As I did last year, I'm using this post to prepare for the 2024 Union of BC Municipalities convention in Vancouver during the week of Sept. 16. All of us on council will be attending this year as in the past, just as we typically do at the regional Association of Vancouver Island and Coastal Communities (AVICC) conventions. Smaller groups of us attend the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) national conventions, in part given the cost of these excursions. At UBCM this year, we'll be joining over 2,000 other elected representatives from across BC.
The first UBCM convention was held in 1905, and this will be its 119th such gathering -- coinciding, of course, with an increasingly unpredictable provincial election campaign and hence assured of no end of politicking. Yet UBCM is all about apolitical local governments progressing through consensus and collective action. Here's a snapshot of its genesis and history. This image captures some of UBCM's achievements, including participation in the formation of such keystone organizations as BC Assessment, the Local Government Management Association and the Municipal Finance Authority. Over the many decades, UBCM has worked to ensure welfare payments are not a local government responsibility (which they were circa the Great Depression), pushed for establishment of the Community Charter (2003), lobbied for the federal gas tax (first enacted in BC and other provinces in 2007), and demanded that local governments be recognized as "an independent, responsible and accountable order of government." Sincerest of hoorays for all that.
Sooke's delegation this year has requested meetings with cabinet ministers as well as senior representatives from a select group of ministries and provincial agencies -- BC Housing, BC Hydro, the RCMP, the Office of the Seniors' Advocate and the Agricultural Land Commission included. In addition to voting on resolutions, soaking up the rich content of workshops and seminars, touring the trade show and networking, these short, hopefully impactful appointments are the major, Sooke-specific reason to attend UBCM -- building relationships with Provincial powers-that-be, expressing local wants and wishes, and starting processes that will eventually (yes, I'm going to stay resolutely optimistic as one need and must in these long-game campaigns) deliver tangible benefits to the District -- next-phase Highway 14 improvements and funding for wastewater expansion to Kaltasin for starters, please.
Starting Points
- 2024 convention home page
- Full program schedule
- 2024 UBCM Annual Report (published Aug. 28)
- 2024 Resolutions Book (258 resolutions this year vs. 202 in 2023. These are comprised of 3 special resolutions from the UBCM executive; 105 in the “Endorse Block”; 14 in the “Not Endorse Block”; 104 in the "No Recommendation" category to spur individual consideration, debate and voting; 35 more resolutions are deemed by the executive to duplicate other resolutions.)
- Resolutions Results 2023-2024 (at-a-glance summary)
- Province of BC 2023 resolution replies package (received Feb. 2024)
- Province of BC 2023 resolution addendum package (received July 2024)
- Association of Vancouver Island and Coastal Communities, April 2024
- Convention Resources
- Resolutions and Decisions
- Resolutions Backgrounders
* UBCM Provincial Election Priorities 2024
- Stretched to the Limit report (PDF)
- Infographic summary
- UBCM Local Government Financial Review Working Group – Sept. 2024 Annual Report
- Potential For Change: Responsible Conduct Framework for Local Government Elected Officials (Sept. 2024)
- Funding and Resources Update: September 2024
- UBCM Policy Papers (archive with 60+ papers dating from 2000)
- UBCM e-newsletter The Compass (archive)
Sooke Advocacy Priorities
The Province invites, through its annual Appointment Book, municipal Mayors and councils to meet with Ministers for a limited number of 15-minute pitch sessions during UBCM week. This year Sooke requested the following meetings. Mayor Tait will again lead our council delegations and we'll be joined again by CAO Raechel Gray and MLA Ravi Parmar. As of this writing, meeting confirmations have yet to be received.
Ministerial Meetings
Minister of Municipal Affairs Anne Kang: i) Request a progress report on the District's intent for sewer extension to Kaltasin in association with the T’Sou-ke Nation; ii) Request a second round of the Growing Communities Fund for essential infrastructure funding in Sooke and other communities across BC. (Follow-up to last year's meeting with the Minister).
Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure Rob Fleming: i) Discuss the short, medium and long-term vision for Highway 14 while addressing current traffic issues; ii) Request a commitment from the Minister to direct staff to identify the next phase of corridor improvements now that the 2017-22 work is complete and ensure funding for this work is included in the Ministry’s 10-year capital plan; iii) Request that the Ministry prioritize and include Sooke’s need for a second bridge across the river in its near-term plan; iv) Infrastructure funding to support the completion of Sooke's Transportation Master Plan (TMP) to determine transit priority and support taking cars off route 14.
Minister of Education and Child Care Rachna Singh: i) Request information on the plan for schools in the Sooke School District's Milnes Landing (aka Sooke) region; ii) Advocate for efforts to secure fair funding and new school developments for Sooke, such as the new Sooke Elementary and Sunriver Elementary, in response to the area's fast-growing population and given the current focus on Langford and Colwood in SD #62’s five-year capital plan.
Public Safety and Solicitor General Mike Farnworth: i) Discuss the inclusion of the Vancouver Island Integrated Major Crime Unit (VIMCU) and the next steps; ii) Advocate for the Victoria Family Court & Youth Justice Committee to secure stable, long-term funding and additional staffing for Greater Victoria’s Mobile Youth Services Team alongside the existing funding for the Vancouver Island Integrated Major Crime Unit.
Sooke has also requested meetings with senior ministerial staff from the following ...
* Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure: Highway 14 status update with senior staff as a follow-up on the council presentation by MOTI on April 8 and to augment Sooke input to Minister Fleming.
