Health & Social Development

Policy Scope

The Health & Social Development Committee oversees health related policy in the context of local government interests. The Committee's primary focus is on health promotion and disease prevention initiatives and policy directions that assist communities to be proactive in addressing community health problems. The Committee will continue to address a number of health issues including: health care funding, remote and rural healthcare, healthy built environments, and physical activity.

Related Programs

Please refer to Funding Programs for information on funding programs administered by UBCM in support of community health initiatives.

Contact

Marylyn Chiang
Senior Policy Analyst
mchiang@ubcm.ca
604 270 8226 ext. 110

Regional Hospital Districts (RHD)

UBCM members have sought changes to the funding model for regional contributions towards health capital projects. UBCM has been involved in drafting two RHD Cost Sharing Reviews in 2003 and 2009. In 2003, Sierra Systems was hired by the Ministry of Health to conduct a review of…

Emergency Medical Assistants Education Fund

UBCM co-chairs the Emergency Medical Assistants Education Fund (EMAEF), which was established by BC Emergency Health Services (BCEHS) in 2007 to support the education of emergency medical assistants in BC. UBCM co-chairs the Advisory Committee, which approves criteria for awards…

Decriminalization of Illicit Drugs

The BC government has been granted an exemption by Health Canada from the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act to decriminalize the possession of certain illegal drugs. This is one of the approaches by the provincial government to address the ongoing toxic poisoning crisis. The…

Accessibility Legislation

In June 2021, the provincial government passed the Accessible BC Act . As part of this legislation, there will be key actions in four different areas in years 1 - 10 of implementation: 1. Culture change. There will be an emphasis on ongoing awareness; and working closely with…

Child Care

Child care is a new and emerging area for local governments. From 2018-2021, UBCM offered two child care funding programs to better understand local child care needs and to develop new child care spaces in their communities. The Community Child Care Planning program provides…

Policy Documents & Resources

Age Friendly and Disability Friendly Planning Planning for the future: Age Friendly and Disability Friendly OCPs (2009)Age Friendly and Disability Friendly OCPs (2015) Child Care Resources for Local Governments Stepping Stones: Child Care Planning Guides for BC's Local…

Poverty Reduction

Child poverty has been a priority issue for the Committee since 2009. The Committee worked closely with the Ministry of Children and Family Development (MCFD) on the Regional Community Poverty Reduction Strategy, which ran from 2012-2015. This initiative worked with seven pilot…