The Provincial Capital Commission, since its inception in 1956, has been responsible for a designated area known as the Capital Improvement District. In addition to the City of Victoria and the Municipalities of Esquimalt, Oak Bay and Saanich the designated area now includes the whole of the Saanich peninsula and the Western Communities. The Commission's mandate today, just as it was during the years it operated under its original name - The Capital Improvement District Commission - is to protect and enhance those amenity values of Greater Victoria and its approaches which are appropriate for the Capital City of the Province of British Columbia.
The Provincial Capital Commission, as the name suggests, is the British Columbia counterpart of the National Capital Commission in Ottawa. While the N.C.C. has comprehensive powers, the P.C.C., in pursuit of it goals and with approving authority only in the case of proposed developments on Provincial Crown Land, relies heavily upon its example, good offices and the cooperation of all the member municipalities, the Capital Regional District and all levels of senior government.
The Commission, in accordance with the Capital Commission Act, has a 14 member board which includes six seats filled by nominees of the four core municipalities and eight appointed by the Province - all chosen for the experience and expertise they can bring to bear in furthering the enhancement needs of the Capital Improvement District. The positions of Chair and Vice-Chair are two of the O.I.C. appointments made by the Province.
Traditionally the Commission has funded, wholly or in part, construction and development work for improvement and beautification projects initiated by member municipalities in the designated area. This is still a major area of Commission activity, and has been augmented in recent years by extensive improvements initiated by the Commission itself. A small resource group was established in 1977 by the Minister Responsible to attend to such Commission initiatives and to assist the Commission in the day to day management of a portfolio of "special interest" properties entrusted to it by the Province. Since completion in 1957 of its very first project, which consisted of improvements to part of the Dallas Road waterfront, the Commission, in cooperation with the municipalities of the Capital Improvement District, has spent or committed approximately $19 million for such improvement projects.
Again in recent years the "special interest" properties have become a very important part of the Commission's responsibilities. The Commission was the agency through which the Province chose to achieve the rehabilitation of the derelict Crystal Garden facility. It was also the Commission that the Province looked to in seeking appropriate stewardship of the former St. Ann's Academy campus. "Special interest" projects traditionally have generally been accomplished through specially warranted Provincial funding over and above the Commission's annual appropriation.
Because of its key contribution to the heart of Victoria, the Inner Harbour, and more particularly the Inner Basin, has always enjoyed centre stage attention. The Commission, with title to major waterfront properties on both the Wharf Street and Belleville Street flanks, endeavours to ensure that future development in this area will be in keeping with the impressive surroundings.