* Ministry of Health: Request for status of service planning approvals related to the Community Health Centre/Urgent Primary Care Centre destined through the BC Builds program to be built on the northeast quadrant of the town centre Lot A + request funding for prenatal care given the current necessity of partial District funding for programs delivered by the Sooke Family Resource Society; overall service-level request status.
* Ministry of Tourism, Arts, Culture and Sport: Introduce the Juan de Fuca Corridor Tourism Plan and seek insights into the status of Sooke's Municipal & Regional District Tax Program (MRDT) application.
* Ministry of Mental Health and Addictions: Address the mental health and addiction issues affecting main street life in Sooke; Discuss how to locally adapt and implement Peer-Assisted Care Teams (PACT) and/or mobile integrated crisis response teams, which pair an RCMP officer with a nurse and have shown remarkable effectiveness; Request for suicide prevention support.
* Ministry of Citizens Services: Follow-up on request for a provincial government co-working hub in Sooke as per the Mayor's advocacy letter of July 28, 2022. Some 250 provincial employees reside in Sooke, approx. 10% of our commuter traffic load. Wrote the Mayor: "A co-working facility in Sooke’s town centre is one of the short-term priorities in the District’s Community Economic Development Strategy and Action Plan (2021). A teleworking hub is also cited prominently in the District’s newly released Climate Action Plan as one of other solutions that will cut community transportation emissions. These ambitions are mirrored in our pending Official Community Plan in its Action #8, which calls for teleworking spaces in Sooke’s town centre." [Minister Beare's reply (Aug. 11) stated: "My ministry is exploring the idea of locating teleworking hubs in other areas of the province based on where employees currently live, and considering future trends and economic activity, as well what provincial assets are available for creating regional hubs. I have forwarded the District of Sooke’s request to staff; please be assured it will be considered in light of these factors as our work progresses."]
And a series of meetings have been requested with reps from the following provincial agencies, commissions and corporations ...
* Royal Canadian Mounted Police: Share Sooke's plan to significantly grow our policing complement, cost pressures related to new recruits, VIIMCU and EComm charges + our desire to understand the impacts of Surrey's transition to its own police force (the second largest in the province) in lieu of the RCMP (effective on Nov. 29).
* Office of the Seniors Advocate (OSA): Discuss issues impacting seniors in Sooke, such as isolation and precarious housing, and seek an understanding of how the advocate is addressing these issues.
* BC Housing: Request an operational funding increase at the Sooke Shelter for 19 overnight shelter beds.
* BC Transit: Advocate for the comprehensive and expedited implementation of the Sooke Local Area Transit Plan, emphasizing the need for increased service hours. This is particularly important given the removal of double-decker buses on Route #61, the anticipated establishment of a RapidBus mobility hub in Langford, and direct service to Victoria during rush hours.
* BC Hydro: Request input on accelerating the adoption of the zero carbon step code; Address concerns about the Province's ability to meet future demands as we move towards greater electrification; Discuss continued collaboration on infrastructure upgrades, including hydro wraps for beautification; and Request buyback power as an incentive program for renewable energy.
* Agricultural Land Commission (ALC): Small scale farming - update on Homeplate project in Sooke and discussion on challenges for making smaller acreages more productive.
UBCM Priorities
Sooke is a member of the UBCM and relies on its collective strength and advocacy power through its representation of 193 local, regional and First Nations governments in BC. UBCM strategically works year-round on hot-button issues requiring attention, policy tweaks, legislative amendments and/or funding from the Province. It does so during annual Advocacy Days meetings with MLAs and cabinet Ministers in Victoria each spring and ongoing year-round via a set of standing committees represented in joint working groups involving provincial staff.
- President's Committee
- Convention Committee
- Environment
- Indigenous Relations
- Community Safety
- Community Economic Development
- Health and Social Development
- Nominating Committee
- Resolutions
UBCM Executive Priorities (see 2024 annual report, pp. 3-5)
~ Housing and Homelessness - Subject of UBCM's Housing Summit in April, 2023, scheduled at time of release of the Province's Homes For People action plan. UBCM's initial response to the plan is here. The Ministry of Housing has indicated it will track 47 growing BC municipalities (Sooke included) as we/they enact recommendations and meet targets in our/their respective Housing Needs Reports. (Sooke is already well ahead of its targets; we have nearly 1,000 units approved for construction and another 1,000 anticipated. See MOTI meeting request above as to why this is problematic.)
UBCM's advocacy focus:
i) "Scale up investments in affordable housing, supportive housing, complex care facilities, and shelter spaces.
ii) Improve BC Housing operations to minimize delays in affordable and shelter housing projects.
iii) Create new strategies and supports to address the unique needs of rural and remote communities and incentivize affordable development in those areas."
~ Local Government Finance - Sustainable, long-term, predictable Province of BC funding for local governments paired with policy support in three priority areas: attainable housing, climate change and community safety. See Ensuring Local Government Financial Resiliency (2021), which presents recommendations that reiterate and expand on those found in UBCM's Strong Fiscal Futures report (2013).
This work is coordinated by UBCM and provincial staff within the Local Government Financial Review Working Group
(see its August, 2024 report). Top of mind always is this consensus "problem statement" - "Property tax is useful and important as an own-source revenue tool, but local governments report difficulty raising enough revenue from property taxes, particularly regarding infrastructure capital costs and select service delivery costs driven by senior government regulations and environmental factors."
These efforts align with the Federation of Canadian Municipalities' Municipal Growth Framework campaign at the federal level. Its key point: "Local governments’ scope of responsibilities continues to expand—including driving action on-the-ground in new areas like homelessness, housing, mental health and addiction, as well as sustainability, climate adaptation and mitigation—outstripping funding provided by an outdated funding framework. Who pays for it all, through what means, and how do we keep municipal budgets balanced?"]
