UBCM held its quarterly Executive and Committee meetings on July 15-17 in Richmond. The Board met with Minister Christine Boyle and Minister Brittny Anderson, received a report on the UBCM governance review, a mental health program to support local elected leaders, and directed staff to work with the Province to develop a terms of reference for a working group to consider the potential for changes to improve the legislation governing Regional Districts.
Key Topics
Ministers Delegation
The Hon. Christine Boyle, Minister of Housing and Municipal Affairs and The Hon. Brittny Anderson, Minister of State for Local Governments and Rural Communities, attended the meeting and answered questions on a range of issues raised by the Executive including the exclusion of local governments during the development phase of the Heritage Conservation Act renewal, the Province’s decision to shift from in person to virtual meetings with provincial staff during the Convention, the allocation criteria for the new $3.2 billion Infrastructure and Build Communities Strong Fund and Parental Leave and Code of Conduct legislation.
Governance Review
Allan Neilson of Neilson Strategies presented a report and recommendations arising from the UBCM governance review. A report on the governance review, including proposed adjustments to the board structure, will be presented to the UBCM membership for consideration at the 2026 Annual Convention. In order to implement the proposed changes, members will be asked to consider extraordinary resolutions to amend the UBCM Bylaws. The report on the governance review, as well as associated extraordinary resolutions and proposed bylaw amendments, will be made available to the UBCM membership 30 days in advance of the Annual Convention.
Provincial Legislation Impacting Local Governments
The Executive received a report that summarized recent provincial legislation, regulations, and Orders in Council relevant to local governments and UBCM member First Nations governments, including measures on supportive housing, safe access to places of worship, forestry operations, elected official conduct, parental leave, and development approvals.
Housing
UBCM staff provided an update on recent provincial and federal housing initiatives, including implementation of BC’s housing legislation and proposed provincial directives, ongoing local government concerns about infrastructure, tree canopy, dispersed density, parking, and emergency-service impacts. The Build Communities Strong Fund was discussed including associated requirements to reduce development cost charges.
Responsible Conduct Legislation
The Executive were advised about provincial efforts to establish a mandatory Code of Conduct for local governments. Bill 17 did not advance beyond first reading in the spring session, but the Ministry of Housing and Municipal Affairs intends to proceed in the fall and to continue working with UBCM on regulations and an implementation strategy.
Elected Official Mental Health Resiliency
A UBCM sponsored Mental Health Toolkit for BC local elected officials was considered and discussed. The proposed program was developed in response to a request from the Local Leaders for Mental Health Ad hoc Committee and aims to improve mental health literacy, reduce stigma, build resilience, and provide confidential, no-cost supports. It would include two main components: a self-directed continuing education platform and fully subsidized supports such as an Employee and Family Assistance Plan and Mental Health First Aid training. Participation in the program would be voluntary and self-directed.
Heritage Conservation Act (HCA) Update
A report summarizing activity since April 2026 regarding proposed provincial changes to replace the Heritage Conservation Act was received for information. UBCM submitted member perspectives to the Province in April, and in a joint news release with industry organizations, declined to sign a confidentiality agreement to review draft legislative materials. In June, UBCM informed members about regional HCA information sessions and attended the sessions virtually to hear member feedback. It was noted that the Ministry of Forests continues to publicly identify a fall 2026 timeline for introduction of the new legislation.
Regional District Legislation Update
The Executive directed staff to work with the Ministry of Housing and Municipal Affairs, to establish a joint working group and terms of reference to assess and, where warranted, advocate for improvements to specific legislative provisions governing regional districts.
Legal Update
Staff provided an update regarding two ongoing appeal files where UBCM has approved or is pursuing intervenor participation, Cowichan Tribes v Canada and Roy v Vancouver.
2026-2027 Workplan
A staff workplan outlining key special projects, policy initiatives, and financial, IT, operational, and advocacy priorities for the coming year was received for information. Staff noted that the workplan includes both ongoing and new initiatives and will be updated throughout the year as emerging priorities and opportunities are identified.
Committee Reports
Presidents Committee
The Presidents Committee considered a range of issues, some of which were referred to the Executive for further discussion and consideration. Several recommendations that were brought forward by the Committee were endorsed by the Executive including:
- retaining KPMG as auditor for five years,
- appointing Andrew Hoge for a one-year term to support investment oversight as a member of the Investment Committee;
- appointing Councillor Ben Geselbracht as a member of the Recycle BC Advisory Council for a two-year term; and
- renewing the UBCM/Asset Management BC Partnership Agreement.
Other matters reviewed included the 2025-2026 audit findings, Community Excellence Awards recipients, staff member visits, and a proposed approach for reviewing UBCM’s standing committee structure.
Community Economic Development Committee
The Chair reported the Committee received updates on forestry, aquaculture, outdoor recreation, and industrial lands initiatives, including a presentation on community forests from the BC Community Forest Association. Members considered federal and provincial forestry policy developments, including a framework for wildfire resilience through forest management being drafted by the Minister’s Forest and Range Practices Advisory Council. The Committee recommended inviting AVICC and NCLGA to nominate representatives for the federal Department of Fisheries and Oceans Aquaculture Management Advisory Council on Shellfish. The Executive was further advised that concerns regarding pipeline assessment valuation changes have been referred to the Standing Table on Local Government Financial Resiliency and endorsed sending a letter to the Minister of Forests supporting the continuation and expansion of Community Forest Agreements and the preservation of the current stumpage rate structure.
