The UBCM Executive held its quarterly Executive meeting in Richmond February 15 – 16, immediately following the 2024 Housing Summit. Along with a full slate of Committee meetings, the Executive met with Nathan Cullen, Minister of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship regarding proposed Land Act amendments, which the Province later decided not to proceed with; and Anne Kang, Minister of Municipal Affairs.
Highlights from the Executive meeting include:
- Met with Hon. Nathan Cullen, Minister of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship, about proposed changes to the Land Act.
- Met with the Minister of Municipal Affairs, Hon. Anne Kang and discussed UBCM’s Housing Summit, and provincial engagement with UBCM.
- Welcomed Skwlax te Secwépemcúlecw as UBCM’s newest member.
- Staff provided an update on work at the Local Government Financial Review Working Group to advance the recommendations in the UBCM’s 2021 Finance Report.
- Discussed recent housing legislation, with follow-up from the Housing Summit, and federal and provincial policy updates.
- Received reports from UBCM policy staff on a variety of policy areas that continue to be monitored, and on new provincial legislation, regulations, and orders in council from the last legislative session that affect or are of interest to local governments.
- Heard an overview Overview of President Mandewo and Senior Policy Analyst Marylyn Chiang's trip to Cambodia to meet with officials at the Cambodia National League of Local Councils following the Executive meeting, as part of the FCM International Program.
- Received reports about: activities of the Single Standard of Fire Safety Working Group concerning the Fire Safety Act, President’s activities since the November Executive meeting; UBCM financial statements; an update from the Local Government Program Services and the Canada Community-Building Fund; six-month status of the 2023-2024 Work Plan; and staff activities since the November 2023 meeting. Executive also received a report on the UBCM-FCM Small Communities Travel Fund, and provided direction on an interim administration solution while permanent adjustments are in process.
- Received correspondence from: Metro Vancouver confirming Councillor Craig Hodge, Coquitlam, as the Metro Vancouver representative on UBCM Executive; BC Urban Mayors Caucus, and Kevin Falcon, Leader of the Official Opposition.
Highlights from Committee meetings include:
Presidents Committee: The Presidents Committee received a number of reports including: member services and group benefits; staffing; financials and investments; UBCM’s Governance Documents review. The Committee provided direction on appointments to: BC Alliance for Healthy Living; Harm Reduction Community Guide; and the Local Government Contract Management Committee. The Committee agreed to provide a letter of support to the BC Social Procurement Initiative and received an update on the work of the Local Government Policing Modernization Roundtable.
Committee members chose to take no action on two referred resolutions from the 2023 Convention (RR33 and RR34) recognizing that work is already underway by the Local Government Finance Working Group. Committee members also received a delegation from legal counsel to discuss Bill 45 Homeless Encampment Legislation and the interim injunction preventing the Restricting Public Consumption of Illegal Substance Act from coming into force.
Community Economic Development Committee: The Community Economic Development Committee received updates on forestry, connectivity, outdoor recreation, and development of a provincial Coastal Marine Strategy. The Committee also reviewed UBCM’s submission to the Draft BC Ecosystem Health and Biodiversity Framework. In addition, the Committee received correspondence from the federal Department of Fisheries and Oceans, the provincial Minister of Forests, and considered a package of recent news items relating to economic development in BC. The Committee expressed interest in meeting with cabinet ministers as part of the 2024 Advocacy Days to discuss forestry, agriculture and food security, and connectivity.
Community Safety Committee: The Community Safety Committee received a delegation, jointly with the Health and Social Development Committee, from the Ministry of Housing regarding the draft Encampment Response Partner Resource. Members also considered a 2023 resolution referred to the UBCM Executive. Additional reports received by the Committee related to policing issues of relevance, including body worn cameras, the federal assessment of RCMP contract policing, RCMP federal policing recruitment, the Surrey police model transition, RCMP Auxiliary Program, and, items recently discussed by the RCMP Contract Management Committee; the ongoing Police Act and public safety review; RCMP collective bargaining; repeat offenders and bail reform; emergency management; cannabis policy; liquor policy; the work of the BC Association of Police Boards; and, various external committee and working groups related to community safety. The Committee also received various pieces of correspondence.
Health and Social Development Committee: The Health and Social Development Committee received a delegation from Ministry of Mental Health and Addictions staff to discuss the drafting of a Harm Reduction Community Guide. A second delegation was received, jointly with the Community Safety Committee, from the Ministry of Housing on a Homeless Encampment Response Guide for Local Governments. The Guide is intended to be a resource for partners in encampment response, to share information and assist partners in managing lands where encampments form. Reports were received on decriminalization of illicit drugs; Bill 45 Homeless Encampment Legislation; and the Emergency Medical Assistants Education Fund.
Environment Committee: The Environment Committee received three delegates to provide updates on Provincial strategies and initiatives: Coastal Marine Strategy; Industrial, Commercial and Institutional Waste Packaging and Printed Paper Recycling; and Water Security Strategy. Committee members discussed the current status of these initiatives, local government engagement, and next steps. The Committee also discussed the Province’s Disaster and Climate Risk and Resilience Assessment and opportunities for local governments to provide input on the assessment process.
Indigenous Relations Committee: The Committee received correspondence from the Minister of Public Safety & Solicitor General (PSSG) and the Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations Canada on a Red Dress alert, in relation to MMIWG Calls for Justice. In addition, a delegation from PSSG was received on the creation of a Red Dress alert system. The Committee received correspondence and reports on the Province’s proposed amendments to the Land Act to enable shared decision-making agreements between the Province and Indigenous governing bodies, per the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act (DRIPA) and proposed provincial legislative amendments to enable First Nations to register land in the Land Title Office. Other reports were considered on: inclusive regional governance (i.e., Indigenous participation in regional district boards) and BC’s distinctions-based approach to relationships with Indigenous Peoples. The Committee discussed entering into an MOU with First Nations Leadership Council and renewing UBCM’s MOU with the Province with respect to local government involvement in reconciliation agreements with Indigenous Peoples. The Committee expressed support for holding a Province-wide Community-to-Community Forum.
Convention Committee: The Convention committee received reports and provided direction on the 2024 Convention theme, keynote speaker, and the draft long program. The Committee also reviewed the function allocations for the 2024 Convention. The financial statements for the 2023 Convention and the period ending December 31st were also received by the Committee. The Committee also discussed and provided direction on a Convention Sponsorship Policy report.
Resolutions Committee: The Resolutions Committee approved its Terms of Reference and timeline for the 2024 resolutions process. The Committee reviewed delegate feedback from the 2023 Annual Convention. Delegates provided positive feedback for the overall resolutions process and for the submitting and vetting of resolutions. The Resolutions Committee considered the results of the Resolutions Process Review survey results. The results did not provide definitive direction for change, so the Committee will look to make improvements to the Resolutions Book.