July 6, 2011
Provincial Grants a Big Boon to Greater Victoria

VICTORIA – Municipal governments throughout the CRD are benefitting from over $7.2 million in Strategic Community Investment Fund (SCIF) grants. Funds come from the Traffic Fine Revenue Sharing program (TFRS) and Small Community and Regional District Grants (SCG).

Why this matters:

• SCIF grants allow communities to invest in their own priority projects.
• The Traffic Fine Revenue Sharing program helps municipalities that directly pay for police enforcement costs. The grants come from ticket fines and court-imposed fines on violation tickets, and the amount of money a municipality receives is based on its contribution to total municipal policing costs.
• This money will provide additional funding for local policing services and crime prevention programs.

Quotes:

"Local governments know best when it comes to their priorities and this money from the Strategic Community Investment Fund allows them to target those initiatives as they see fit.”
                - Oak Bay-Gordon Head MLA Ida Chong

“Our government is committed to creating safe neighborhoods for families and this funding will be a major help in paying for crime prevention programs and associated policing.”
                - Saanich North and the Islands MLA Murray Coell

Who is benefiting:

• City of Victoria: $1,845,418 (TFRS)
• District of Saanich: $1,307,115 (TFRS)
• Township of Esquimalt: $316,987 (TFRS), $171,263 (SCG), for a total of $488,250
• District of Metchosin: $410,186 (SCG)
• Town of View Royal: $320,721 (SCG), $50,325 (TFRS), for a total of $371,046
• District of Central Saanich: $195,034 (TFRS), $175,224 (SCG), for a total of $370,258
• Town of Sidney: $265,217 (SCG), $104,318 (TFRS), for a total of $369,535
• District of Sooke: $300,183 (SCG), $60,741 (TFRS), for a total of $360,924
• District of North Saanich: $267,942 (SCG), $83,616 (TFRS), for a total of $351,558
• District of Oak Bay: $204,585 (TFRS), $131,040 (SCG), for a total of $335,625
• City of Colwood: $186,488 (SCG), $124,211 (TFRS), for a total of $310,699
• District of Highlands: $289,784 (SCG)
• City of Langford: $205,827 (TFRS)
• Islands Trust: $146,145 (SCG)
• Capital Regional District: $48,715 (SCG)

Additional information:

• The Small Community and Regional District Grant allocation is based on population and assessment.
• Traffic Fine Revenue Sharing program funds come from fines on violation tickets.
• Learn more about B.C. local governments: http://www.cscd.gov.bc.ca/lgd/

- 30 –