PROVINCE OF BRITISH COLUMBIA DEPARTMENT OF MUNICIPAL AFFAIRS REPORT for the YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31 1965 Printed by A. Sutton, Printer to the Queen's Most Excellent Majesty in right of the Province of British Columbia. 1966 To Major-General the Honourable George Randolph Pearkes, V.C., P.C, C.B., D.S.O., M.C., Lieutenant-Governor of the Province of British Columbia. May it please Your Honour: I have the honour to transmit herewith the Annual Report of the Department of Municipal Affairs for the year ended December 31, 1965. D. R. J. CAMPBELL, Minister of Municipal Affairs. Victoria, B.C. Report of the Department of Municipal Affairs Victoria, B.C., January 25, 1966. The Honourable D. R. J. Campbell, Minister of Municipal Affairs. Sir,—I have the honour to submit herewith the Annual Report of this Department for the year ended December 31, 1965. The 1965 gross assessed value of land and improvements in city, district, town, and village municipalities in British Columbia amounted to $4,460,354,467. It may be noted in the following table that revenue accruing to municipalities from real-property tax in 1964 amounted to $154,074,236. If the present rate of growth is maintained, total revenues from property taxation in 1965 will reach $170,000,000. Total assessed values actually taxed for school purposes in the Province in 1965 amounted to $4,047,312,788. Of this total, $3,072,204,132 or 76 per cent represented assessment values within the municipalities, the same ratio as in 1964. The dollar growth in the municipal tax base over the last nine years is portrayed in the following table:— Growth in Combined Assessed Values and Taxes in Municipalities of British Columbia Gross Assessed Values Assessed Values Actually Taxed Tax Revenues Year All Properties Taxable Properties School Municipal 1957-. _.. . 1958 1959-.. 1960 $2,765,873,099 3,047,766,854 3,327,118,937 3,569,240,135 3,717,472,643 4,032,288,772 4,062,459,644 4,188,389,878 4,460,354,467 $2,315,295,651 2,569,271,281 2,805,547,214 3,015,844,390 3,142,969,534 3,407,538,034 3,433,937,080 3,534,097,291 3,770,938,012 $1,854,677,597 2,053,934,444 2,248,145,499 2,417,467,198 2,508,401,082 2,770,194,168 2,795,430,982 2,878,206,746 3,072,204,132 $1,415,935,241 1,562,991,738 1,721,746,974 1,843,967,404 1,920,101,216 2,182,411,559 2,224,805,763 2,294,697,747 2,365,897,598 $78,811,653 92,429,190 104,819,992 116,857,478 1961 122,272,311 1 qfi? 128,865,831 1963 .. 1964 141,020,672 154,074,236 10fi^ 170,000,0001 i Estimated. During the past year $27,499,789 in term borrowing by the municipalities was approved by the Inspector of Municipalities. This figure does not include borrowing proposals which, while receiving the approval of the Inspector, failed to receive the assent of the owner-electors. Much of the borrowing was under the provisions of the Municipal Development and Loan Act and Part VIb of the National Housing Act. Both of these financial assistance programmes were fully utilized during the year. Details of financing under the Municipal Development and Loan Fund, which is administered for the Province by the Department, follows in the report of the Assistant Deputy Minister. The amount and purpose for which term borrowing was authorized is set out below. This includes borrowings under the short-term borrowing provisions of the Municipal Act which, with a maximum term of five years, normally are financed by means of bank loans rather than by the issue of debentures. These short-term borrowings amounted to $389,689. Borrowing by the City of Vancouver and by AA 6 BRITISH COLUMBIA the metropolitan water and sewer boards are not subject to the approval of the Inspector of Municipalities and therefore are not included in this table. Distribution of Authorized Debenture Debt by Purposes for the Year 1965 Purpose Cities Districts Towns Villages Local Districts Total $1,938,230 2,545,900 1,873,534 218,000 457,795' 711,000 2,031,000 151,100 lffl.OOO 25,200 $1,871,000 1,350,000 2,076,266 1,555,612 2,455,047 $1,213,500 $842,154 $5,864,884 3,893,900 1 3,952,333 3,455,157 2,912,842 i 2,533 908,045 773,500 711,000 6,084,500 410,431 1 187,500 25,200 4,053,500 154,851 16,500 23,500 81,000 Trvtflls $10,122,759 $13,532,776 $2,010,500 $1,833,754 $27,499,789 The following table reveals the very considerable effect the Municipal Development and Loan Fund has had on municipal borrowing. Much of the borrowing approved during 1964 and 1965 was financed by means of this programme. Borrowing for these years indicates that the programme stimulated capital works. It is considered likely that borrowing will return to somewhere near previous levels now that the programme has terminated. Summary of Borrowing Approved by the Inspector of Municipalities Year 1961. 1962. 1963.. Amount $15,030,152 14,006,884 14,581,915 Year 1964_. 1965_. Amount $25,231,663 27,499,789 Total debenture debt as at December 31, 1964, of all municipalities, including the City of Vancouver, is shown by the following table. The debenture debt of the metropolitan water and sewer boards is not included. Total Authorized Debenture Debt as at December 31, 1964 Issued, Sold, and Outstanding Unissued and Unsold Total Cities (excluding Vancouver). Districts Towns Villages.