A list of cuts the liberals are making, and implications for local government: From the “In The House” circular sent to Local Governments, “Major Provincial Government Restructuring Implications for Local Government” Dated January 18, 2002. Agriculture, Food and Fisheries: Overall reduction in operating budget 44.8% Overall FTEs (full-time equivalent jobs) 17.2% Programs eliminated: Fisheries Renewal BC Rural Development Office Grant eliminations re: Buy BC BC wine industry Women’s Institutes BC Agriculture Council BC fairs and exhibitions Close 6 district offices (Courtenay, Creston, Dawson Creed, Vanderhoof, Sidney, Smithers) and the Vancouver office.
Discontinue prescriptive regulation Discontinue Grazing Enhancement Fund Eliminate development grants Eliminate Shellfish Aquaculture Working Capital Fund Attorney General and Minister Responsible for Treaty Negotiations: Overall reduction in operating budget 14.7% Overall FTEs 12.6% Reduction in services: Close 24 of 68 courthouses in the province Substantial reduction in funding for legal, family law and poverty law programs : Closure of a number of community legal aid offices Closure of Vancouver executive office Reviews: Program of civil, administrative and private law reform Election Act and related legislation Risk management strategy to reduce exposure to liability and litigation costs Treaty Negotiations Office: Highlights: Elimination of TAC funding “ 51 of 125 positions cut Consultation units eliminated Shifting from regional treaty negotiations to “file” based teams drawn from a common pool Elimination of advisory committee funding Reduction of operational funding, BC Treaty Commission Community, Aboriginal and Women’s Services: Discontinuing: Community enterprise, cooperations and volunteers Audiobook program Grants to BC Festival of the Arts Possibility of reduction in the number of Government Agent offices Competition, Science and Enterprise: Overall reduction in operating budget 36% FTEs 64% Elimination of inter-provincial trade barriers Use of public corridors to leverage communication growth Cut regulations by one-third Energy and Mines: Over reduction in operating budget 40% FTEs 38% Programs eliminated: Prospectors Assistance Program Consolidate 6 regional operations into one central localtion New Era Commitments: Protect BC Hydro and all its core assets, including dams, reservoirs and power lines under public ownership Restore independent BC Utilities Commission to regulate BC Hydro rates Forests: Overall reduction in operating budget 35% FTEs 35% Programs eliminated: Maintenance of recreation and trail sites (transfer to other agencies or close) 2 out of 8 seed orchards and offer the remaining 6 for lease or sale to the private sector Privatize or close the 2 Forest nurseries Cost-free firefighting for non-government assets and interests Downize or close all Forest Services Offices; downsize the Victoria offices Health Planning: Overall reduction in operating budget 0.1% FTEs 24% Health Services: Health authorities reduced from 52 to 6 $6 billion, one-time expenditure to reconfigure to suit Reduction of corporate infrastructure across regions Reduction of laboratory capacity Alternate service delivery methods and private/public partnerships Discontinue BC Hearing Aid program and technical support Fees for non-health care costs of home and community care based on user ability to pay Emergency Health Services: Reduce program management staff Reduce paramedic staff Redirect low priority emergency calls to other resources Eliminate non-emergency patient transfer services, promote use of alternative providers MSP: Discontinue funding for supplementary benefits (e.g. massage therapy, chiropractic) except for low-income clients Eliminate coverage for routine eye exams for adults 19-64 years Close in-person client service offices in Victoria and Burnaby Pharmacare: Seniors to pay greater portion of drug costs up to $275 per year or $200 maximum for seniors on premium assistance Family deductible increase to $200 Income testing to determine new cost coverage De-listing of some drugs Home oxygen program devolved to (dumped on) Health Authorities Capital Financing: Review previously announced projects Health Authorities responsible for debt servicing and operating costs for new capital projects Explore options for private sector or non-profit partnerships Human Resources (Welfare) Overall reduction in operating budget 30% FTEs 15% Programs eliminated: Bus Pass subsidy to senior citizens Senior supplement, by phasing out Hardship assistance in certain circumstances (i.e. person quits job voluntarily, refugee claimants) Reductions/Changes: 36 of 162 offices to be closed Replace BC Benefits Appeal Board with independent regional tribunals New legislation will focus on assisting clients to find employment - employment programs will be performance based.
Eligibility requirement will be reduced and income assistance payments will be reduced.
Management Services: Overall reduction in operating budget 34% FTEs 18% Programs eliminated: Equal opportunity Secretariat Information Technology Career Access Office Public Safety and Solicitor General: Overall reduction in operating budget 10.7% FTEs 21% Programs eliminated: Vancouver Pretrial Service Centre Burnaby Correctional Center for Women Community contracted drug testing and alcohol drug programs Funding for delivery of Criminal Documents services ($25 paid to local government or police to deliver court documents) Flood protection program (grants to local government for flood protection) Reduction in Services/Costs: 8 open and medium correctional centres will be closed 5 community probation offices will be closed (Hope, Kitimat, Parksville, Sidney, 100 Mile House) 2 of 9 Coroners offices will be closed (Victoria, Fraser Valley) 2 residential tenancy offices will be closed (Nanaimo, Vancouver) 52% cost reduction in the Keep of Prisoners Program Reduce contracts for Alternative Measures (alternatives to formal court process) Criminal Record Review Program will recover costs from agencies whose employees work with children Self-regulation allowed for: Motor dealers Travel services Private investigators Sustainable Resource Management: Overall reduction in operating budget 36% FTEs 36% Sustainable Land and Water: Reduce backlog of water licences and crown land applications Review pricing policy for land and water resource use Reduce number of regulatory requirements to streamline decision-making and increase opportunities for economic development Eliminate funding for four community resource boards Reduce the number of regional land title offices Minimize the provincial role in water utility regulation (transfer some to regional and local) Provide faster approvals and greater access to land and water resources Devolve water utility regulation to appropriate authorities and increase self-regulation of strata-based and resort utilities Elimination of Forest Land Reserve Range of uses permitted in ALR will be expanded Transportation: Over reduction in operating budget: +1% (sic) FTEs 61% Lower Mainland and Victoria Highways offices to be amalgamated.
Private sector involvement included under “Key themes” Water, Land and Air Protection: Overall reduction in operating budget 24% FTE’s 31% Ensuring positive compliance with expectations Providing professional and corporate enforcement service where required Fewer staff resources directed to: Low-medium risk pollution sources Providing advice to industry and local government on habitat and ecosystem protection and to directly protecting habitat and species where risks are relatively low Providing services where recreational use is low or where costs cannot be recovered Discontinuing of: Permitting for low/medium risk waste management sites Response to low-risk environmental spills Operational planning and referrals regarding wildlife, fish and habitat Freshwater fishing industry development grants, partnerships and advice Response to low-risk human-wildlife conflicts Environmental Youth Team Camping and recreational facilities in lower use parks Charging less than market rates for park services Environmental Assessment Office: Overall reduction in operating budget 37% FTEs 37% Premier’s Office: Priorities: Establishment of regional transportation authorities Restoration of an independent BC Utilities Commission Stopping the expansion of gambling Aggressively supporting and championing BC’s bid to hold the 2010 Olympics The source document for the above extracts does not cover the following ministires: Advanced Education Children and Family Development Education Finance Provincial Revenue Skill Development and Labour. (forwarded on to me by Brishen)