In brief: Thanks for the municipal funding to date, but more $$$ please and thanks.
~ Infrastructure funding renewal. UBCM represents local governments re: the Canada-Community Building Fund (formerly Gas Tax Fund). A new 10-year agreement with Ottawa was signed on April 1 this year and will deliver $3.5 billion to BC over the next decade; half of it is dedicated to Greater Vancouver, and funds are also hived off for BC Transit, Trans-Link and non-profits. The amount is indexed to rise incrementally each year. See UBCM page + 2018 UBCM outcomes report.
Sooke received approx. $630k in 2023 + the new agreement will deliver (over the next five years) approx. $750,000 per year through 2027 and $780,000 per year for 2028 and 2029. Funding to Sooke over the years has gone towards multiple road, trail and other infrastructure improvements, master-planning documents, the Fred Milne turf field, the SEAPARC weight room/fitness studio and more. [A permanent doubling of the $293 million transferred to BC as happened in 2019 and 2021 would be much appreciated, of course.]
- Investing In Canada Infrastructure Program (now in its final year)
- Community transition support via the BC Rural Economic Diversification and Infrastructure Program
~ Indigenous Relations. "UBCM continues to advocate for local governments to be engaged throughout the reconciliation process on issues that impact them. These issues include land management, local government access to resources for public purposes, property taxation, servicing, and economic development."
UBCM activities over the years have included land use planning as it relates to Indigenous land claims and TRC recommendations + submissions (2021 and 2016) to the National Inquiry into Missing & Murdered Aboriginal Women & Girls + Pathways to Collaboration showcases of economic collaboration between First Nations and municipalities + advocacy for safe drinking water on reserves (2024 national update: "145 long-term advisories have been lifted since November 2015. An additional 31 long-term advisories remain in effect in 29 communities.")
~ Community Safety. From the 2024 annual report: "Local first responders are frequently asked to answer calls for service outside their core expertise, to support the most vulnerable in our communities. This includes local police and fire departments providing front line services to those struggling with substance abuse, mental health issues, homelessness, and other complex situations. As locally funded resources are being used to respond to Provincial areas of responsibility, there is a need for ongoing investments and co-ordination to address this cost pressure for local governments."
Strong support expressed for Special Committee on Reforming the Police Act and its recommendation #4, which asks that the Province: "Create and appropriately fund a continuum of response to mental health, addictions and other complex social issues with a focus on prevention and community-led responses and ensuring appropriate first response. This includes: a) Increasing coordination and integration across police, health, mental health, and social services; and b) Integrating mental health within 911 call options."
"The joint UBCM-Province Local Government Financial Review Working Group has begun work on reversing the downloading of jurisdictional responsibility for mental health, addiction, and homelessness services on local governments."
~ Climate Action: Continued work on advancing the Nov. 2020 recommendations of the UBCM Special Committee on Climate Action via the CleanBC Roadmap to 2030 and its related Climate Preparedness and Adaptation Strategy: 2022-2025, namely:
* Zero emission housing and low-carbon retrofits
* World-class low carbon vehicle charging network
* World-class active transportation infrastructure (based on the province's Move, Commute, Connect Active Transportation Strategy)
* Land-use planning for vibrant, compact & complete communities
* Management of solid and liquid waste as resources
* Regional climate risk assessments and capital plans
* Creating climate champions (10 test-pilot communities)
Reference: BC Climate Change Accountability Report (2022)
Upcoming in 2024/25: "A (UBCM) guidebook is in the works that will share best practices for several relatively attainable solutions to common climate action challenges, such as reducing emissions from buildings and transportation, and preparing for climate-driven disasters such as floods and wildfires."
~ Development of Code of Conduct for elected officials, committee members and municipal staff + introduction of an online course. More materials forthcoming as local governments introduce codes.
~ BC Fire Safety Act modernization (see 2022 convention slide deck) and revision of the BC Emergency Program Act + needed municipal funding to enact arising new responsibilities (UBCM emergency services page). The working group makes "recommendations regarding the implementation of the revised BC Structure Firefighter Minimum Training Standards by providing information related to current fire service infrastructure and priorities of local government fire services."
~ Decriminalization. Provincial response to the opioid crisis -- decriminalization (2021) backed by provincial support for safe consumption, drug testing, detox and treatment.
"A significant file over the past year for UBCM members has been the decriminalization of illicit drugs in BC. This is a pilot program that began in January 2023 and runs until January 2026, removing criminal penalties for people who possess a small amount of certain illicit substances for personal use. Local governments raised concerns regarding the use of illicit drugs in public spaces, including parks, playgrounds, sports fields, beaches, and bus stops. Health Canada amended the exemption. The first change was made in September 2023 to add additional places such as playgrounds, spray pools, wading pools, and skate parks as areas where the possession of illegal drugs was prohibited. The second amendment was made in May 2024, to prohibit the use of illegal substances in all public spaces, including hospitals, on transit, in playgrounds, parks, and other areas."
Other areas of policy and advocacy focus in recent years ...
- Cannabis taxation revenue sharing. Not on the radar this year, it seems.
Despite multiple near-unanimous resolutions since 2017, the province "remains unwilling to engage in meaningful discussion" about sharing this revenue with local governments. See 2019 UBCM position paper and this year's resolution from Port Moody. The Province figures the cannabis industry contributes $2.4 billion to the provincial economy annually; federal tax revenue is currently distributed to municipalities in Ontario, Quebec and Alberta.
