July 22, 2010
Surrey Safer Thanks to Traffic Fine Revenue

SURREY – Surrey will enjoy a boost to public safety thanks to $2,380,454 in provincial funding, part of a $38.6 million instalment from the Strategic Community Investment Fund.

“Public safety is a priority for this government,” says Surrey-Tynehead MLA Dave S. Hayer. “Initiatives like these are the reason Statistics Canada reported our province has the largest decline in crime rates and crime severity in all of Canada.”

“Surrey will receive an additional number of police officers thanks to collected traffic fine revenue,” says Surrey-Panorama MLA Stephanie Cadieux. “We will be seeing real, tangible benefits from this investment to improve local safety.”

“We’re taking every dollar gained from traffic fines and putting it back into the hands of local government for their public safety priorities,” says Surrey-Cloverdale MLA Kevin Falcon. “The revenue being directed into our community will help make Surrey stronger.”

This year’s funding will be used for more police officers in Surrey, as well as new police equipment such as imaging cameras, identification equipment and police vehicles, and a variety of community safety and crime prevention initiatives. Also, the funding will be put to other local priorities such as new infrastructure, local planning, improvements to existing infrastructure and roadways, and local employment opportunities. 

The Strategic Community Investment Fund is a restructuring of provincial grants, consisting of the Traffic Fine Revenue Sharing program and Small Community and Regional District Grants. This payment of $38.6 million to B.C.’s communities is the third instalment of a total $227 million provided to local governments since 2009; a first instalment of $133 million was paid to communities in March 2009 and a second instalment of $55.5 million was paid in September 2009.

Since 2001, the Province has given communities $413 million in traffic fine revenues and $363 million in Small Community and Regional District Grants.

For more information on Surrey and its MLAs, visit their websites at www.davehayermla.bc.ca. www.stephaniecadieuxmla.bc.ca and www.kevinfalconmla.bc.ca. Also, follow them on Twitter: @MLAHayer, @MLACadieux and @KevinFalcon.

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