City of WL Adopts New Official Community Plan

The City of Williams Lake has adopted a new Official Community Plan (OCP) that will shape the development of the community for the next two decades.

The new OCP provides City Council with guidelines that will enhance the environmental and economic sustainability of Williams Lake. The process of developing the plan was made possible through $175,000 from the federal Gas Tax Fund.

“The Government of Canada is proud to support infrastructure investments that promote community sustainability,” said Dick Harris, Member of Parliament for Cariboo-Prince George, on behalf of the Honourable Denis Lebel, Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities. “Canada's Gas Tax Fund supports environmentally sustainable municipal infrastructure that contributes to cleaner air, cleaner water and reduced greenhouse gas emissions.”

The Final OCP reflects the community’s priorities that were identified in a recent Integrated Community Sustainability planning (ICSP) process, and defines policies and actions to be implemented over the next five years.

Many of the policy directions, including the recognition of aboriginal traditional territory before every council meeting, projects on carbon neutrality, food security and affordable housing are nearing readiness for implementation.

“Our ICSP/OCP puts sustainability at the forefront in our community priorities, and reflects what our residents have told us they want our city to look like in 2030 and beyond,” says Williams Lake mayor Kerry Cook. “We as local government leaders now have a specific, detailed document we will use as we make decisions going forward.”

The Williams Lake Official Community Plan was adopted on June 7, 2011, and implementation has already begun. To learn more about the OCP or to read it please visit: http://www.williamslake.ca/index.asp?p=933

"Having the Williams Lake community move forward economically and sustainably will ensure that local families will have a strong and thriving community for many years to come," said Cariboo-Chilcotin MLA Donna Barnett.

The Gas Tax Fund is a tripartite agreement between Canada, British Columbia and UBCM that delivers infrastructure funding to local governments, primarily for capital projects that lead to cleaner air, cleaner water or reduced greenhouse gas emissions. UBCM administers the Gas Tax Fund in B.C. in collaboration with Canada and British Columbia.

“Sustainability planning is time intensive, but the end result is a solid foundation for growth” said UBCM President Barbara Steele. “UBCM is appreciative of programs like the Gas Tax Fund that support the long-term development of communities.”

For further information on the Government of Canada’s infrastructure investments in British Columbia, visit www.creatingjobs.gc.ca. To learn more about Canada’s Economic Action Plan, visit www.actionplan.gc.ca.

For more information:

Vanessa Schneider Director of Communications Office of the Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities 613-991-0700

Ministry of Community, Sport and Cultural Development
250-387-4089

Paul Taylor
Relationships and Communications Advisor
UBCM
250-356-2938

Ken MacInnis
Communications Coordinator
City of Williams Lake
250-392-8488

Infrastructure Canada
613-948-1148
Or toll-free: 1-877-250-7154