his speech at the annual Union of B.C. Municipalities convention.

“We all want to ensure our communities are not only vibrant, but sustainable, livable and reflect the commitment British Columbians share to preserving our spectacular natural environment,” Campbell said. “B.C. communities are already recognized leaders in innovative sustainability practices, and the Green Cities Project is going to provide them with additional resources to improve air quality, reduce energy consumption and encourage British Columbians to get out and enjoy the outdoors.” 

The Green Cities Project outlined by Campbell includes:

  • $10 million a year over the next four years for the new LocalMotion Fund, which will cost-share capital projects on a 50/50 basis with municipal governments to build bike paths, walkways, greenways and improved accessibility for people with disabilities.
  • A new Green City Awards program to encourage the development and exchange of best practices by communities, with the awards presented annually at the UBCM convention.
  • New financial incentives to help local governments shift to hybrid vehicle fleets and help retrofit diesel vehicles.
  • A commitment to make new investments in expanded rapid transit, support for fuel cell vehicles and other innovations in the next fiscal year.

The Province will also expand provincial initiatives designed to encourage the increased use of hybrid vehicles. Since the 2005 budget, British Columbians who buy hybrid vehicles have received up to $2,000 in provincial sales tax savings. Premier Campbell today committed to extend that initiative in the next provincial budget beyond the current 2008 deadline.

Last year, the Province also committed to add up to 356 hybrid vehicles to the government fleet. Today Campbell announced that beginning in 2007 all new cars leased or purchase by the provincial government will be hybrid vehicles, a commitment made in the 2005 election platform.

“Governments at all levels have a responsibility to lead by example in addition to providing incentives for British Columbians themselves to take action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and energy consumption through technologies like hybrid cars,” Campbell said.

To further support the development of green cities across B.C., Campbell noted that 60 per cent of the funding under the recently launched Canada/B.C. Municipal Rural Infrastructure Fund is targeted at green projects to improve water quality, wastewater and sewage treatment and public transit. He also announced that the Province will provide one third of the funding required to provide sewage treatment for the Capital Regional District.
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