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 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
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 AA 20
BRITISH COLUMBIA
PERCENTAGE      TAX       COLLECTIONS
CHART 1.
LEGEND
Cities ..............Villages
Districts —— Vancouver
....... •••Towns
%
16
OUTSTANDING    TAXES    AS   A    PERCENTAGE OF   CURRENT   LEVY
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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
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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