- $51,792,041 56,856,149 4,719,340 6,256,269 $13,455,168 22,014,561 731,000 3,293,171 $65,247,209 78,870,710 5,450,340 9,549,440 Local districts— Totals- Vancouver $119,623,799 163,509,447 $39,493,900 $159,117,699 163,509,447 Grand totals- $283,133,246 $39,493,900 $322,627,146 The following table gives the amount of Provincial guarantees authorized under the provisions of the Municipalities Assistance Act during the year. Provincial guarantees under this Act apply only to securities issued for self-liquidating water and sewer undertakings, and then only in respect of that part of the borrowing programme which is not being financed by means of either the Municipal Development and Loan Fund or Part VIb of the National Housing Act. REPORT OF DEPARTMENT OF MUNICIPAL AFFAIRS, 1965 AA 7 Municipalities Assistance Act Guarantees Approved During 1965 Cities (excluding Vancouver) $1,148,000 Districts 579,000 Towns 204,500 Villages 355,000 Local districts Totals $2,286,500 A summary of the amount of debentures guaranteed by the Province under the Municipalities Assistance Act and under the Village Municipalities Assistance Act outstanding as at December 31, 1965, is indicated below. No borrowings have been guaranteed under the latter Act for many years as its provisions have largely been replaced by the Municipalities Assistance Act. Outstanding Debentures Guaranteed by the Province as at December 31, 1965 Village Municipalities Assistance Act Municipalities Assistance Act Total $389,500 728,500 1,938,500 1,679,800 $13,920,000 9,701,900 1,515,000 3,027,600 68,000 $14,309,500 10,430,400 3,453,500 4,707,400 68,000 Totals $4,736,300 $28,232,500 13,549,000 792,000 1,966,000 110,000 20,702,000 $32,968,800 13,549,000 Greater Victoria Water District 792,000 Greater Nanaimo Sewerage and Drainage District - 1,966,000 ("..eater Nanaimo Watpr T.i.trirt 110,000 20,702,000 Orand totals $4,736,300 $65,351,500 $70,087,800 It is conservatively estimated that the liability represented by guaranteed debenture issues is supported by the revenues of self-liquidating utilities or enterprises with a capital value estimated to be in the neighbourhood of $200,000,000. The debt for these undertakings is met from revenue of the operation but is nevertheless a direct liability of the issuing municipality or other authority. In addition to the guaranteed debt recorded in the above table, there is also outstanding under the Greater Vancouver Sewerage and Drainage District Act debenture debt totalling $30,495,000. It was found necessary during the year to hold two inquiries into applications for certificates of approval to municipal money by-laws. In each of these cases the municipality in question failed to meet certain statutory requirements regarding the holding of a vote of the owner-electors on a borrowing by-law. Since no objections were lodged, the certificate was granted in each instance. At the request of the Municipal Council, an inquiry was held to inquire into certain aspects of the administration in the District of Coquitlam. The report of the Commissioner was received and referred to the Municipal Council for whatever action it considered necessary. During 1965, 12 municipalities were granted either subsisting or provisional certificates of self-liquidation in respect of 13 water or sewer systems. Of these AA 8 BRITISH COLUMBIA certificates, four were subsisting and nine provisional. Provisional certificates are issued in respect of new operations and are replaced by subsisting certificates when the municipality has proved by actual operation that the utility or enterprise is self- liquidating. To date 178 certificates of self-liquidation have been granted, of which 108 are subsisting. Reserve funds of the municipalities for various purposes amounted to $24,300,- 000 at the end of 1964. This represents an increase of approximately 44 per cent or $7,400,000 over the previous year after expenditures from these reserves during 1964. This unusually large increase is attributable to a Debt Equalization Fund established in 1964 by the City of Vancouver. The balance of this new fund at the close of 1964 accounts for $6,345,837 of the increase. In September the Minister of Municipal Affairs annual shield awards to the municipalities having the highest percentage turnout of electors at the annual elections were presented at the Union of British Columbia Municipalities Convention at Victoria. This was the sixth year of these awards marking the returns of the December, 1964, elections in the three categories of the competition as follows: Cities and towns—Grand Forks, with a turnout of 75.0 per cent; districts—Kent, with a turnout of 66.9 per cent; villages—Lytton, with a turnout of 75.4 per cent. Senior members of the Department participated in two major British Columbia conferences during the year, the first being the annual Municipal Officers' Association conference, which, as in past years, was held in Victoria. Members of the staff of the Department actively participate in the programme. The second conference was the annual Union of British Columbia Municipalities convention held at Victoria. Because of the location, more members of the staff than usual were able to attend ths conference Five communities were incorporated as municipalities. The date of incorpora- ation, population, and area are illustrated by the following table. The Districts of Port Alice, Gold River, and Hudson's Hope were incorporated as so-called " instant municipalities," while North Saanich was incorporated as a district municipality by a change in status from an improvement district. The Village of 100 Mile House was incorporated following an accommodating addition to the Municipalities Enabling and Validating Act whereby leaseholders are deemed owners of land. New Incorporations, 1965 Municipality Date of Incorporation Area (in Acres) Population 8,665 1,627 11,592 2,700 232,010 1,302 July 27 . ... 