The Town of Smithers has been awarded $200,000 from the Province of British Columbia through the Local Government Development Approval Program (LGDAP), administered by the Union of British Columbia Municipalities (UBCM). Smithers is one of 56 communities to receive funding through the program's 2026 intake. The provincial media release is available here: https://news.gov.bc.ca/releases/2026HMA0072-000788
The funding will support the Town's efforts to improve and modernize its development approval processes, helping facilitate the creation of new housing. Key initiatives include modernizing the Building Permit approval process, reviewing the existing development approval framework to identify opportunities for greater efficiency, developing resource packages for applicants, customizing standardized housing designs available through the Province and the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC), and improving public access to mapping data.
To support these initiatives, the Town will engage with residents, the Smithers Chamber of Commerce, development industry stakeholders, and partner organizations, including the Regional District of Bulkley-Nechako, the Ministry of Transportation and Transit (MoTT), and the Office of the Wet'suwet'en.
Additional information can be found in the Provincial DAP Report.