The UBCM Executive held its quarterly Committee and board meetings July 16-18. The meeting provided closure on several year-end matters, and established direction for the year ahead. Executive members also met with the Minister of State for Local Governments and Rural Communities, the Honourable Brittny Anderson.
Key projects discussed at the July 18 Executive meeting:
Regional District Legislative Reform: The Regional District legislation was drafted in 1960s, and there have been consequential changes since then. UBCM membership has endorsed several resolutions calling for modernization of the regional district legislation over the years. Before starting a review, the provincial government asked for more information on what the scope of a review would include. The five area associations developed a comprehensive roadmap for a legislative review, w UBCM has now taken as a special project. In July UBCM Executive approved communication to the Minister of Housing and Municipal Affairs and the Minister of State for Local Governments and Rural Communities to seek provincial involvement in Regional District Legislation Reform.
UBCM Executive Governance Review: UBCM Executive approved terms of reference for a governance review which will look at how the board is structured and operates. The review will look at representative composition, Executive structure, term limits, committee design, name change, and more.
Responsible conduct: Representatives from the Ministry of Housing and Municipal Affairs staff gave an update on policy work in advance of potential legislation to establish a mandatory code of conduct and resources to support administration and enforcement. Engagement on local government responsible conduct options will begin soon. Look for invitations in The Compass.
UBCM work plan: Looking ahead to the next fiscal year, UBCM Executive have approved the work plan for UBCM staff. In addition to the special projects noted above, priority policy issues include: infrastructure support, housing, emergency management legislation through the Advisory Committee on Emergency Management, local government finance, implementation of the renewed UBCM-MIRR MOU, and the Police Act review.
Other highlights and work updates from the meeting include:
- Met with the Minister of State for Local Government and Rural Communities. UBCM Executive reiterated local government concerns with Bill 15, and talked again about the value of infrastructure stimulus spending to support jobs, communities and the economy given the ongoing tariff threat
- Will continue to seek clarity from the Province on the roles and responsibilities of local government for disaster risk mitigation and for compensating homeowners whose properties are declared to be unsafe due to disaster risk
- Worked with the BC Urban Mayors’ Caucus to develop a report identifying gaps in the provincial delivery of supportive housing
- Will explore providing support for the Aboriginal Housing Management Association’s proposed resolution calling on the Province to establish a multi-sector alliance to advance/advocate for urban Indigenous housing
- Directed staff research and report back on existing tools and mechanisms available to local governments to support small and medium businesses
- Through the Local Government Policing Modernization Roundtable, UBCM will continue to emphasize the need for more comprehensive engagement regarding public safety issues of importance to local governments, including police funding reform and provincial investment into a coordinated response to mental health, addictions and complex social issues
- Received a report outlining UBCM’s feedback to the Commission of Inquiry into Community Events Safety
- Received the Audit Findings Report from UBCM auditors, KMPG, and approved consolidated Draft Financial Statements for the year ended May 31, 2025
- Approved long program and clinics and workshops for 2025 UBCM Convention
- Received a report outlining the scope of work being undertaken by representatives serving as UBCM’s appointments to a variety of external committees.
Presidents Committee – Received several fiscal year-end reports including financial statements, reports on staffing, UBCM reserves, group benefits and member services, the preliminary budget for 2025-26, and reports from the Trustees to the Municipal Pension Plan and Plan Partner Working Group. UBCM’s auditors, KPMG, presented the Audit Findings Report and investment managers PionMatifat discussed UBCM’s investment portfolio. The Committee authorized the external appointment to the UBCM Investment Committee; recommended amendments to the Local Government RCMP Contract Management Committee Terms of Reference; and made recommendations for changes to the Executive Report Template and amendments to the UBCM Statement of Investment Policy, all later endorsed by the Executive.
The Committee approved winners of the 2025 Community Excellence Awards, to be presented on September 23 at Convention.
The Committee received a report on the status and next steps for the UBCM/Provincial Finance MOU and provided direction to staff to bring this to a special Executive meeting later in August 2025 to identify next steps and future direction.
Committee members provided direction on changes to the UBCM staff complement and a Group Benefits Eligibility Framework that were both later endorsed by the Executive; received reports on 2025 Member Visits and a legal update on the Roy v. Vancouver case.