790 2,811 878 3,241 Five regional districts were incorporated during the year, and a number of proposed regional districts were in the final stages preparatory to the issue of Letters Patent soon after the end of the year. Of the five incorporated, the Regional Districts of Central Kootenay, Columbia-Shuswap, and East Kootenay were given authority in the Letters Patent to undertake the planning function, including the power to make by-laws governing building inspection, zoning and subdivision regulations for those parts of the regional district not within a municipality, and to undertake local works and services. The Comox Valley Regional District was incorporated to assist in the financing of the construction of hospitals and for the REPORT OF DEPARTMENT OF MUNICIPAL AFFAIRS, 1965 AA 9 study of water supply, while the Regional District of North Okanagan was incorporated for the purpose of studying activities that might be undertaken by the Regional Board for the benefit of two or more of the member communities. It is anticipated that several more regional districts will be established in the near future. Interest in this new form of local government has been high. Regional Districts Established, 1965 Name Date of Incorporation Comox Valley August 19 North Okanagan November 9 Central Kootenay November 3 0 Columbia-Shuswap November 30 East Kootenay November 30 Three local areas were established under the provisions of the Local Services Act. The following table indicates the name, purpose, and date of establishment. There are now 35 local areas throughout the Province with a wide range of functions. Local Areas Established, 1965 Name Cranbrook Local Area.. Keremeos Local Area... Rutland Local Area Purpose Fire protection.. Home nursing— Home nursing... Date Established April 6. September 9. September 16. The former Villages of Hope, Ladysmith, and Merritt were changed in status to town municipalities, effective January 1, 1965. In each case the population of these municipalities exceeded the limit fixed for villages by the Municipal Act. During the year the former Village of Williams Lake petitioned for and received a change of status to town municipality following a successful vote. The Villages of Castlegar and Creston were changed in status to town municipalities, effective January 1, 1966, following your recommendation to the Lieutenant-Governor in Council. During 1965 extensions of boundaries by supplementary Letters Patent were authorized for the following municipalities:— Adjustments in Area and Population, 1965 Municipality Area (in Acres) Population Before Extension of Area Contained in Area Added After Extension of Area Before Extension of Area Contained in Area Added After Extension of Area Cities Kelowna 4,012.0 4,028.0 5,244.55 370.0 1,985.0 18.867.0 41,700.0 16.0 1,243.0 763.6 732.0 90.0 4.9 37,840.0 4,028.0 5,271.0 6,008.15 1,102.0 2,075.0 18,871.9 79,540.0 13,772 13,776 13,877 3,624 10,250 2,167 8,217 4 C1) 766 185 22 Nil Nil 13,776 13,776 14,643 3,809 10,272 2,167 Districts 8,217 1 Not available. 2 A A 10 BRITISH COLUMBIA Adjustments in Area and Population, 1965—Continued Municipality Area (in Acres) Before Extension of Area Contained in Area Added After Extension of Area Population Before Extension of Area Contained in Area Added After Extension of Area Towns Fort St. John.. Ladysmith Invermere.. Osoyoos Pouce Coupe . Princeton Telkwa Villages Local Districts Guisachan2 1,892.64 2,044.0 653.0 206.0 140.0 547.3 604.0 508.8 325.0 160.0 2.33 68.0 3.61 45.58 64.0 -16.0 2,217.64 2,204.0 655.33 274.0 143.61 592.88 668.0 492.8 3,847 3,409 744 1,022 669 2,163 576 171 452 48 O) 54 Nil Nil 4 4,299 3,457 744 1,076 669 2,163 580 167 i Not available. 2. Reduction in area. The above table shows the adjustment in areas as well as the alterations in population. The primary populations shown in the above table are those established by the 1961 Census. The additional populations are in the extension areas only. Upon petition an increase in Council membership was granted by supplementary Letters Patent to the City of Grand Forks and to the District of Saanich. A large number of students continue to take advantage of the training programme in municipal administration offered by the Faculty of Commerce and Business Administration of the University of British Columbia. This four-year correspondence course has a current enrolment as follows: First year, 53; second year, 13; third year, 14; fourth year, 14. In addition, nine students are enrolled in the Assessors' Course. The Municipal Administration Course is divided at the third year into separate study programmes of either municipal administration and law or municipal finance and accounting. The University granted 21 diplomas in 1965, as follows: Junior diplomas (two years of the general course), 12; Senior Administration (Law), 6; and Senior Accounting (Finance), 3. During the year the Board of Examiners granted 25 certificates of proficiency. The following table illustrates the classifications of the certificates issued during 1965 and indicates the number and classification of certificates issued to date:— Certificates of Proficiency Issued by the Board of Examiners Type of Certificate Junior Senior—Administration 6 Senior—Finance Property Appraisal Totals 1965 To Date 7 49 6 64 8 71 4 33 25 217 The amendments to the Municipal Act at the 1965 Session of the Legislature, with the exception of a few of a minor nature, fall into four main categories. Firstly, the broadening of the incorporation procedures for municipalities, including provision for the incorporation of communities in conjunction with the development of natural-resource industries and incorporation of municipalities by way of the REPORT OF DEPARTMENT OF MUNICIPAL AFFAIRS, 1965 AA 11 change of status of improvement districts. Included in this group were amendments providing for the incorporation of municipalities by means of the amalgamation of existing local government bodies. The latter amendment was introduced following the