- Public safety: Addressing "random violence, street disorder and repeat offenders" through reform of the federal Bill C-75 as it pertains to the Criminal Code, the Youth Criminal Justice Act and others -- largely re: detention of repeat offenders for appropriate periods + UBCM submission to the Special Committee on Reforming the Police Act (2021) and slide deck
- Wrecked, abandoned or hazardous vessels + Transport Canada's Abandoned Boats program
- Improved elections eduction for candidates via BC Municipal Affairs website
- Rail safety improvement program
2024 Resolutions to be forwarded to the province if successful
UBCM attendees debate (at pro and con microphones) and then vote annually on a set of resolutions submitted by municipal councils for approval by the UBCM Resolutions Committee. These typically add fresh urgency and/or new textures to long-time campaigns that continue to evolve as municipal members annually shape UBCM advocacy with the Province.
Successful resolution votes (50% + 1) are forwarded to the appropriate BC ministry for consideration. Ministerial responses flow back in over the next six months and are catalogued on the UBCM website here (searchable back to 1987). The 2023 replies package details how the Province is responding on the many and varied fronts raised through resolutions. (See pp. 34-45 of the 2023 annual report for an overview of provincial responses over the previous five years).
This year's resolution book features 258 resolutions from 98 BC local governments and regional districts. (Sooke did not submit one this year). As ever, these well-documented wishes are divided into categories:
~ Extraordinary Resolutions (ER) to amend UBCM bylaws;
~ Special Resolutions (SR) determined by the UBCM executive;
~ Endorse Block (EB) and Non-Endorse Block (NEB) of resolutions that either align with or are contrary to existing UBCM policy. (These are dealt with in a single vote unless delegates wish to remove one or more resolutions for debate.)
~ No Recommendation (NR) resolutions left by the UBCM to the will of delegates. This takes up the lion's share of the allocated time.
~ Referred Resolutions (RR) which either duplicate other resolutions or are best dealt with by the UBCM executive.
And thematically divided as follows:
* Health and Social Development
* Housing
* Community Safety
* Environment
* Regional Districts
* Finances
* Land Use
* Taxation
* Transportation
* Legislative
* Assessment
* Community Economic Development
* Elections
The resolutions session will begin Wednesday morning with three UBCM board-directed resolutions. Like previous years, it will be a challenge to the moderators to work through the entire resolution book, which is 22% thicker this year.
(more to follow)
2024 Resolutions Overview
(please reference the resolution book for full details and rationales from municipalities and the executive's responses; these brief notes are for my own reference)
Special Resolution SR#2 - Infrastructure Funding to Support Provincially-Mandated Housing Growth
"Therefore be it resolved that the Province invest in a long-term, predictable allocation-based funding program to support expansion and operation of local government infrastructure services to support provincially-mandated housing growth including, but not limited to, water and sewer, transit, police and fire, and recreation; And further that the Province invest in its own areas of responsibility where there are already service deficits that will be further affected by housing-related population growth, namely health care (family doctors, ambulances, hospitals, etc.) and education (classrooms, teachers, etc.)."
Endorsed Block (pp. 33-113) - includes 105 resolutions that the UBCM executive rates as unassailable.
Non-Endorsed Block (pp. 116-125) - 14 resolutions the UBCM executive has rejected on the grounds that they don't align with the organization's policy directions and/or recent-years voting by the membership -- i.e., lifting the vaccine mandate for healthcare workers (Bulkley-Nechako resolution rejected by its regional association); vacancy controls on rental units owned by corporations and real estate investment firms (City of Victoria resolution, but not consistent iwth the UBCM's housing strategy); free transit for students in grade 12 and younger (Sunshine Coast RD, rejected because similar resolutions have been defeated; not noted in the UBCM response is how relatively tight these votes were and how the free-transit movement is gaining momentum): "wellbeing of future generations" act (Saanich, defeated narrowly in the final moments of the 2023 resolution session; rejected this year on the grounds that the language in this otherwise "laudable" resolution is too vague and difficult to monitor should it become provincial legislation).
No Recommendation (pp. 128-209) ... selected highlights (for me)
* NR1 Addressing the Impact of Provincial Policy on Local Governments, Taxation Equity, and Interim Policing Cost Support (Langford) - unanimous in favour "Therefore be it resolved that UBCM strongly urge increased provincial funding and support for health care, mental health care, and comprehensive housing initiatives to alleviate the strain on local government resources and enhance public safety; And be it further resolved that UBCM call on the provincial government to demonstrate good faith by covering the heightened share of policing costs, recognizing the provincial responsibility in shifting these public safety costs to local governments due to inadequate provision of social services and health care."
* NR2 - Downloading Costs by the Province to Local Governments for the Resulting Solutions for Homelessness, Mental Health and Addictions Support (Cariboo RD) - unanimous in favour
”Therefore be it resolved that the Province of BC pay for costs incurred by local governments to address the lack of homelessness support, mental health and wellness issues, and addictions recovery services and supports; And be it further resolved that UBCM mandate their Executives to engage in discussions with the Province of BC to negotiate a fair and equitable reimbursement framework for downloading services related to homelessness and mental health and addictions."
* NR3 Resolving the Toxic Drug Crisis (Kamloops) - unanimous in favour
"Therefore be it resolved that UBCM request the Province develop and implement a balanced holistic plan, based on these four pillars (prevention, harm reduction, treatment and recovery, and enforcement) for resolving the toxic drug crisis."
* NR6 - Mental Health Mandate for Health Authorities (Nelson) - unanimous in favour
"Therefore be it resolved that UBCM encourage the Province to mandate regional Health Authorities to take a proactive approach to developing and implementing regional plans to address mental health and addiction issues."