Convention Committee
The Executive endorsed several recommendations brought forward by the Committee including the revised 2026 Convention long program, the proposed Monday study sessions, clinics and workshops, and a Thursday morning run/walk meet-up for delegates. It was reported that Convention planning is on track, with 132 clinic/workshop applications reviewed, online registration open, the trade show sold out, and logistics underway.
Community Safety Committee
The Chair reported that the Committee reviewed a wide range of public safety issues including 911 service funding and governance, policing issues of relevance including police training, emergency management regulations, road safety, cannabis and liquor policy, and online harms affecting local governments. Members discussed concerns about rising emergency services costs, the future of RCMP contract policing, police training governance, and the Province’s decision to change the focus of its Police Act review. The Committee also received updates on implementation of the Emergency and Disaster Management Act, repeat offenders and bail reform initiatives, and the Province’s Road Safety Strategy and Intersection Safety Camera Program. The Executive endorsed a recommendation that UBCM provide a submission to inform the Province’s development of a new independent police training governance framework, highlighting concerns related to governance, cost, capacity, and communication.
Environment Committee
The Chair reported that the Committee received a delegation from the Watershed Security Fund and discussed policy updates on climate resilience and disaster mitigation, environmental assessment reform, Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), and Provincial climate action. Members discussed the Province’s decision not to move forward with a new regulation to establish an expedited environmental assessment pathway for some major projects, and local government engagement in the process that informed deliberation on the proposed regulation. Other issues discussed included rising disaster costs and impacts on insurance availability and costs, disappointment with delayed expansion of the Province’s EPR program, ongoing advocacy for the renewal of the Local Government Climate Action Program, and recent updates to Provincial long-term electricity plans,
Health and Social Development Committee
Several health and social development issues, including BC Housing’s HEART/HEARTH program, child care system reform, regional hospital district advocacy, overdose prevention correspondence, and social infrastructure planning were discussed by Committee members. The HEART/HEARTH discussions focused on community selection, local government expectations, and progress tracking. The need for a provincially led, funded, and coordinated system for creating spaces was the focus of the child care discussion. The Executive endorsed a recommendation that UBCM write to the Province and request a report on the HEART/HEARTH program that identifies successes, progress and results including encampment closures, persons housed, number of service calls, health outcomes, and lessons learned.
Indigenous Relations Committee
The Executive was advised that the Committee received an update and provided feedback on the implementation of the UBCM–MIRR Memorandum of Understanding on Local Government engagement in Provincial Negotiations. This work includes the development of engagement guides to strengthen local government involvement in provincial negotiations with First Nations. The Committee also recommended renewing UBCM’s Protocol on Cooperation and Communication with First Nations Summit. In addition, the Committee received information on the Okanagan Falls Letters Patent, recent Indigenous rights court cases, the Declaration Act Action Plan Annual Report and provincial engagement with local governments in upcoming reconciliation negotiations with Osoyoos Indian Band.
Resolutions Committee
The Chair reported that a package of 225 resolutions received from the membership were reviewed in addition to three Special Resolutions that will be put forward to highlight priority issues. The Executive approved a recommendation from the Committee to apply the four criteria per Extraordinary Resolution 2025-ER1 (Existing Policy, Outside of Local Government Scope, Format/Clarity, Regional) and the placement of the resolutions in the Endorse Block, No Recommendation and Referred Resolutions sections of the Resolutions Book.
Nominating Committee
The Chair advised that the Committee held its first meeting on June 9th and that a call for advance nominations was posted on the UBCM website on June 10th. He encouraged Executive members who intended on running for election in September to submit their applications before the July 31, 2026 deadline and to also support colleagues who may be interested in seeking election to the Executive.
Executive Director Hiring Committee
The Committee met on July 15th and July 16th to interview shortlisted candidates for the Executive Director position and put forward a recommended candidate during an in-camera session.
Other Issues
The Executive went in camera to receive the draft 2026-2027 preliminary General Fund Operating Draft Budget for 2026-2027 and received the draft 2025-2026 Financial Statements for information. An increase of 3% for member dues was endorsed as part of the draft budget and both items will be presented to the membership for approval during the Annual General Meeting held in conjunction with the Convention.
The following items were also received for information:
- Local Government Program Services and Building Communities Strong Fund Update;
- UBCM Statutory Compliance Report;
- Report on Provincial Responses to 2025 Resolutions;
- Executive and Staff Appointments Annual Review;
- MOUs, Agreements and Partnerships Annual Review;
- 2025-2026 Workplan Final Evaluation Report;
- Reports on the UBCM-FCM Travel Fund, Legal Assistance Fund and the Jeff McKelvey Scholarship Fund;
- Proposed Executive Meeting dates for 2026-2027 and
- Correspondence between UBCM, the provincial and federal governments and other stakeholders.