application of these principles upon the incorporation of the Districts of Campbell River and Squamish in 1964. The second major group of amendments dealt with the extension of the boundaries of municipalities. The existing provisions were rewritten to simplify procedures and make a vote necessary only where there is opposition to the move to enlarge the area of the municipality. The third amendment of importance provides for the transfer of the administration of specified improvement districts from the jurisdiction of the Comptroller of Water Rights to the Department. This amendment, in part, is coupled with those governing the incorporation of municipalities. A further group of amendments provides for the incorporation of regional districts. The regional district is a new concept of local government which may be described as a large administrative unit existing for the purpose of co-ordinating services common to two or more of the member areas of the district. The regional district, while being a unit of local government, may be incorporated without disturbing the existing municipal structure or altering the status of areas not incorporated as municipalities or improvement districts. A great deal of the time and energies of the senior members of the staff of the Department have been directed toward the formation of regional districts throughout the Province during the past year. The Department's programme of education and information regarding the opportunities that are available to a community through the application of this new form of local government is progressing well. As mentioned, five regional districts have now been established and a number of others are in the final stages of formation. Twenty-three regional districts are proposed for the whole of the Province, and in all likelihood more than half of these will have been incorporated by the end of 1966. A major amendment of significant importance to the municipalities was the revision of the Municipalities Aid Act, increasing the local government per capita grant by $4 in all categories. The basic grant for the first 3,500 of population is now fixed at $20 per capita with proportionate increases in the other grant brackets. A number of municipalities were affected by a wide range of specific additions or amendments to the Municipalities Enabling and Validating Act. The past year has been probably the most active in the history of the Department. Major changes brought about by the 1965 amendments to the Municipal Act absorbed much of the energies of the staff. While this disrupted the normal programme of work, the ordinary day-to-day activities of the Department were maintained. It is gratifying to note that the new legislation has borne fruit, particularly in regard to the number of regional districts and new municipalities incorporated during the year and the equally impressive number in the process of formation. On behalf of the staff and myself, I would extend our thanks to all of the municipal officers of the Province for their courtesies and assistance and to the members of the executive and staff of the Union of British Columbia Municipalities, to the executive of the Municipal Offiecrs' Association, and the Department heads and staff of the other departments of Government, and I am grateful to you, Sir, for your leadership, direction, encouragement, and confidence. J. E. BROWN, F.C.I.S., Deputy Minister. AA 12 BRITISH COLUMBIA REPORT OF THE ASSISTANT DEPUTY MINISTER AND DEPUTY INSPECTOR OF MUNICIPALITIES Victoria, B.C., January 24, 1966. J. E. Brown, Esq., Deputy Minister of Municipal Affairs. Sir,—The active growth and accelerated development and extension of services evident in municipalities over the past several years continued for 1965. During the past year, municipal revenues, including those of waterworks and other utilities, were in excess of $253,000,000, an increase of $18,000,000 over 1964. Revenue from taxation for school purposes, which forms part of the total revenue, amounted to $66,000,000, but was offset by the application of the home-owner grant payments of $23,000,000, leaving a net of approximately $43,000,000 in school taxes as having been paid by the home-owner. Capital projects undertaken by municipalities during 1965 amounted to $80,000,000. Of this total programme, works amounting to $62,000,000 were completed during the fiscal year, leaving a balance of works in progress of $18,000,000 at the year-end. It is interesting to note that of the $80,000,000 expended on capital projects, approximately $18,000,000 was provided out of general municipal and utility revenue funds, $5,000,000 from reserve funds, and approximately $5,00,000 was obtained from grants-in-aid from the Provincial and Federal Governments, the balance being financed by debenture loan. The balance of the amount available to British Columbia municipalities under the Municipal Development and Loan Act was allocated to municipalities during the year in order of the receipt in the Department of applications for acceptable projects. The amount of $35,728,900 was allocated to municipalities in the form of 153 loans for capital works, and a summary of the approved loans is set out below. There will be some slight variation in these figures when the final costs of the projects are known. Of the total amount of $400,000,000 available under the Municipal Development and Loan Act, the amount mentioned above which was allocated to British Columbia on a per capita basis fell far short of satisfying the needs of British Columbia municipalities, and many requests for loans under this Act could not be considered because the funds allocated were exhausted. Waterworks— Cities $ 1,828,053 Districts 2,406,909 Towns 245,990 Villages 448,666 Other 3,592,189 — $8,521,807 Sewers— Cities $1,517,750 Districts 9,929,266 Towns 170,520 Villages 989,976 Other 743,462 13,350,974 REPORT OF DEPARTMENT OF MUNICIPAL AFFAIRS, 1965 AA 13 Civic buildings— Cities $6,816,495 Districts 2,3 84,3 52 Towns ...... 