Whereas the Province of British Columbia does not have a robust policy to assist victims of climate related events whose losses are not covered by insurance or Disaster Financial Assistance; And whereas the time of decision making on claims to the Province of British Columbia is a significant and life changing hardship to British Columbians and Indigenous communities: Therefore be it resolved that UBCM ask the provincial government to take urgent steps to develop a policy to assist victims of climate events with their claims in a timely manner, not exceeding 12-months post-disaster.
Ministry of Emergency Management and Climate Readiness The Province is committed to supporting all British Columbians in their efforts to respond to and recover from disasters, as well as their efforts to reduce the risk of future disasters. The Province has made significant investments in emergency management in recent years as the frequency and severity of climate-driven emergency events have escalated. The Ministry of Emergency Management and Climate Readiness continues to make progress toward enhancing emergency preparedness across the province. This includes the recent introduction of the Emergency and Disaster Management Act, the most comprehensive and forward-looking emergency management legislation in Canada. As part of this new Act, the ministry is updating its associated regulations, including the Disaster Financial Assistance Regulation. The Recovery Funding Branch continues working to improve program delivery for communities through data-driven solutions. In 2024, a new online portal was launched, allowing private applicants to submit and view their Disaster Financial Assistance applications in real-time online. In March 2025, the public sector portal was launched, which will allow for streamlining and efficiencies in the application process for local governments and First Nations in any events going forward.