The UBCM Executive held its quarterly Committee and board meetings in Richmond on November 16-17. UBCM President Trish Mandewo welcomed new and returning members to the Executive. In addition to Committee meetings, Executive members met with the Honourable Anne Kang, Minister of Municipal Affairs; held an orientation session and all board members signed the Executive Code of Conduct.
Highlights of the Executive meeting include:
- Report on the President’s activities since the UBCM Convention.
- Report on provincial legislation of interest to local governments that was put forward in the current sitting of the House.
- Report on the endorsed resolutions from the 2023 Convention, including conveyance of:
- 152 resolutions to the provincial government,
- Two to FCM,
- Nine to the federal government, and
- 18 to other organizations.
- Referred three resolutions from the 2023 Convention to Committees.
- Received a report on Convention policy and other announcements including: $4.75 million for local fire department training; $20 million to assist with travel for cancer treatment for those living in rural and remote areas; and $61 million for local government capacity building to support accelerated housing approvals.
- Approved a number of UBCM appointments to a variety of external working groups and committees.
- Report on recent housing legislation addressing wide-ranging housing policy changes and changes to the local planning framework, including legislation on short-term rentals, upzoning and pre-zoning, transit-oriented development, and changes to the development finance framework.
- Report on the new Emergency and Disaster Management Act noting the new and enhanced responsibilities for local governments.
- Report on the ongoing Police Act and public safety review, including a recent UBCM submission to the provincial government.
- Update on progress under the MOU with the Province through the Local Government Financial Review Working Group to advance the recommendations in the UBCM’s 2021 Finance Report.
- Report on UBCM’s Convention Sponsorship Policy and discussed next steps for undertaking a review.
- Report on the activities related to the Responsible Conduct working group including exploring the potential for new resources and tools to strengthen the practice of responsible conduct.
- Update on the activities of the Single Standard of Fire Safety Working Group with respect to the Fire Safety Act.
- Update on the Financial Statements.
- Report providing an overview of recent amendments to the Police Act related to policing transition models; and a report on the ongoing Police Act and public safety review.
- Update on recent activities and updates for the Local Government Program Services and the Canada Community-Building Fund.
- Update on UBCM’s involvement in the FCM International Program noting UBCM had recently hosted the Cambodia National League of Local Councils on a visit to Metro Vancouver.
- Report on the UBCM-FCM Small Communities Travel Fund, and discussed options for the management and administration of the Fund going forward.
- Initial report on proposed 2023 – 2024 conferences, supported or coordinated by UBCM for the year ahead.
- Report on staff activities since the 2023 UBCM Convention.
- Received a delegation from Minister of Municipal Affairs, Hon. Anne Kang and discussed: confidentiality agreements; engagement with UBCM; and the Fire Safety Act.
Highlights of the Committee meetings include:
Presidents Committee: The Presidents Committee reviewed its terms of reference; allocated members to perform duties to specific portfolios; received the financial statements and investment policy; and received reports on staffing and updates to staff policies. Committee members approved the 2024 work plan for the Community Excellence Awards Program; received an update on the status of the UBCM Governance documents review including the approval of house-keeping amendments to the Executive Policies; received updates on both the member services and group benefits programs; received reports on intergovernmental relations; and discussed a number of requests for UBCM appointments to external committees and working groups.
Community Economic Development Committee: The Community Economic Development Committee reviewed its terms of reference and work plan; received updates on internet connectivity, forest policy, and outdoor recreation; and reviewed a selection of media items regarding economic development in BC. The Committee recommended that the Chair should attend meetings of the Regional Connectivity Knowledge Network (RCKN), and resolved to invite a delegation from the RCKN to discuss advocacy priorities for high-speed internet connectivity in rural and remote BC. The Committee also considered resources to support local governments interested in advancing outdoor recreation as an economic development driver; what a local government roundtable on outdoor recreation might look like; and the issue of incidental ORV access to highways or public roads.
Community Safety Committee: The Community Safety Committee received a delegation from the Ministry of Emergency Management and Climate Readiness regarding new emergency management legislation and associated regulations. 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 policing issues of relevance, including the implementation of body-worn cameras; federal assessment of RCMP contract policing; BC Highway Patrol service delivery; items recently discussed by the RCMP Contract Management Committee; and, the Safer Communities Action Plan; RCMP collective bargaining; cannabis policy; liquor policy; 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 reviewed the terms of reference, issues scan, and work plan, and approved priorities for the 2023 – 2024 year which include: decriminalization of illicit substances, harm reduction, homelessness, child care, and the health impacts of climate change. An update was also received on Local Government Program Services grants that are relevant to the Committee’s work.
Environment Committee: The Environment Committee reviewed its terms of reference and received reports on climate action and current environmental issues of relevance to local governments. The committee approved priorities for 2023 – 2024, which included water governance and management, solid waste management and product stewardship, climate action, brownfield redevelopment, environmental assessment, and managing species at risk.
Indigenous Relations Committee: The Indigenous Relations Committee confirmed its terms of reference and priorities for 2023 – 2024, which included engaging the provincial government on the implementation of the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act, particularly around inclusive governance; building relationships with Indigenous communities and organizations through member resources and outreach; and, renewing an MOU with the provincial government on ‘Engagement with UBCM and local governments on First Nations Negotiations and Other Indigenous Initiatives’. The Committee also discussed the need for a Red Dress Alert system that would use cell phone networks to alert the public when Indigenous women, girls, and 2SLGBTQ+ people are reported missing.
Convention Committee: The Convention Committee reviewed its terms of reference and the Convention planning cycle for 2024. The Committee received the Guiding Principles: Convention Finance & Sponsorship. The Committee also received reports on the 2023 Convention including a report on 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. The committee discussed potential updates for the 2024 Convention based on these reports. The planning cycle and theme for the 2024 Convention were also discussed.