Premier promises B.C.’s mayors $86M to speed up housing, fight fires, provide cancer travel
![David Eby FILE: B.C. Premier David Eby speaks to media following a tour of the Tselletkwe Lodge in Kamloops, B.C., on Aug. 22, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito](/content/dam/ctvnews/en/images/2023/9/12/david-eby-1-6558172-1694539509293.jpg)
Premier David Eby has made several funding announcements at an annual gathering of B.C.’s mayors and councillors, promising millions in new funding to address the housing crisis and community firefighting as well as travel costs for rural cancer patients.
The biggest boost is in the form of a commitment of $61 million to municipalities to help them streamline and speed up permitting and re-zoning processes in order to build new housing faster.
He began his remarks stressing the importance of co-operation between the province and municipal representatives who raise issues, then went on to speak about the wildfire season and the new task force announced last week.
Eby referenced the desire of Shuswap residents to help fight fires in their community and announced $4.75 million for “rural firefighting teams” across the province, which will come in the form of equipment, training and support for their participation in local efforts.
He also emphasized his desire to provide treatment and recovery options for people struggling with addiction and said that while he does not believe in criminalizing drug use, he also doesn’t want to see drug use in playgrounds or impacting small businesses.
In his final funding announcement, Eby pledged $20 million to the Canadian Cancer Society and Hope Air to help British Columbians in rural and remote communities travel to cancer treatment centres.
FIRST-TIME CHANCE FOR DELEGATES TO QUESTION PREMIER
The premier traditionally closes the convention with a speech to delegates, but Eby chose to make a shorter address, followed by a fireside chat-style discussion with the UBCM’s outgoing president, then took questions from delegates via an electronic submission system.
Jenn Ford asked Eby about decriminalization and toxic drugs, and whether he felt there are enough resources in place to address them.
“I can tell you unequivocally that one of our biggest challenges around this is not a lack of willingness or even funding,” he said, referencing the billion-dollar fund for mental health and addictions. “Our biggest challenge is the personnel to deliver the programs we want to deliver – the psychiatric nurses, psychiatrists, addictions doctors – these are the biggest challenges to be able to deliver programming."
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
![](https://www.ctvnews.ca/polopoly_fs/1.6977430.1721929538!/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/landscape_800/image.jpg)
'There's mom and dad's house': New video appears to show destruction of Jasper neighbourhood
Video posted to social media on Thursday morning appears to show the charred remains of a Jasper, Alta., neighbourhood.
LIVE UPDATES Multiple homes, businesses 'lost' to wildfire in Jasper National Park: Parks Canada
Officials from Parks Canada and Jasper say "multiple structures, including a number of businesses and homes, in and around the town of Jasper, have been lost" to wildfire in Jasper National Park.
Prince William's 2023 salary revealed in new report
Newly released financial reports show that William, the Prince of Wales, drew a salary of $42.1 million last fiscal year, his first since inheriting the vast and lucrative Duchy of Cornwall.
Alberta premier says a third, perhaps half, of all Jasper buildings destroyed by fire
Alberta Premier Danielle Smith says early reports indicate a third and perhaps up to half of all buildings in the historic Rocky Mountain resort town of Jasper have been destroyed in a wildfire.
Canada to bring home fewest Olympic medals since 2012, according to forecaster
Fewer Canadians are expected to reach the Paris podium than in the previous two Olympic Summer Games, a global data analytics company predicts.
Jennifer Aniston criticizes JD Vance for 'childless cat ladies' remarks: 'I pray that your daughter is fortunate enough to bear children'
Jennifer Aniston is criticizing JD Vance for comments he made in his past about women without children.
'Skibidi Toilet:' If you don't know what it is, you will
'Skibidi Toilet' is already an internet sensation and now its about to get even more exposure after the YouTube series is being developed for TV and film, according to a report by Variety.
NASA says no return date yet for astronauts and Boeing capsule at space station
Already more than a month late getting back, two NASA astronauts will remain at the International Space Station until engineers finish working on problems plaguing their Boeing capsule, officials said Thursday.
French sprinter will wear a cap during Olympic opening ceremony after hijab dispute is resolved
French sprinter Sounkamba Sylla will be allowed to participate in the opening ceremony at the Paris Olympics wearing a cap to cover her hair, an agreement reached with the French Olympic Committee after Sylla said she was barred because of her hijab.