Whereas Emergency Support Services ESS volunteers play a critical role in the provinces emergency response efforts, particularly in rural and remote areas; And whereas the BC Ombudspersons 2023 report on Emergency Support Services identifies gaps in legal protections, including job protection during activations, as well as appropriate compensation and training resources for ESS volunteers, which negatively affect recruitment, retention, and their capacity to respond during Emergency Operations Centre EOC activations: Therefore be it resolved that UBCM urge the Province of British Columbia to implement legal safeguards ensuring job protection for ESS volunteers during activations, along with appropriate compensation and standardized training supports, to ensure their sustainability and effectiveness.