476,666 Villages Other 61,863 $9,739,376 Other- Cities _ $2,826,848 Districts 583,744 Towns 322,333 Villages 366,432 Other 17,386 4,116,743 Grand total $35,728,900 The Department was faced with a heavy work load this past year. To a large extent this could be attributed to the fact that several new municipalities were incorporated during the year and to the continued growth of the existing municipalities. As a result of this continued growth, the financial and general administrative procedures tend to become more complex, with the result that municipalities are, more than ever, relying on assistance and advice from the Department in seeking solutions to their problems. A considerable amount of time during the year was devoted to the establishment of regional districts throughout the Province. Many meetings were held throughout the Province by senior members of the staff to acquaint people with the intent of the legislation and to encourage the formation of steering committees to investigate the feasibility of incorporating the areas as regional districts. Five regional districts were incorporated by the end of the year, and we will continue our efforts to encourage the establishment of regional districts in the remaining areas of the Province. A record of major activities of the Department during 1965 would include the following:—■ (1) Three hundred and four visits were made to municipalities, improvement districts, and proposed regional districts. The number of municipalities, improvement districts, and proposed regional districts actually visited was 153, some receiving more than one visit. (2) Two hundred and ninety-three Minutes of Council were prepared and subsequently approved by the Lieutenant-Governor in Council. (3) One hundred and eighty-five certificates of approval for municipal loan by-laws were issued. (4) One hundred and five debenture issues were examined and subsequently certified by the Inspector of Municipalities, consisting of 9,483 debentures of a total par value of $17,122,284.75. (5) Seven hundred and forty-seven by-laws were examined and registered. Of these, 160 were town by-laws, 565 were village by-laws, and 5 were local district by-laws. Many of the by-laws required advice and correspondence, resulting in resubmission in revised form. (6) Many draft by-laws and similar documents were submitted for review and comment, involving a considerable amount of correspondence. (7) Publication of the Annual Report of Municipal Statistics, which includes some 30 different schedules. A A 14 BRITISH COLUMBIA (8) Editing the financial and statistical returns of the municipalities to ensure conformity with statutory and other requirements. This phase of administration involves a great deal of correspondence with municipal officials and auditors. (9) Administration of the Municipal Winter Works Incentive Programme. (10) Administration of the Municipal Commercial Vehicle Licensing Programme. (11) Administration of the Municipal Development and Loan Act. (12) By correspondence and by visits to the various municipalities, encouraging the adoption of good financial, accounting, and administrative procedures. (13) Four senior staff members visited many municipalities, ratepayer associations, etc., spoke to innumerable public meetings, and travelled many thousands of miles to advise interested groups on the various aspects relating to regional districts. (14) Due to changes in staff and the extra work entailed by the new legislation pertaining to regional districts, it was not possible to assume further responsibilities in regard to improvement districts. I would like to acknowledge the co-operation which we have continued to receive from municipal officials and auditors in submitting financial and other returns promptly and in the required form. In view of the importance of the annual edition of Municipal Statistics to investment houses, financial institutions, and others, every effort is made to ensure that the financial and other information contained in this publication is accurate and on a comparable basis with prior years. The Municipal Commercial Vehicle Licensing Programme, administered by the Department, is, we feel, operating efficiently, and we have found that the volume of correspondence in the form of inquiries from both municipal officials and from the public has decreased over previous years. The sum of $532,518 was received in the Department from the sale of these licences during the 1964/65 licence-year and distributed to the participating municipalities on a per capita basis. Relevant sections of the Municipal Act were altered during the last session of the Legislature authorizing the issuing municipality to retain $2 from the proceeds of the sale of a licence- plate and the $2 registration fee for an exemption-plate. This accounted for the decrease in the total amount received in the Department for distribution over the previous licence-year. In all, 48,123 municipal commercial-vehicle licence-plates and 32,707 exemption-plates were issued. The Government has, for the eighth consecutive winter, provided an incentive for municipalities to undertake capital works during the winter months in an effort to stimulate employment. Under the programme the Government of Canada pays one-half of the direct labour costs of approved projects. The programme period this year is November 1st to April 30th. There are no major changes in the regulations or in the type of project which may be undertaken during the current programme. The Government of this Province has, in addition to the incentive offered by the Government of Canada, agreed to pay to municipalities 50 per cent of the approved direct labour costs of any person employed on an accepted project who was in receipt of welfare assistance prior to being engaged on a project. In addition, where there are no welfare recipients available for hiring, the Province will share 25 per cent of the direct labour costs of persons who are no longer qualified to receive unemployment insurance. An indication of the extent of the programme may be gained from the following:— REPORT OF DEPARTMENT OF MUNICIPAL AFFAIRS, 1965 AA 15 Cost of Projects Man-days Work Payroll 1960/61 as at January 15, 1961- 1961/62 as at January 15, 1962 . 