Latest News
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BC’s decriminalization pilot will come to an end on January 31, 2026. The aim of this initiative was to address the overdose crisis by removing stigma that prevents individuals from seeking life-saving support and treatment.
The pilot, the first of its kind in Canada…
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The FireSmart Community Funding and Supports (FCFS) program will be closing its current intake for applications on January 30 due to a lack of funding. To ensure a fair process for administering the remaining funds available, the program will reopen on Monday February 2 with a…
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The Province is considering recommendations for its climate policy framework based on an independent review of CleanBC. Key recommendations of relevance to local governments are to extend LGCAP, introduce greater flexibility in the building code, strengthen transit funding…
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As members begin drafting resolutions for the 2026 Area Association conventions, please keep in mind the extraordinary resolution that passed in 2025 which will apply a new framework to ensure resolutions considered by the membership at Convention are: focused on new issues,…
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The provincial government has announced postponement of proposed amendments to the Heritage Conservation Act (HCA) that had originally been anticipated for spring 2026. In a November 2025 report submitted to the Ministry of Forests on proposed changes to the HCA, UBCM conveyed…
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Local governments and UBCM First Nations members are invited to attend a virtual town hall hosted by the Honourable Brittny Anderson, Minister of State for Local Governments and Rural Communities, and the Honourable Ravi Parmar, Minister of Forests on Tuesday, February 3, from 1…
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The BC Wildfire Service will be hosting two webinars to engage with local governments on how local bylaws and provincial legislation work together to prevent human-caused wildfires.
The webinars are an opportunity to join staff from the BC Wildfire Service for an interactive…
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The Electoral Area Directors’ Forum will take place March 10-11, 2026 at the Radisson Hotel Vancouver Airport, immediately followed by the Local Government Leadership Academy Forum (March 11-13).
Hotel room block: Radisson Hotel Vancouver Airport
The hotel block…
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Documents outlining the administrative penalty process under the Fire Safety Act are now available. In the coming months, the Office of the Fire Commissioner will host virtual information sessions for local government to discuss the process in more detail.
Since the Fire Safety…
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Each month, we provide an update on funding programs administered by UBCM along with and information on other programs, events, and resources of interest to local governments and First Nations. Most of the Community Emergency Preparedness Fund 2025-26 intakes are now open.
Local…