* NR 10 - Addressing Challenges Faced by Rural Seniors in British Columbia - unanimous in favour; amended to include recommendation of an increase in direct patient care hours (currently 3.36 hours per week over and above direct medical care)
"Therefore be it resolved that the NCLGA and UBCM acknowledge the findings of the Seniors’ Advocate report (Aging Matters) and recognize the urgent need to address the inequities faced by rural seniors in British Columbia." + NR 11 - Creation of a BC Ministry for Rural Seniors as recommended by the Seniors Advocate - passed strongly if not quite unanimously.
* NR12 - Ensuring the Implementation of the Recommendations Found Burnaby in the Seniors Advocate Reports (Burnaby) - passed unanimously - 2023/24 Annual Report – Office of the Seniors’ Advocate
NR 13 - UBCM Endorse the Period Promise Campaign (Cowichan Valley RD) - unanimous (one in four women in BC cannot afford menstrual supplies) - NR14 (Port Coquitlam) is related. BC Building Code to be revised to include menstrual suppplies and disposal bins in addition to mandatory requirement for toilet paper. - unanimous. (Next mission suggested from the floor: Change tables in men’s washrooms.)
NR16 - Reducing Neurodevelopment Assessment Wait Times (. ). Improving treatment of children and youth suspected of having an /autism Spectrum Disorder or other neurodevelopment conditions. - unanimous
NR17 - Barrier Free Hearing Health Care (Saanich) - funding support for hearing aids for vulnerable children and seniors. A question of community wellbeing - 1/3 of individuals suffer from hearing loss; 3/4 of those over 70 experience hearing loss in both ears. Do people wear hearing aids? Only one in four choose to wear them who need them. $4500 is the minimum cost. Hearing Aid Program. -
NR18 - RSV Vaccine as an essential preventative measure to eliminate $300 current charge faced by low-income population (Port Hardy). 83% efficiency in preventing severe lower respiratory tract infections. - unanimous
* NR20 Consultation and Review of Recent BC 2023 Fall Housing Legislation (Maple Ridge)
"Therefore be it resolved that UBCM advocate the Province review the new housing legislation after 2 years from
introduction; immediately allow exemption zones for single detached greenfield areas within the containment
boundary that are more isolated; and increase the Official Community Plan review requirement to every 7 years."
- Maple Ridge; we want to focus on where housing makes sense; areas with wells and septic systems where roads and schools are geting overwhelmed; big changes happening quickly, allow for LGs to create exclusion zones in areas where infrastructure is lacking; OCP requirement puts too much strain on LG staff; addresses lack of consultation from the province before legislation introduced;
* NR21 - Bill 44, Bill 46, and Bill 47 - Financial Assistance for Local Governments (Langley City)
"Therefore be it resolved that UBCM demand the provincial government expand the scope and provide local governments additional financial support for the hiring of additional staff and or consultants to complete the required updates to Official Community Plans, Environmental Servicing Plans as well as to review the impacts on all community infrastructure, including but not limited to public amenities, recreation centres, hospitals, schools, first responders and aging infrastructure in order to comply with provincial mandates as stipulated in the legislation." - defeated
* NR22 Funding to Offset Municipal costs in waiving development fees for affordable housing - near unanimous.
* NR23 - Incorporating Tree Canopy and Climate Goals into Housing Action (Port Moody)
"Therefore be it resolved that UBCM ask the Province to revise Bill 44 and Bill 47 to embed tree protection, tree canopy expansion, and climate resilience into the policy and ensure local governments retain clear authority to: protect mature trees and tree canopy in residential neighbourhoods; and implement locally developed Climate Action Plans." Align housing and climate action. Northern communities with more forested characteristics and FireSmart ambitions should be treated separately to those of us with shrinking tree canopies. - passed strongly
* NR24 - Provincial Funding for Energy Efficient and Zero Emissions Equipment for Existing Buildings (Metro Vancouver RD)
"Therefore be it resolved that the UBCM urge the Government of BC to significantly increase funding for provincial incentive programs to support energy efficient and zero emissions equipment for existing buildings, to ensure that incentives can leverage pre‐2030 replacement cycles for residential and commercial building equipment; And be it further resolved that UBCM urge the Government of BC to ensure that existing and future incentives and support programs are available for all building types, prioritizing multi‐unit rental, affordable and non‐ market housing, and building types that are not covered in current incentives and rebates. At the Con mic, delegates speak to the need to push forward rapidly, one size fits all, etc. Yet motion deemed too complicated; two-year review is insufficient; SSMHU is restricted to areas with water and sewer, therefore single-family greenfield areas are exempt already … - defeated by significant margin with recognition that a legislative review is a best practice within five years and that every community in BC is unique and cannot be expected to follow in lockstep with a directive from Victoria.
* NR25 Housing Authority Feasibility Study Work
"Therefore be it resolved that UBCM petition the Province of BC to provide grant funding for municipalities and regional districts to plan and create entities that provide and manage non-market housing in their communities." Need for provincial grant funding to support non-market housing. Whistler staff would be happy to share info from its Housing Authority … Squamish and Bowen Island housing authorities are other example. Big message is start now. Zach de Vries acknowledges non-market housing is utterly essential and we must scale up, but this should not deny local government responsibility.
- NR27 - /bc Health Effects Anomalous Temperates (HEAT) Committee’s cold-weather response … amended to include “provide necessary funding to local governments and NGOs” Municipalities need help in supporting either its own work and in support of non-profits. We need a standardized process that works collaboratively with local governments and not treat it as an ad hoc scenario. Yes, it does get cold each and every winter.