1962/63 as at January 15, 1963 . 1963/64 as at January 15, 1964 . 1964/65 as at January 15, 1965 . 1965/66 as at January 15, 1966 . $20,000,000 26,500,000 25,000,000 19,527,859 24,786,739 21,325,872 392,000 426,000 413,000 413,210 429,192 376,761 $7,000,000 8,333,333 7,500,000 7,979,178 8,892,222 8,514,822 These are estimated figures of the municipalities for the programme period. The following tabulation gives a summary of British Columbia municipalities participating in the Winter Works Programme as at January 15, 1966, according to the records of this office:— Number of men Man-days work Total cost of projects Federal share (payroll cost) Provincial share (payroll cost) . Municipal share (payroll cost) Total payroll under offer Nature and Total Cost of Projects Waterworks Sewers Drainage Roads Sidewalks Buildings Parks Other 4,564 376,761 $21,325,872 $4,271,676 $845,180 $3,397,966 $8,514,822 $3,547,242 7,669,649 508,247 1,610,891 714,846 3,152,588 1,387,374 2,735,035 Municipalities Participating Cities 23 Districts 26 Towns 7 Villages 20 Other 18 Number of Accepted Projects Cities 122 Districts 122 Towns 10 Villages 39 Other 31 Total 94 Total 324 Table 1 shows the summary of the Municipal Winter Works Incentive Programme for the year 1964/65 as issued by the Department of Labour of the Government of Canada, and Table 2 indicates the same information for the current programme as at January 7, 1966. We have continued our policy of stressing the importance of maintaining a high rate of collection of taxes in all classes of municipalities. The city, district, and village municipalities collected in excess of 96 per cent of the current tax levy, and the towns collected slightly less than 92 per cent of the current levy. Correspondence has been directed to any municipality where the arrears of taxes were in excess of 10 per cent of the current levy in an effort to determine the cause and whether appropriate steps were being taken to improve the position. The collection of current taxes in British Columbia municipalities continues to be among the highest in Canada, while the percentage of arrears of taxes is among the lowest. AA 16 BRITISH COLUMBIA Chart 1 shows the percentage tax collections for the period 1954-64, inclusive. The result in the case of villages is more spectacular because of the general lack of effort some years back on the part of village officials. The collection picture in towns, a class of municipality established in 1958, has not been as favourable as other classes of municipalities, but this situation is gradually improving, and it might be noted that 90.80 per cent of the current taxes were collected in 1963 and 91.88 per cent of the current taxes were collected in 1964. Chart 2 indicates the trends in various financial aspects of municipal government compared to population and income. I would like to express appreciation of the loyalty and devotion to duty which all members of the staff have shown during the past year. For some this has meant many lost week-ends and curtailed holidays due to attendance at public meetings and visits to municipalities. J. D. Baird, F.C.I.S., Assistant Deputy Minister and Deputy Inspector of Municipalities. REPORT OF DEPARTMENT OF MUNICIPAL AFFAIRS, 1965 AA 17 as o K Ph < O W Q Z W w w w O Ph W vO vo a w € § 3 g I O d P. 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"I ■a « a vo vo tt cn ' © vo oo cN rt —( T-H VO VO -it U cn t-H rH QO r^ a) T3 T) J-H ■a •o S.2 -2 O o o CJ S 13 >1 rt D_ a> 01 P 2 n & p. Ph rt 2? 60 (so 00 60 c e X Ii o10 a O a H ••3 3 •a C3 "C •a 00 o a )- ■o 2 ■*T» IH o •o ■a u •a *P o H C-H 01 •s o u o u 00 1 c •cs, a »h o *rt o 0) rt DO 3 a rt .& 'o oo c o 0 C3 0 2 rt !■§§ I i u a 0 M __5 o Hi U C_ K? S «H ft •S, o « " r/i O a i o _u J 'a CJ T a i o I o 0 *rt Ih 0 U ID >s rt 3 6 'u a 3 g »a i « o 3 £ ■8 ge g E CA CO s Ph a E 9 ci B C P co-oS to 5 «1H o o _c •2'a-q s ■0 V, & "O o rt ci SSSc a c 5 a c S c Ih a c D, .5 .3 v^- uw.2 c 1 £ if .2 tr- 1 &c.o.-S.£0fc°"Ku to S ° 3 < < < pqw Ph W w w Z AA 18 BRITISH COLUMBIA vo VO Ov Cfl w a > a H 2 s I z GO o P4 w H Z < Oh y z 5 w CO e3 S.3 rt ^3 m m © no r- © ^t r^ r^ •«*- ■"*• vo m -; oo m as cn fa m cn 3 t-h © ©_ SP5 t-h rn cn H hhow. *t cn (N ■»* mm mm vo *r __; r> © cncn 00 Ee z a o j 1 1 1 ! : ! i 3 MM i i i i M >< oooo©(N m n vo o mvo r> r- cn ^- - t(- m cn *3- T. a vo r> °° «t no © CN t-h OV NO Z M- © oo rN t-« ^t m cn vo t-© oo r- r- m _j cn vo t-h m cn © ^ vo oo oo w Ph (N ^ t-h vo ON r- h- © o cn ov 't t* oom NOVO VO OO -/ O -<*■ 00 "vt Tj- © g vo vo cn 05 z cn t-h? t-h no* o Hnot m cn oo m r> oo « z NOVO NO © X *H t- VOCN ^_ cn ^ t> cN vo NO* *-t t-h" en t- tOMrth CN r- t> t> -<t © vo o m r- ■** _► o\ m men a\o\ t> f- 5 <i ° *° ° u 3 t-tTt-T t£ In t-h" t^ VOrt cn m cn oo ■** O t-i cn ** cn^irNcn (N «tf t-h rn VO CN t-h,-. vo oo -j m ■»* cn r- *■-*** t n. S ^ ® rtc' a O 00 r-T ©" Tf oC t- CN tH t-H OO OV tneNHH m cn CN © ©t-h § •*■<«? cn cn ^ vo r- cn tn 1-IWT-HfNj^T-HrHOO s VO" CN t-h" CN rH cn oo •"* m en o o m oooo >y oor- ** vo _j ov cn mvo vi r- r- cn ov J^ rn oo ^^ W ov m cn cn t> »-t T-H t> cn r- m cn o r- ov cn ■* i-(t-h 1 cncn no t-h • m m moo tn tn Tt ov pj ©_ ©_ W»h vo i> ■«* o oo" cs t-h m «_- mmom © tn m oo novo rJ ©o cN o _" vo oo moo cncnmrHav0rNo m C? OO Tp ^* 00 cn m m ,826 ,760 66 ,966 ,010 36.6 ,149 ,308 ,180 ,229 •a s 1 Tf^tOvVD r~T.ov.