July 8, 2011
Plan Ahead, Stay Safe: Provincial Grants Help Communities

NORTH VANCOUVER – Both North Vancouver and West Vancouver are benefiting from a combined $1,998,139 in provincial money with the latest instalment from the Strategic Community Investment Fund (SCIF). The money is coming from the Traffic Fine Revenue Sharing program (TFRS).

Why this matters:

• SCIF grants allow communities to invest in their own priority projects.
• The Traffic Fine Revenue Sharing program helps municipalities that directly pay for police enforcement costs. The grants come from ticket fines and court-imposed fines on violation tickets, and the amount of money a municipality receives is based on its contribution to total municipal policing costs.
• This money will provide additional funding for local policing services and crime prevention programs.

Quotes:

"The provincial government is doing what municipalities asked for - giving back the money that we collect on traffic fines so they can invest it as they see fit."
            –North Vancouver-Seymour MLA Jane Thornthwaite

"It is appropriate that fines levied against those who ignore the traffic rules should help the police pay for stronger law enforcement."
            -West Vancouver-Capilano MLA Ralph Sultan

“The TFRS program takes the negative aspect of paying traffic fines and turns it into a positive benefit by giving local governments funds that will help keep our communities safer.”
            -West Vancouver-Sea to Sky MLA Joan McIntyre

Who is benefiting:

• District of North Vancouver: $779,734 (TFRS)
• District of West Van: $641,506 (TFRS)
• City of North Vancouver: $576,899 (TFRS)

Additional information:

• Traffic Fine Revenue Sharing program funds come from fines on violation tickets.
• Learn more about B.C. local governments: http://www.cscd.gov.bc.ca/lgd/

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