Province of British Columbia to deliver almost 2.8 million dollars to City of Prince Rupert for COVID-19 Safe restart program

The city of Prince Rupert has an near 2.8 million dolalrs
to work with as part of a provincial release of COVID 
Safe Restart money

The Provincial government has made good on its promise to lend a financial hand to municipal governments as they continue their COVID era Safe Restart programs and for the City of Prince Rupert that means an additional 2.8 million dollars to use ($2,799,000 to be exact).

For the District of Port Edward the province will provide $317,000, while North Coast Regional District has received $390,000

The money released this week is part of the Federal Safe Restart Agreement with a total of 425 million dollars part of the distribution announced on Thursday.

Around the  remainder of the Northwest, the financial distribution for municipal government will look as follows:

Terrace --  $2,728,000
Kitimat --  $2,176,000
Smithers -- $1,656,000
Houston -- $1,-66,000
Burns Lake -- $732,000
Telkwa -- $602,000
Stewart -- $366,000
New Hazelton -- $357,000

Kitimat Stikine Regional District received $559,000, while Bulkley-Nechako Regional District received $583,000

On Haida Gwaii the distribution will be as follows:

Queen Charlotte -- $435,000
Masset -- $429,000

The Union of British Columbia municipalities had issued a call for assistance for communities in the Spring and the organization hailed the funding announcement on Thursday with this information statement.

UBCM President Brian Frenkel noted that the funding will be available for immediate use by municipal and regional governments.

“Since the beginning of the pandemic, local governments have taken steps to manage costs and rethink budgets, but communities are contending with significant revenue shortfalls. These funds will be available for immediate use and provide greater clarity as budgets are developed for the coming year. I want to personally thank FCM for the thoughtful advocacy is has provided on behalf of local governments at a federal level, and readiness of the province to match the significant funding provided by the Government of Canada.”

As the UBCM notes, the funding released this week may be followed up with additional funds through the Safe Restart Agreement.

Funding details are still being developed for additional funding through the Safe Restart Agreement. This includes additional funding for BC local governments, including $100 million to support local governments as they address the needs of vulnerable populations and $15 million to improve development approval processes. UBCM will be communicating details on these programs as they become available.

So far, the City of Prince Rupert has not made note of the funding in hand, or how they plan to make use of the funding that has been directed towards their financial office.

For more notes on City of Prince Rupert themes see our archive page here.

Cross posted from the North Coast Review.