-l 00 O Tt C. W. u CS -H HH O t-? _» -3 *o a •o 1 6.2 § i .2 o o o ".H u a to Ih >T a s oo c a CO E § rt rt v. ■6 gl "S'S I +H Cfl t3 u o a 'H 3 ■o ■d a •s 3 •O •o 00 O a ding, or with during perio ost of projec O o rt O O rt 1 IS S o Ih 2 & o a •o 1 u p. _> o a rt a 'p "C rt a e J. u .ob w b i* _. (_, rt * O CL O o e > Hi 1 o Cfl ■5 a. > T . P "3 N Si 5 0 •a VM o U Cfl >. rt rt a '3 ns reo nsacc ns reje cost 0 direct 1 ■2 « a E "3 3 a £ 00 ft s a E B c< E .2 .2 .2 t. s a ■a 1? . ■d e "8 pplicat pplicat pplicat stimate stimate H O S S3 ft p v O <w .2 C »H o P (J ai w «> rt fc s ° .3 tH ii c |o Ih 1 3 < < < WW Ph W H w Z REPORT OF DEPARTMENT OF MUNICIPAL AFFAIRS, 1965 AA 19 JNf 00 Z £ 0 H _. I/> H l) Ph H t/1 Q w w H u Bh o >- > H z ft H n Z H UJ V. as PS D 0 OS < UJ hj >H a UJ H a Bh H O PS rt O O Bh •< nn H UJ y. (. w < u ►J OS vJ w Ph > < Q 0. < Z < 1/1 UJ X < H O z Q Z < H -. CN m CN rn i ! i Ml! MM [III I- ! i I i MM Ml Ov s cn t-- cn th l i i i mi> cn r» i l' or- oo vo no cn m © cn % Os TTH i ■•* cn vo vo oocNt—loo voin-r*© vOtjiN-h vo-»*cncN cncncNcN UJ pa O CJ CJ CJ (J O B ft ° M ft ^ « ft. u » ft U a J> i wis i oh t to £3 i o & t oh i us 5 a i u h S « i <u £3 £ rt t mh es i g H g J I sM1 sS Is9 J '53 Is 8 J s9 s J3 - sS Si Ii5Is ' s9 si 1 i11i cN,UHcN,OQgUQ$OQ*OQm'UQH>5^ AA 20 BRITISH COLUMBIA PERCENTAGE TAX COLLECTIONS CHART 1. LEGEND Cities ..............Villages Districts —— Vancouver ....... •••Towns % 16 OUTSTANDING TAXES AS A PERCENTAGE OF CURRENT LEVY / \ \ ■■■ %_ '••..# ■., • • y \ \ ■ mm ■ > \ fc> \ ' ■**_\>>x V \ 7 ""s.. '""\ V v\ \\ ,>•-' -^ "_—■'•- — mmmm ***-tv r7*- —-.!!_"'•• \ 0 1954 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 Note: The classification of Towns was established in 1958 63 1964 REPORT OF DEPARTMENT OF MUNICIPAL AFFAIRS, 1965 AA 21 TRENDS IN FINANCIAL ASPECTS OF MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT COMPARED TO POPULATION AND INCOME CHART 2. LEGEND sazagssazBBssPopulation in millions • — — — — -Total revenue in millions of dollars Building permits in millions of dollars Debenture debt in millions of dollars ♦•.•......Maximum values taxable in hundreds of millions of dollars ■ Personal income in hundreds of millions of dollars 400 s* / TOO 90 80 70 60 50 40 30 20 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 1 _--""" „.-<""" _^-~" «■"■*•■■ ""* *■"" .-—***' _B<„ *•♦••••••* •♦••*♦ ♦ •♦* ,••• KffiSSSZSZ^ 22_22n2S22Z2S2 r5B2Z£&&& E225SZE22SSCS 22VffiZv^222S 954 55 So 57 58 59 so SI 62 63 1964 AA 22 BRITISH COLUMBIA REPORT OF THE DIRECTOR, REGIONAL PLANNING DIVISION Victoria, B.C., January 24, 1966. J. E. Brown, Esq., Deputy Minister of Municipal Affairs. Sir,—Three regional districts were formed in the south-eastern part of the Province with physical planning as one of the operating functions of the Regional Board. Now 75 per cent of the Province is covered either by the older Regional Planning Boards or the new Regional District Boards, and the means is now given to plan land use more effectively and directly. Three municipalities have been incorporated under section 10a of the Municipal Act. Both Port Alice and Hudson's Hope were established with an official community plan, and I feel that these places will have a better chance to grow in an orderly fashion in the future with this guide to development. While the District of Gold River was not incorporated with an official community plan, it is anticipated that the Municipal Council will be considering one soon. I have been co-operating with company officials, planning and engineering consultants throughout the year so that other new communities which may be incorporated under this legislation will have the benefit of the Department's experience in planning matters. The Division has continued with its usual planning services to municipalities, and planning reports were prepared for Ladysmith, Lillooet, Clinton, and the new District Municipality of Campbell River last year. The Division has continued work on the renewal project at Sparwood in the south-eastern part of British Columbia. A firm of consulting engineers was engaged to assist the Division in this work. They have assessed properties in the Village of Natal, and at Sparwood have executed the numerous engineering studies that were required to assure reasonableness of the plan for the new town that has been prepared by the Division. The soundest of planning thought that it has been possible to find has been incorporated into the disposition of the various land-use areas, the street layout, and the regulations which will accompany the zoning map. In particular, the regulations governing development of residential areas which have been prepared for this community have broken new ground; in these, sunlighting, day- lighting, privacy, and amenity have been prime considerations in attempting to assure compatibility between all forms of residential developments. There was increased land-use activity in the community planning areas administered throughout the Province. One hundred and forty-five zoning applications were received by the Department, an increase of 25 from the year before, which was an increase of 20 applications from the year previous. Community Planning Area Number 5 became the District of North Saanich, and we feel that our function was fulfilled in