Actions Belonging to a Plan (View 1029)

As opportunities arise, advocate to the Province to update, maintain and expand the scope of the Community Energy and Emissions Inventories for municipalities across BC to include consumption-based emissions. This would alleviate effort at local government level, and provide a consistent framework for carbon accounting. Where provincial data is not available, continue to advocate for consumption-based inventories for all municipalities in the CRD.

Assess opportunity to reline main roads with safe bike lanes to support uptake of electric and non-electric cycling. If the assessment is positive, find funding and/or budget for road relining (e.g. B.C. Active Transportation Infrastructure Grants).

As identified in the Highlands Strategic Plan, advance a policy to enable secondary suites and/or accessory dwelling units in existing and new homes to support a diversity of housing options. For existing suites, follow provincial guidelines to relax requirements for approval of suites. For new homes, explore the option to provide suites as an incentive if the home meets requirements for low carbon energy systems.

This fund would be directed toward initiatives to reduce community GHG emissions. Funding sources to explore could include: • annually allocating CARIP grant toward fund, • allocating funds as an “offset” for GHG emissions from District operations, and/or • establishing an internal carbon price (e.g. District of Saanich does this). Examples of fund use: provide incentives to accelerate turnover of fossil fuel heating systems to electric heat pumps in homes. This program is already in place in the CRD. Highlands would provide additional top-ups of $350 each in their community.

Prepare a plan to adopt step code, starting with mid-steps and charting out a path to adopt the upper steps for all new development. This will require conducting consultation and amending the Building Bylaw. To support use of low-carbon energy sources, allow for lower steps that use efficient sustainable energy sources instead of fossil fuel heating and hot water (District of West Vancouver recently adopted this model).

The District can undertake many actions to address the climate emergency, but ultimately it will be essential that all citizens and businesses do their part. The District can promote and support community-driven initiatives – through the provision of small grants, resources or letters of support when the initiative advances climate action. Examples include: • Coordinating carpooling opportunities • Coordinating shared resources for food processing and preserving • Increasing awareness of local supply chains • Purchasing / setting-up bear safe composting as a demonstration • Composting workshops • Establishing community food kitchen or facility • Establishing tool libraries or other shared / cooperative ownership of seldom used items

Update the Zoning Bylaw to require all new buildings to install electric vehicle infrastructure. District of Saanich adopted this into its Zoning Bylaw last year and it came into force June 2020. Example bylaw language is available through research conducted for the CRD Inter-municipal working group.

The District can review existing permit fees to reduce potential barriers to decommissioning fossil fuel heating systems and replacing them with low carbon heating systems, such as highefficiency electric heat pumps. Additionally, the District can actively promote Provincial and utility rebates available to shift toward sustainable energy sources for heating and hot water in existing buildings through the District website, social media, and other outreach with community organizations. Examples of programs outlined here, and are also summarized on the CRD website: https://betterhomesbc.ca/rebates/financing/ https://betterhomesbc.ca/rebates/gpr/ https://betterhomesbc.ca/rebates/combination-space-and-water-heat-pump-rebate/ This action also aligns with Action #1 to create a climate action fund that can be directed towards topping up these existing incentives.

Currently municipalities in BC do not have authority to require low carbon building materials, but the Province has identified this as a future policy change. Support from municipalities may accelerate this policy. The District can stay abreast of what the Province is considering, advocate and provide input as opportunities arise.