The B.C. government is providing $70,444 to local municipalities in recognition of their commitment to support a healthier, more sustainable community, announced Boundary-Similkameen MLA Linda Larson today.The B.C. government awarded grants to the following Boundary-Similkameen municipalities:·         The Kootenay-Boundary Regional District received $38,940.·         The Town of Osoyoos received $11,646.·         The City of Grand Forks received $8,216.·         The Town of Oliver received $5,235.·         The City of Greenwood received $3,049.·         The Village of Midway received $2,265.·         The Village of Keremeos received $1,093. “Our government is proud to support sustainable community action through the Climate Action Charter,” said Larson. “This more than $70,000 is being invested in our communities to assist local governments continue to become cleaner and greener.”As a signatory of the Climate Action Charter, Boundary-Similkameen municipalities received a grant through the Climate Action Revenue Incentive Program to support the community’s efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and work toward their Climate Action Charter goals.The Climate Action Revenue Incentive Program is a conditional grant program that provides funding to Climate Action Charter signatories. Communities that signed the Climate Action Charter and report publicly on their progress toward meeting their climate action goals are eligible to receive a grant equivalent to 100 per cent of the carbon tax they pay directly. A total of $6.8 million province wide will be paid out in the fiscal year 2013/14. Since 2008, the B.C. government has provided $19 million through the Climate Action Revenue Incentive Program. Climate Action Charter communities monitor and chart their progress year over year. They also support public transparency. Currently, 96 per cent of communities in B.C. have signed the Climate Action Charter.

Grand Forks Gazette