(Consensus agreement from those i’ve spoken with this week: there is only one taxpayer; funding across the wide variety of needs identified in these many resolutions is finite; and that a motion such as this and others is absolutely valid and important at the UBCM and regional association level to identify local gaps and needs. To expect the province to respond favourably and, more to the point, actually fund these needs in the short term is naive.)
- NR28 - Emergency shelter exemption for BC Building Code and BC Fire Code requirements for residential. Variances are required for older buildings run by non-profits who cannot afford to upgrade. Emergency shelters should have their own building code. Safety of life and limb for people sleeping in the street. Slum landlords would take advantage of this resolution, says one delegate at the con mic.
- NR29 - Expand Secondary Suite Incentive Program into electroal areas. Currently excludes half the regional districts currently not in the program and a number of small municipalities. - carried unanimously
NR 30 -
* NR40 - Equitable Funding of Police Services (Port Alberni)
"Therefore be it resolved that UBCM urgently appeal to the Province of British Columbia to develop an equitable Police Services funding program for all BC municipalities and regional districts that takes into account the financial capacity and population size of each jurisdiction, as well as the additional demands placed on police services due to systemic social issues outside of a local government's mandate."
* NR 42 - Modernize the Police Cost Sharing Formulae (View Royal)
"Therefore be it resolved that UBCM ask the Province to work with local governments to develop a new RCMP funding framework that gradually increases the cost-share rate for local governments at the 5,000, 10,000, 20,000 and 40,000 population thresholds."
* NR 47 - Noise Camera Pilot Program (Port Moody)
"Therefore be it resolved that UBCM ask that the Province of British Columbia explore the feasibility of using noise cameras to effectively enforce vehicular noise regulations through the creation of a noise camera pilot project for municipalities to opt into."
* NR 53 - Black Bear Cub Conflict Response (North Vancouver District)
"Therefore be it resolved that UBCM request the Province of British Columbia to initiate changes to the British Columbia Conservation Officer Service, Human-Black Bear (Single) Conflict Response Guideline, to include a review of actions through an independent civilian-led oversight board, orphaned bear cubs to be transported to a wildlife sanctuary for health assessment of cubs by qualified wildlife veterinarian, for treatment or euthanasia, and an audit done by the Solicitor General of British Columbia Conservation Officer Service actions, policies and procedures." - “lazy citizens are to blame for bear habituation,” says the mayor of a northern BC community. “Gun carrying officers from all services require oversight, this motion is not a knock on the honourable, well-intentioned, hard working officers of the BC Conservation service.” - motion defeated by large majority
* NR54 - Ban on Rodent Glue Traps (Saanich, View Royal)
"Whereas glue traps are an ineffective method for controlling rodents as they fail to address the root causes of an infestation, including access to food and shelter, and they cause fear, pain and distress for captured animals, including rodents and non-target animals like birds, bats, small mammals, amphibians, reptiles, and household pets; And whereas most users are not capable of humanely killing trapped animals, leaving them to suffer for hours, and even days, before dying of suffocation, dehydration, starvation, exhaustion, or exposure; Therefore be it resolved that UBCM ask the Province of British Columbia to implement a province-wide ban on the sale, purchase, and use of glue traps." Banned in progressive nations around the world (Scandinavia, UK, India, elsewhere). Spca reminds us that all animals should be treated humanely … passed by strong majority … peanut butter beer trap for rats.
* NR 56
* NR 63 - Municipal and Regional District Tax Fund Overhaul to Enable Investment in Infrastructure (Fernie)
"Therefore be it resolved that UBCM advocate to the Province for a comprehensive overhaul of the Municipal and Regional District Tax funding framework to expand the allowable usage of funds, including directing a portion towards essential infrastructure projects."
* NR67 - Provincial Core Funding for Evolving Public Libraries (Nanaimo, Oak Bay, Powell River, qathet RD)
"Therefore be it resolved that UBCM call on the provincial government to recognize the evolving and challenging situation for public libraries as well as their unique role as community spaces, and increase annual core funding for libraries to $30 million in keeping with the request made by the BC Public Library Partners and the recommendation of the province’s Select Standing Committee on Finance and Government Services."
- "Public Libraries See Historic Funding Boost from Province" (March 24, 2023)
UBCM Talking Points supplied to trustees by the Vancouver Island Regional Library:
"* Nearly 33% of residents in VIRL’s service area are active library users, and 40% of VIRL’s collection use is digital.
* This (BC NDP) government’s one-time contributions have been necessary funding for public libraries and significantly impact many people’s lives in communities throughout BC. Thank you!
* The cost of delivering library services is being born almost entirely (95%) by local governments.
* Over the last 10 years, the provincial component of VIRL’s funding has gone down from 5% to 4% while local government components have risen disproportionately.
* Endorse the BC Public Library Partners ask for an increase in annual sectoral core funding to $30M per year.
* Endorse VIRL and GVPL’s joint request (that the Minister establish an Advisory Body to review core annual provincial funding of public libraries."
*NR 74 - Amendments to the Land Title Act (Courtenay)
"Therefore be it resolved that UBCM urge the Ministry of Attorney General to consider amendments to the Land Title Act that would prohibit and render void any portion of building schemes that purport to prohibit or restrict the installation of roof top solar panels, or any other renewable energy systems"
* NR 77 - Unfarmed Land Tax (Pitt Meadows)
"Whereas the purpose of the Agricultural Land Reserve (ALR) is to preserve much-needed land for farming to ensure local food security, and not real estate speculation; And whereas speculation in the ALR can lead to increased land values and the underutilization of ALR land for farming: Therefore be it resolved that UBCM call upon the Province of BC to establish a targeted unfarmed land tax, to discourage speculation and encourage farming in the ALR."
