Whereas the Province of British Columbia, through the Housing Supply Act, is assigning housing targets to municipalities based primarily on population growth, housing demand, and development metrics, without explicitly considering watershed health, infrastructure capacity, healthcare access, or climate resiliency; And whereas directing new housing to regions with long-term water security and resilience to natural disasters reduces the future costs of emergency response, infrastructure damage, and climate adaptation, and supports safer, more sustainable community growth: Therefore be it resolved that UBCM urge the Province to revise the housing target methodology to include assessments of water system capacity, watershed health, climate resiliency, healthcare infrastructure, and other critical services; And be it further resolved that the Province prioritize housing growth and densification in regions that demonstrate long-term resilience to climate change and natural disasters, recognizing this as a cost-saving, safety-enhancing, and environmentally responsible approach to meeting the provinces housing needs; And be it further resolved that the Province provide technical and financial support to local governments and First Nations to assess infrastructure, water supply, and climate resilience as part of the housing target planning process.
