Provincial Responses to Vernon's UBCM Resolutions 2007 (1 0f 2)

Provincial Response to B121 BUSINESS TAX EXEMPTION

WHEREAS the statutory property exemption for business Class 6 assessments is $10,000 regardless of the property value; AND WHEREAS the business Class 6 exemption has remained unchanged since implementation in 1984 despite increasing assessments:
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the provincial government review the business class exemption for Class 6 assessments and consider a significant increase in the statutory property exemption, in order to provide small businesses, in the Province of British Columbia, a fair exemption for their increased assessed property value.

Response: Ministry of Community Services

The property tax exemptions for Class 4, Industrial, 5, Light Industrial and 6, Business, improvements were prescribed by regulation in 1984 in response to a severe downturn in the general economy of the Province of British Columbia (Province). The exemptions were intended to provide assistance to small business enterprises throughout the Province. Although not all areas of the Province share in the current economic wellbeing, the present economic outlook is extremely promising for the Province as a whole. There is no need to provide such assistance province wide at this time.

Amendments enacted to Section 226 of the Community Charter provide municipalities with the opportunity to provide for revitalization tax exemptions for any revitalization objectives, including economic revitalization. These provisions will allow a municipality to target the kinds of economic activities and investment which will be in the best interests of the community.
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B58 HOMELESSNESS AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING

WHEREAS the Federation of Canadian Municipalities and the Union of BC Municipalities recognize that homelessness and the lack of affordable housing are a national concern requiring long-term solutions;AND WHEREAS the National Homelessness Initiative and the Province of British Columbia’s Housing Strategy are ad hoc programs which are not long-term sustained programs: THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Union of BC Municipalities urge the Province of British Columbia to initiate with the federal government a non-partisan, inter-governmental, cooperative approach to a national homelessness and affordable housing strategy.

Response: Ministry of Forests and Range, and Minister Responsible for Housing

Our government is committed to building the best system of support for vulnerable British Columbians and those most in need. The budget for affordable housing and shelters is now $328 million – triple what it was in 2001. In October 2006, we launched Housing Matters B.C., a comprehensive, long-term strategy to ensure every British Columbian has access to affordable and appropriate housing.

The Province alone cannot solve homelessness. That is why we are working closely with local governments, the federal government, non-profit organizations and the private sector on a number of significant initiatives. The Premier’s Task Force on Homelessness, Mental Illness and Addictions is an example of these successful partnerships. Since December 2004, the task force has announced 2,287 housing units and shelter beds. These include appropriate social and medical supports to help people break the cycle of homelessness.
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