* NR 79 - Traffic Count Systems Improvements (Saanich)
"Therefore be it resolved that UBCM request that the provincial government support local governments to improve traffic count systems for evaluating Vehicle Kilometre Traveled reduction interventions and measuring progress towards the CleanBC Vehicle Kilometres Traveled reduction targets."
* NR85 - Free Transit for Seniors in BC (Langford)
"Whereas transportation costs can serve as significant barrier to mobility for many British Columbian seniors, andthis barrier can contribute to social isolation and adversely affect mental and physical well-being; And whereas removing barriers to seniors using transit encourages a shift towards more sustainable transportation, helping lower emissions and reducing congestion, while simultaneously increasing affordability, access to essential services, social inclusion, health, and well-being: Therefore be it resolved that UBCM lobby the provincial government to make all public transit free for seniors (aged 65 years or older)."
* NR89 - Harassment of Elected Local Government Officials (Central Kootenay)
* NR90 - Bullying and Harassment by Local Elected Officials (Kamloops)
* NR91 - Personal and Defamatory Attacks on Local Government Leaders (Osoyoos)
* NR97 Eliminate Fossil Fuel Funding of UBCM (Vernon)
"Therefore be it resolved that UBCM will no longer accept funding from the fossil-fuel industry and its lobby groups in support of conventions and meetings."
* NR100 Mandatory Holocaust Education in BC’s Elementary Schools (Prince George)
"Whereas Statistics Canada reported that there were 750 police-reported hate crimes targeting religious minorities during 2022, of which 502 or 66.9 per cent were aimed at Jews; And whereas Ontario recently became the first province to introduce mandatory Holocaust education into the elementary school curriculum: Therefore be it resolved that UBCM recognizes the dangers of Holocaust denial and distortion, which so often targets our young people, and urges the Ministry of Education and Child Care to introduce mandatory Holocaust education to elementary schools."
David Eby - two month old baby … sixteen diapers until the writ drops
- global inflation
- record run up in interest rates putting pressure on all governments
- record population growth … the likes of which we have never seen before
- Canfor - the community of Vanderhoof … how do we use the trees and people we have to build a better community rather than supporting corporate profits
- Pretty stark choice ahead on Oct. 19
- time is now for building not cutting — schools, roads, and maintenance of quality of life
- hiring not firing in the health care sector - building hospitals not closing them
- as Premier my commitment to you is to keep working together
- we need to listen and work together
Specific examples of good work we have done together …
- housing is one of the biggest issues and challenges, inter-releated to housing for health care, street disorder,
- together we are implementing a plan to deliver 300,000 homes for middle
- Record housing starts in the community in Kelowna
- 90 percent of communities have made the legislative changes
- we have added more homes per capita than any province over the last seven years
- four times more rental housing than Ontario
- our rentals are finally starting to come down - rents down 6% in Vancouver this year
Homelessness —
Chilliwack - Chilliwack Wellness Centre - open during the daytime - police calls are down and businesses are happier
City of Prince Rupert - vital and strategic port in North America … feds came to the table to secure water
Terrace - 500% increase in the pothole fixing budget in that city … potholes matter.
Mission - secondary school is realized along with a transportation overhaul
Gibsons - BC Builds, can we get a child care added = yes, within two months it was permitted and ground broken
Abbotsford - pump station, go back to the federal government
NG 911 … services independent study for financial model for EComm … no financial impact to you
Health Care …
- site of the new Surrey Cloverdale Hospital this week — second emergency room, new medical school for BC and 835 new family doctors signed up … 250k people have been connected in the last year, 60k more in the next six months - connected to family doctors
- new incentive programs to keep emergency rooms open in smaller communities, Port Hardy
- we cannot cut the health care budget by $4 billion as the Cons suggest
Community Care Clinic - in Courtenay/Comox
- everyone in the region will have attachment to doctor
Street disorder
- expanded care
- face down on sidewalk, or yelling and causing fear in the community
- ensure they are cared for …
- residents must feel safe in their communities; there is not a person in this province who does not want the vulnerable to be cared for … many of you have identified specific sites for care facilities … it is critical for us to help people stay closer to home … this will take time … Allouette Correctional Institute in Mission … host a site like this, please let us know … smaller communities like Trail, Terrace, Sooke are seeing challenges in the downtown core … in our platofrm is a commitment to you for additional resources for community policing.
- peer response and PACT teams to ensure our communities are safe and downtowns recover
Trish questions …
- vulnerable populations … relatively small number, in the 100s across the province, are repeat offenders … downtown Bia initiatives related to vandalism … highly secure care for these people … reduce the impacts on police, etc. Keep supplying more housing …
Carbon Tax
- we all place a high priority on addressing climate change
- this is significant because of financial impacts of climate change and next generational future prospects
- clean electricity in a low-carbon province
- Rustead says climate change is a lie and a hoax
- will be prioritize forest fire management and dikes?
