UBCM November Executive Meeting Highlights

The UBCM Executive held its quarterly Committee and board meetings in Richmond on November 18-19. The November meeting welcomed new and returning members, and provided the board with an opportunity to review and confirm Executive Priorities for the year ahead. In addition to the Committee meetings, members met with the Honourable Josie Osborne, Minister of Municipal Affairs.
Highlights of the November 19th Executive meeting include:

• Announced and approved various UBCM Executive Committee and external committee appointments. Any vacancies will be filled through a prescribed process. UBCM will be reaching out to the membership via the Compass to seek appointments to fill vacancies, as appropriate.
• Received a report on 27 resolutions referred to Executive due to a lack of time to complete consideration at the 2021 Convention. These 27 resolutions have been referred to the relevant UBCM Executive policy committee, where they will be considered and brought back to a future Executive meeting with a recommended direction.  
• Received a report on five late resolutions received in 2021 that have been referred to the UBCM Executive. Upon consideration, the Executive decided:

• Received a report on the conveyance of endorsed resolutions from the 2021 Convention, including conveyance of:
  • 112 resolutions to the provincial government;
  • 1 to FCM;
  • 15 to the federal government; and
  • 5 to other organizations.
• Received a report on provincial responses received to 68 of the 2020 Resolutions referred to the Province. In May 2021, the Executive received a report on an initial package of responses to 84 endorsed resolutions from 2020.
• Received a report on Convention policy and other announcements. There were no provincial or federal funding announcements made during the 2021 Convention.  However, there were policy announcements at Convention, including:
  • Minister Osborne committed to act on the recommendations of the UBCM Climate Action Committee to restructure the Green Communities Committee.
  • During the Premier’s speech and Q&A period, Premier Horgan responded to a question in general terms that he supports the Province entering into an MOU with UBCM to set up engagement on the local government finance file.
  • An MOU between UBCM and the Province regarding Local Government Participation in the New Relationship with First Nations in BC (2021) was renewed.
• Received a report on new provincial legislation put forward in the current sitting of the House of interest to local governments including Bills 14, 15, 17, 23 and 26.
• Received a report on updating the resolutions database found on-line on the UBCM web site. The content of the database will now be limited to the past 20 years of resolutions.
• Received a report on undertaking a resolutions process review. A review initially begun in 2019/2020 was put on hold due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Executive decided to resume the review with next steps and progress updates to be shared in The Compass.
• Received a report providing a broad overview of the recently ratified RCMP collective agreement, including a summary of local government concerns related to communication, consultation and cost impacts.
• Received a report on housing providing information on the Province’s Development Approvals Process Review and associated legislative amendments, the short-term rental advisory group report, as well as other provincial and federal updates. The Executive also received a related update regarding the Province’s use of statutory immunity in relation to development of supportive housing.
• Received an update on responsible conduct outlining the Province’s introduction of legislation to require local governments to consider adopting or updating a code of conduct.
• Received a financial report for the period ending September 30, 2021.
• Received reports on Victoria Operations including the status of Local Government Program Services (LGPS) and the Canada Community-Building Fund Program Services (CCBF) [previously known as Gas Tax Funding Program].
• Received an update on UBCM’s involvement in the FCM International Program including UBCM’s participation in a capacity assessment of Cambodia’s National League of Local Councils (NLC).
• Received an update on the outcome of the BC Court of Appeal Decision – Coquitlam v. British Columbia Utilities Commission (BCUC). UBCM participated as an intervenor in the appeal that was dismissed by the Court on the basis that the BCUC has jurisdiction.
• Received correspondence from the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure advising that the appointment of a Special Committee to review the 2019 changes to passenger directed vehicle services has been postponed to July 1, 2023.
• Confirmed the following upcoming conferences for 2022: EA Directors Forum (February 8 and 9, 2022 in Richmond, BC) and RD Chair / CAO Forum (March 22 – 23, 2022 in Victoria, BC).  
• Received a report on staff activities including numerous post-Convention related responsibilities.
• Received a delegation from the Minister of Municipal Affairs, Hon. Josie Osborne and discussed:
  • An update on Bill 26 which includes updates to Codes of Conduct, Local Government Public Notices and Public Hearings
  • Vaccine mandates in Local Government Sector
  • Old Growth Strategy
  • Update on Climate Action Funding
  • MOU on Local Government Finance

Highlights from the Executive Priorities Session:

Executive members reviewed the work plan that was set out in July 2021, and confirmed the following as key priorities for the year ahead:

Housing

• continued engagement with the Province on implementation of their 30-point plan and other housing policy issues – use the UBCM report “A Home for Everyone” as the UBCM policy tool.