maintaining a good standard of development until such time as the people there felt they could administer their own affairs. We have administered this area since 1948 and supervised the construction of over 600 houses, as well as administering zoning and subdivision regulations. As usual, we have been busy throughout the year in improving standards, and in conjunction with other departments have prepared and refined our regulations governing mobile-home parks and camp-sites. Regulations were also passed controlling the use of land for the wrecking of automobiles in unorganized territory on main highways throughout the Province. REPORT OF DEPARTMENT OF MUNICIPAL AFFAIRS, 1965 AA 23 I met with members of the council of the Cowichan Indian Band and other Government officials to make exploratory investigations into the long-run possibility of this Indian reserve becoming incorporated into a municipality. The Department again with co-operation from the Planning Institute of British Columbia held a two-day meeting at Parksville, and registration increased from 40 the year previous to 60 last year. Many planting problems and achievements were discussed. The Division continued to help with the Regional Development Seminar of the Planning School at the University of British Columbia and assisted with the printing of a student project of a regional study of the north part of Vancouver Island. Through the year I attended Board meetings at the request of the Regional Planning Boards, and I feel that I was able to help them from the nature of the inquiries and questions that were directed to me. Assistance was given to 15 municipalities during the year in connection with building by-laws and building code work. Quite a number of by-laws adopting the new 1965 National Building Code were drafted by the Department. The new code and associated residential standards is coming into widespread use in the Province as a uniform building standard. The value of construction in the community planning areas in 1965 increased by over $4V-. million, making the total $36,808,000, and the number of dwelling units built increased 251 to 1,677. The construction boom around Prince George in Community Planning Area Number 7 showed a further increase in 1965, and a second building inspector is going to be appointed to assist with the extraordinary work load. Community Planning Areas Dwelling Units Built, 1965 Dwelling Units Built since Areas Established Total Value of All Construction, 1965 Community Planning Community Planning Community Planning Community Planning Community Planning Community Planning Community Planning Community Planning Community Planning Community Planning Community Planning Community Planning Community Planning of Courtenay) Community Planning Community Planning Community Planning Community Planning Community Planning Community Planning Prince George)... Community Planning Community Planning Community Planning Community planning Totals • 1 (around Kelowna).. r 2 (around Vernon) :3 (ViewRoyal)_ ." 4 (Langford-Metchosin) _ : 5 (North Saanich) '. 6 (Nanaimo) Area Number Area Number Area Number Area Number Area Number Area Number Area Number 7 (Prince George) Area Number Area Number Area Number 11 (around Alberni) Area Number Area Number Area Number 14 (north of Campbell River to south ■ 8 (around Kamloops)_ ■ 9 (around Quesnel).. ■ 12 (around Dawson Creek)_ • 13 (Woodhaven, near loco).. Area Number 15 (around Fort St. John).. Area No. 16 (Sicamous)_ Area Number 17 (Fort Nelson) Area Number 18 (West Bench near Penticton).. Area Number 19 (Hudson Hope)_ Area Number 20 (Crooked River, 60 miles north of Area Number 21 (Revelstoke) Area Number 22 (Chase) Area Number 23 (Shawnigan) areas now part of a municipality.. 228 114 24 131 31 267 234 360 18 16 10 7 171 20 4 6 8 14 3 11 1,988 663 563 478 616 2,597 1,443 1,611 234 27 251 46 603 243 34 46 13 73 4 29 27 11 139 $3,941,611 889,874 483,145 2,322,336 1,022,755 4,108,307 13,673,209 5,281,025 309,728 70,400 265,590 79,660 2,711,690 330,413 118,760 135,200 102,524 208,613 290,927 301,797 160,530 1,677 11,739 | $36,808,094 I Don South, M.T.P.I.C, Director, Regional Planning Division. 1M-266-1-J61 Printed by A. Sutton, Printer to the Queen's Most Excellent Majesty in right of the Province of British Columbia. 1966
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DEPARTMENT OF MUNICIPAL AFFAIRS REPORT for the YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31 1965 British Columbia. Legislative Assembly [1966]
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Title | DEPARTMENT OF MUNICIPAL AFFAIRS REPORT for the YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31 1965 |
Alternate Title | REPORT OF DEPARTMENT OF MUNICIPAL AFFAIRS, 1965 |
Creator |
British Columbia. Legislative Assembly |
Publisher | Victoria, BC : Government Printer |
Date Issued | [1966] |
Genre |
Legislative proceedings |
Type |
Text |
FileFormat | application/pdf |
Language | English |
Identifier | J110.L5 S7 1966_V02_19_AA1_AA23 |
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Sessional Papers of the Province of British Columbia |
Source | Original Format: Legislative Assembly of British Columbia. Library. Sessional Papers of the Province of British Columbia |
Date Available | 2018-02-26 |
Provider | Vancouver : University of British Columbia Library |
Rights | Images provided for research and reference use only. For permission to publish, copy or otherwise distribute these images please contact the Legislative Library of British Columbia |
CatalogueRecord | http://resolve.library.ubc.ca/cgi-bin/catsearch?bid=1198198 |
DOI | 10.14288/1.0364118 |
AggregatedSourceRepository | CONTENTdm |
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