- would he support hydgrogen fueling
- carbon actually isn’t a problem, says Rustead
- Carbon tax … people are being put in a position of choosing between climate action and paying for the basics
- people shouldn’t be forced into this
- everyday British Columbians are protected
- if the federal government
- big pollutors will pay a carbon price in British Columbia
- the Conserviates have pledged to cut taxes on fossil fuel industry
Local government financing
- you are seeing same inflation/construction costs
- we ask you to do more all the time
- British Columbians want more
- local government finance reform work that we’re doing
- predictability rather than one-off funding is crtical
- issues related to street disorder, homelessness and mental health issues
-
Adrienne Carr
- can you ensure you are not in any way
- we have elminated the deep oil credit
- we have redone the royalty regime in the province to ensure no artifically low oil rates
- ensure a carbon price for the industry
- methane regulations
- and we have more to do
Will you BC Tansit for under 18
- Comox
- fastest recovery in North America to 100 percent ridership post pandemic
- challenge of our success is that there is massive demand for transit across the province
- free for 12 and under
- we will absolutely
Small communities … the numbers seem achiveable for housing … modular housing construction.
NDP will release its platform next week
Attainable housing program … midlde income housing, very scalable
Jonathan Wilkinson
- climate change denial
- climate change is Inflation Reduction Act
- China is now the number one employer and EV … they control much of the critical minerals; a strategy
- Canada is deploying a strategic - critical minerals and
- climate change should not be a partisan issue, it is a science
- you very clearly understand the very urgent need
- some at hte federal and provincial levels who are advocating for climate denialism
- this to be frank is shameful - i say this as a politican and a parent
- we can meet the moment we are living and build stronger, more resilient
John Rustead
- this election, like all of them, is pivotal
- many issues in BC … I want to put my finger
- financial situation in BC has never been worse … running a $9b estimate … $10-12b by the end of March
- we must get this under control … interest on our debt, combination of a dozen Ministries
- crime is rampant on our streets
- communities are
- one in three British columbians wnat to leave
- 50% of our youth are looking at leaving BC - how on earth can I raise a family here.
- drug and addictions
- one small blue flag for every boy and man … 12k lives on the ground’
- this must be brought to an end
- we cannot carry on with safe supply and decriminalization
- we need to look at involuntary, compassionate care
- if you’re a parent with an 11 year old child … a parent should be able to make this call
- homelessness
- it is not okay, we must find long-term housing
- health care is broken as well
- David Eby talks of more doctors and nurses but we are in a crisis
- ER closures … wait-times of 10 hours in those that are open
- OECD … we are the second most expensive per capita health care system yet have second worst health outcomes (FACT CHECK)
- Germany has twice the population, but Canada has 10 times the number of administrators
- we must eliminate the fat within the bureaucracy
- deliver services in a timely way
- chuckle about the advertisiung
- cut $4 billion out of health care
- how easy it is for the premier of BC to lie …
- we will see health care spending increase
- we must deal with
- next 28 days - common sense approach
- Youth - affordability head on …
- complete removal of the carbon tax in BC
- $3.5 billion by 2025
- we will turn that money back to people in BC
- we will get rid of the low carbon emissions fuel standard
- between those two taxes, .36 cents a liter in terms of fuels
- man has impacted the climate, no question
- taxing people into poverty
- electricity … last year we imported 20 percent of the energy we needed
- we must address
- wind and solar
- where is that power going to come from?
- nuclear power in British Columbia
- affordable, reliable, clean energy …
- we need to do a full engagement with people in the province
- we must be open and transparent in the
- 84% are hydro carbons
- triple amount of electricity
- $1 billion for water and sewer upgrades
- $25 to $30 billion over ten years to municipalities
- this funding comes with an ask - i want to do pre-zoning as part of
- we will eliminate Bill 44
- if we can get to a place with pre-zoning
- people who can
= repeat offenders
- SAve On Foods hiring 345 security guards around the province
- guaranteed minimum sentences
- need to do significant investments in the courts
- prolific violent offenders
- back on the street
- the Menatl Health Act
- if someone is at the risk of harming themselves or others, they
- lies and misinformation … they cannot defend their policies
- forest sector hollowed out
deal on haidi gwai title
- this title will be underneath your communities
- haida law can override your right as local governments
Sonbia Fursteneau
- Free transit for youth
- we are aligned in a lot of ways, you and i
- last fall day as a MLA after 13 years
- fifth
- wake of a snap election
- one day from the end of the 42nd parliament
- fact checking is not a big thing around here these days
- I think there is the firsttime
- BC United official opposition
- you are now hearing from the political leaders for the case for their support
here is mine …
- BC can and should be the best place to live on the planet
- we are indeed facing many crises
- affordability, health care, climate
- we have let that place
- housing has been turned into a commodity
- fossel fuel companies
- a lot of British Columbians feel
- two months from now she’ll be a grandmother
- impassioned speeches at the mic at earlier UBCMs as a regional director, pleading with governments to work with us
- telling us to be afraid, telling us to be angry - I don’t find that particulary inspiring
- i am inspired by leaning into what is possible
- that’s what you do at UBCM
- focused on delivering reliable high-quality public services
- deliberation, consensus building, openness and transparency, accountability and listening to all voices
- this is possible
- this is hte basic thing we should expect from government
- we must not accept hte story that it is too hard or complex
- this is not an election about two parties in competition
- let’s distribute the power and ensure it is not a winner-take-all election
- other fear and negativity in this election
- people are forced to work together and collaborate
- strongest outcomes
- don’t give in to all the fear and anger, lean into what is possible
I am willing to take questions …
we are allowing an industry earning trillions and contributing
- carbon tax is the one tax being returned to people - revenue neutral
- getting back to people
- $1k per year for a family of four
- stable, predictable and reliable funding
what will we do with all of our free power - New York Times
a truly clean energy
if energy costs are so low that this is not a consideration
- large scale desalination projects
- how are we going to get ahead of those drought conditions
- Quantum Technology in Squamish - capture helium to be reused in medical facilities
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