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District makes pitch for cash

Coldstream wants senior government to increase grants for infrastructure

A Coldstream official is concerned with demands for more senior government cash.

On Monday, council asked the Federation of Canadian Municipalities and the Union of B.C. Municipalities to lobby the provincial and federal governments to increase their contributions to infrastructure beyond the current one-third each.

“The way I do the math, it would mean one-third less projects would be funded,” said Coun. Pat Cochrane, who opposed the resolution.

“The communities that win do great. However, a lot of worthwhile projects will never get the senior government support they need. I also think it’s more likely government ridings will be first in line.”

The resolution states that the federal government generally shares the costs of all approved infrastructure projects equally between the province and local jurisdiction at one-third each.

It then goes on to say that communities are disproportionately impacted as the one-third cost is  significant.

As a result, Coldstream wants the federal government to fund a minimum of 50 per cent of project costs and the provincial contribution to rise to a minimum of 40 per cent of the project cost.

“We don’t have the cash on hand for one-third of infrastructure projects,” said Mayor Jim Garlick.

Coun. Glen Taylor hopes other municipalities will push Ottawa and Victoria to provide more money as infrastructure improvements are important.

“We need to have a project that’s viable to the community,” he said.