When it comes to major infrastructure projects across BC, like Osoyoos’ much needed water treatment plant, the Province has signalled the importance for municipalities to build up reserves and appears to peg any additional grant funding to Provincial budget surpluses and Federal infrastructure support.

In town to hear the key concerns of local government this week was Brittny Anderson, Minister of State for Local Governments and Rural Communities.

Mayor Sue McKortoff said council was planning on raising the pertinent issues – water being a key one – with Anderson. Osoyoos has been preparing for the annual Union of BC Municipalities (UBCM) conference this coming fall and this conversation will be a precursor to that event, she added.

When asked by the Times Chronicle if the Province has any plans for additional funding assistance to municipalities across the province who are struggling with aging infrastructure, such as Osoyoos’ proposedv water treatment plant that will cost at least $50 million, Anderson was non-committal.

“We did a few years ago when we had a budget surplus, we provided each municipality or each local government in the province with the growing communities fund,” she said.

That, she noted, was “a billion dollars out of our provincial budget.” And if additional funding is dependent on a budget surplus then municipalities may be waiting for quite some time for funding help.

The last budget surplus was in the 2023-24 budget following which BC posted a deficit – largely due to the US’ trade war on Canada – of over $5 billion and projected to rise beyond $10 billion in 2025-26.

While noting there are various grant opportunities that are ongoing for local governments, she added, “we need local governments to be working on their reserves as well.”

Unpopular property tax increases were set to build reserves to help fix infrastructure woes but a lack of saving for rainy days by past administrations has made the task challenging.

Anderson added that the provincial government is also lobbying the new federal government which has been underscoring the need to develop infrastructure across the country.

Following the meeting with town council Anderson met with the South Okanagan Chamber of Commerce.