Whereas the Province of British Columbia has enacted legislation known as the Emergency and Disaster Management Act EDMA that constitutes a significant download of responsibilities and addition of new legislative and regulatory requirements that will significantly and permanently add to the workload of municipalities and regional districts; And whereas the opportunities for local governments to raise funds required to support these legislative changes are limited, and where the provincial government has provided some proactive capacity funding in specific areas, such as First Nations consultation, but has not provided any guarantee of ongoing capacity funding to support the legacy of these legislative changes: Therefore be it resolved that the UBCM lobby the Province of British Columbia to commit to providing long-term sustainable capacity funding to municipalities and regional districts to fulfill their emergency management duties, including responsibilities under the Emergency and Disaster Management Act.
Ministry of Emergency Management and Climate Readiness The safety of all British Columbians remains a top priority for the Province. Government is committed to supporting First Nations and local governments in their efforts to enhance emergency preparedness and build resilience to climate-related risks. We recognize the importance of sustained investment in mitigation and capacity-building to ensure communities are equipped to manage and reduce disaster risks. The Province is actively supporting communities through several dedicated funding programs including: 1. Indigenous Engagement Requirements Funding Program IERFP: First announced in December 2023, this program offered funding to support the implementation of the Indigenous engagement requirements within the Emergency and Disaster Management Act EDMA. The IERFP enables First Nations and local authorities to undertake activities that strengthen capacity, build relationships and foster collaboration, as outlined in the program guide. 2. Disaster Resilience and Innovation Funding DRIF program: This program offers funding to First Nations and local governments across BC to enhance their capacity to withstand and adapt to natural and climate-driven hazards. Funding supports: - Initiatives that provide foundational data, strengthen partnerships and advance long-term disaster risk reduction and climate adaptation planning; and - Both structural and non-structural disaster risk reduction projects. These programs are part of the Provinces broader strategy to support communities in their emergency management efforts and to advance climate resilience. 3. Community Emergency Preparedness Fund CEPF program: The CEPF is a suite of funding streams intended to enhance the resilience of First Nations, local governments and communities in responding to emergencies and to reduce risks from future disasters due to natural hazards and climate-related risks. The CEPF supports capacity building for community preparedness activities.