Whereas during extreme weather events, communities across British Columbia BC face a humanitarian crisis related to homelessness, and while temporary emergency overnight shelters are a critical life-saving response, current BC Building Code and Fire Code requirements and the lack of clear provincial authority and liability protection can prevent or result in the closure of short-term emergency shelters despite alternative life-safety measures being in place: Therefore be it resolved that UBCM work with the Province to establish a provincial emergency exemption framework for emergency overnight shelters during declared extreme weather events, where unanimous municipal council approval is provided by resolution; and the shelter operates on a temporary, emergency basis only.
