Energy and Mines News:

Consumer Taxation Branch, Mining Industry — There is now a webpage for the Mining Industry. This page contains various materials that provide information for the industry, including the revised Bulletin SST 081, Mining Industry, the new Bulletin MFT 010, Fuel Used by the Logging and Mining Industries, and lists of taxable and non-taxable items commonly used by the mining industry. See Mining.

Forest and Environment News:

SAFE Companies Program — SAFE Companies is an audit program designed and built by the BC forest sector. It is intended to evaluate company safety programs, and to assist companies in improving their safety performance. Different types and sizes of companies can be evaluated. For more information go to the BC Forest Safety Council website.

Consumer Taxation Branch, Logging Industry — There is now a webpage for the Logging Industry. This page contains various materials that provide information for the industry, including the revised Bulletin SST 112, Logging Industry, the new Bulletin MFT 010, Fuel Used by the Logging and Mining Industries, and lists of taxable and non-taxable items commonly used by the logging industry. See Logging.

Labour and Company News:

New Consumer Taxation Branch webpages:

• Liquor Industry
• Photographers and Photofinishers Industry
• Home-Based Businesses
• Commercial Fishers
• Boats

Local Government News:

Provincial Grant Announcements — Over $4 million a year in new or increased property tax grants from provincial Crown corporations will be given to 29 municipalities and regional districts across British Columbia it was recently announced. The government has developed a new, more equitable approach based on a set of principles that provide greater certainty and predictability with regard to the taxes and grants local governments can expect from Crown corporations. See News Release.

Under the Infrastructure Planning Grant Program, Community Services, 46 municipalities and 10 regional districts will share in over $700,000 in provincial funding it was recently announced. The Infrastructure Planning Grant Program offers grants up to $10,000 to help local governments plan, design and manage water, sewer, drainage and transportation infrastructure. This follows an earlier $700,000 round of infrastructure planning grants awarded this past August. Another round of grant announcements is scheduled for early 2007. See News Release.

In celebration of British Columbia’s 150th anniversary, more than $40 million will be provided for municipalities to develop town squares and to help smaller communities build infrastructure it was recently announced. The "Towns for Tomorrow Program" will provide $21 million over three years for towns under 5,000 to support their infrastructure priorities, with the Province funding 80 per cent of each project, up to a maximum total value of $500,000. The "B.C. Spirit Square Program" will provide $20 million for communities to create or enhance outdoor public meeting places, with the Province sharing up to half of the capital costs for projects up to a maximum contribution of $500,000. See News Release.

As one element of the Green Cities Project to help B.C. communities improve environmental sustainability, over the next four years $40 million will be invested in a new LocalMotion Fund which will cost-share capital projects on a 50/50 basis with municipal governments to build bike paths, walkways, greenways and improved accessibility for people with disabilities. The Green Cities Project is going to provide financial incentives to help local governments shift to hybrid vehicle fleets, retrofit diesel vehicles and provide support for fuel cell vehicles as well as make new investments in expanded rapid transit, and other innovations. See News Release.

Consumer Taxation Branch, Municipalities and Regional Districts — Bulletin HRT 007, Municipal and Regional District Tax, has been updated to add the Village of Harrison Hot Springs to the areas collecting additional tax on accommodation sales. See HRT-007.

Motor Vehicle News:

Consumer Taxation Branch, Motor Vehicle Related — Bulletin SST 105, Motor Vehicle Parking, has been revised and updated to clarify how PST applies to valet parking and bundled sales. See Parking.

Bulletin SST 015, Environmental Levies on Tires and Batteries, has new information on the repeal of the $3 environmental levy on new tires effective January 1, 2007, when a new industry-led stewardship program for tires will be implemented by Tire Stewardship B.C. See Levies and Notice to Tire Sellers.

Bulletins SST 085, Alternative Fuel Vehicles and Alternative Motor Fuel Tax Concessions, and SST 087, Alternative Fuel Vehicles: Calculating the Tax Reduction, have been revised to clarify the definition of Hybrid Electric Vehicle. See SST 085 or SST 087 .