Community Economic Development Committee — Since the last committee meeting, CED representatives attended in the 2025 Forest Innovation and Bioeconomy Conference; Councillor Brian Frenkel attended the Provincial Forestry Forum and the most recent meeting of the Minister’s Practices Advisory Committee on behalf of UBCM; and UBCM visited each of the Area Associations to talk about economic impacts from the trade war.
The committee reviewed a new guidebook, Outdoor Recreation for Community and Economic Development, produced by the Outdoor Recreation Council of BC (ORCBC) in partnership with Selkirk Innovates at Selkirk College. Received an environmental scan of existing programs and services from the provincial and federal governments that provide supports for small businesses; and a list of recent UBCM resolutions relevant to supporting small business. The Committee also discussed Phase 3 engagement of local governments as part of the Ministry of Forests modernization of the Heritage Conservation Act. The Committee discussed the lack of information about proposed legislative amendments to the Act, as well as the implications of archeological evaluations and costs on local infrastructure and housing projects.
Health and Social Development Committee – Met with Dr. Daniel Vigo, Chief Scientific Advisor, Complex Mental Health and Addictions, and Darryl Sturtevant, Assistant Deputy Minister, Mental Health and Concurrent Disorders, Ministry of Health. The group discussed Dr. Vigo’s role as Chief Scientific Advisor, the mental health and addictions crisis, involuntary care, and mental health and addictions services in rural and remote areas of BC. Reports were received on resolution 2024-NR13, Fighting Period Poverty and Endorsing the Period Promise Campaign; the Advocacy Days meeting with Honourable Josie Osborne, Minister of Health, and on the provincial health authority review.
Indigenous Relations Committee – Received a delegation from Margaret Pfoh, Executive Director of Aboriginal Housing Management Association (AHMA). AHMA represents Indigenous housing providers located across BC who manage more than 95% of all Indigenous housing units off reserve. The group discussed AHMA’s interest in seeking UBCM’s support for creating a multi-sector alliance that would advocate for urban Indigenous housing. The Committee also received and discussed a report on a BC Assembly of First Nations’ resolution calling on local governments to implement the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People (UNDRIP) by working with First Nations to align housing and homelessness policy with UNDRIP. The Committee also received reports regarding the implementation of UBCM’s MOU with the Ministry of Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation on local government engagement when the Province is negotiating agreements with First Nations, and the federal government’s Additions to Reserve policy redesign.
Community Safety Committee – Received reports regarding 911 emergency services; the Province’s Police Act and public safety review; other policing issues of relevance, including RCMP collective bargaining, the future of RCMP contract policing, border enforcement, and Local Government RCMP Contract Management Committee discussions; liquor policy; cannabis policy; emergency management; and the Province’s review of its intersection safety camera program.
Environment Committee – Received reports regarding climate change impacts, disaster risk, and the role of local government in supporting affected property owners; drought and water scarcity; and the Province’s climate policy framework. The Committee was briefed on UBCM's request for clarity from the Province regarding local government responsibility for buying out homes deemed unsafe due to disaster risk, and members urged continued advocacy on compensation, collaboration, and insurance concerns. The Committee also discussed the drought conditions affecting many parts of B.C., with members noting the importance of Provincial leadership on watershed management and expressing interest in its anticipated Watershed Security Strategy. Finally, members received updates on the independent review of CleanBC and discussed key barriers to local climate action, including inadequate transit connectivity, the need for regionally tailored climate targets, and the exclusion of some small-scale renewable projects from BC Hydro power calls for proposals.
Convention Committee – Discussed several Convention elements including sponsorship, the pre-convention program and an update on the overall planning timeline. The Committee spent the majority of the meeting making programming decisions regarding the clinic and workshop submissions. There were over 130 submissions received this year. Recommendations for this year’s workshop and clinics were presented.
Resolutions Committee – Reviewed a package of 270 resolutions received from the membership. As well, they reviewed one Extraordinary Resolution (ER) and five Special Resolutions (SR) that will be put forward by the UBCM Executive to highlight priority issues. The Committee also discussed ideas on how to keep members who are outside of the plenary hall notified of the progress of the resolutions debate at Convention. This will be done with live updates to the Convention App during the resolutions sessions. As well, the Committee may add additional questions to the post-Convention survey to gather more feedback from the membership on resolutions issues.