Cannabis – Taxation Revenue Sharing

• continue to advocate for a cannabis taxation revenue sharing agreement with the provincial government as part of the work of the Select Committee on Local Government Finance.

Responsible Conduct Working Group

• continue to undertake joint work with LGMA and the Province through the working group in follow up to member endorsed resolutions from the 2021 UBCM Convention.

Infrastructure

• continue to participate in the delivery of Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program (ICIP) including preparing for federal/provincial negotiations on the next Canada Community-Building Fund Agreement (2024-2034).

Provincial Land Use Planning/UNDRIP/Truth and Reconciliation Commission

• engage with the Province on UNDRIP and related land use initiatives, emphasizing the need for meaningful consultation with local governments on issues that have bearing on their jurisdiction recognizing that local governments are orders of government.

Climate Change/Climate Action

• continued engagement with the Province on UBCM’s Special Committee on Climate Action recommendations to inform the provincial climate action and adaptation strategies.

Local Government Finance

• advance the 20 priorities identified in the 2021 Ensuring Local Government Financial Resiliency Report.

The Executive also flagged the emerging impact that substantive forest policy changes (old growth deferrals, modernizing forest policy) will have on a significant portion of BC communities in the coming months and years ahead.  

Highlights of the November 18-19 Committee meetings include:

Presidents Committee

The Presidents Committee reviewed: the Terms of Reference; allocation of Vice Presidents to specific portfolios; reports on staffing; report on the 2022 Community Excellence Awards Program; an update on the status of the UBCM Governance documents review; status of group benefits program; report on intergovernmental relations; appointments to Municipal Pension Plan Board of Trustees; and an update on development of an educational module to support responsible conduct in keeping with endorsed resolution 2021-SR3. The Presidents Committee received: the financial statements; report on RCMP Collective Bargaining and Police Act Review; requests for UBCM appointments to various organizations; and a delegation from the BC Urban Mayors Caucus.

Community Economic Development Committee

The Community Economic Development Committee reviewed and approved its Terms of Reference and work plan priorities for the upcoming year, to ensure they were reflective of the broad scope of economic development opportunities for local governments including resource policy; tourism; technology and innovation; immigration; and agriculture. Members received reports on the Modernizing Forest Policy workshop and webinars, and an analysis of the Province’s announcement on old growth deferrals. The Committee received a related delegation from the Council of Forest Industries (COFI). Additional reports received by the Committee dealt with broadband and cellular connectivity, and the modernized land use planning process.

Community Safety Committee

The Community Safety Committee received a delegation from the PRIMECorp BC Board regarding police evidence management. Members also reviewed the Committee’s Terms of Reference and priorities for the upcoming year, while considering options for upcoming advocacy meetings. Additional reports received by the Committee related to RCMP body worn cameras and policing issues of relevance; cannabis policy; liquor policy; emergency management; 911 emergency services; a provincial online traffic court project; grant programs administered by UBCM; and the work of the BC Association of Police Boards.

Health and Social Development Committee

The Health and Social Development Committee received a delegation from Parliamentary Secretary Dan Coulter and Sam Turcott, Executive Lead, Accessibility, Ministry of Social Development and Poverty Reduction to discuss the implementation of the Accessible BC Act. The Committee also reviewed its Terms of Reference, Issues Scan, and Work Plan, and approved priorities for the 2021-2022 year. Information on the St. John Ambulance’s Start Me Up campaign was provided, as well as an update on Local Government Program Services grants that are relevant to the Committee’s work.

Environment Committee

The Environment Committee reviewed its Terms of Reference, Issues Scan and Work Plan for the year. The Committee also approved priorities for the 2021-2022 work year following a review and discussion on the issues scan. Correspondence was received from the Town of View Royal regarding banning water bottling of groundwater.

Indigenous Relations

The Indigenous Relations Committee reviewed its Terms of Reference, Issues Scan and Work Plan for the year. The Committee also received a delegation from staff at the Ministry of Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation to discuss several issues related to the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act. Finally, the Committee received updates on the renewed MOU with the Province, new Federal ministers, a survey on Indigenous relations, and Local Government Program Services grant programs relevant to the Committee’s work.

Convention

The Convention Committee reviewed its Terms of Reference and the Convention planning cycle for 2022. The Committee received the Guiding Principles: Convention Finance & Sponsorship. The Committee received reports on the 2021 Convention including a virtual overview, attendance, preliminary staff comments, sponsorship, a preliminary financial report, and a media relations report. The delegate evaluation report was also presented with the full list of comments submitted in the post-Convention survey. The evaluations were predominantly positive and provided constructive feedback for future planning. Future convention dates and the theme for the 2022 Convention were also discussed.