Whereas the Provinces bilateral agreement with the federal government, the CanadaBritish Columbia Agreement to Work Together to Improve Health Care for Canadians signed October 2023, commits more than 3.8 billion over three years 20232026 to expand access to primary care, improve mental health and addictions services, reduce surgical backlogs, and modernize health data systems, and includes major health system transformationssuch as new staffing models, digital tools and culturally safe serviceswithout consistent local government consultation or engagement; And whereas local governments increasingly bear the consequences of limited access to health services, including increased burdens on police, bylaw enforcement, housing supports, and emergency services: Therefore be it resolved that UBCM urge the Province of British Columbia to work transparently and collaboratively with local governments in implementing its 20232026 Health Action Plan, and to ensure early and meaningful engagement with local governments in future bilateral health funding agreements, to align provincial health system changes with local infrastructure capacity, service delivery, and community priorities.
