Messages from the UBCM President, general advocacy communications, and information about Local Government Week.
UBCM News
Renewed MOU with Ministry of Indigenous Relations & Reconciliation
UBCM signed a renewed Memorandum of Understanding with the Ministry of Indigenous Relations & Reconciliation (MIRR) during the 2024 Convention. Prior to signing, UBCM asked the Province for a strengthened commitment in the form of an implementation plan, and proposed a draft workplan to be collaborated on by MIRR and UBCM.
5 Minutes With: the Honourable Janet Austin, Lieutenant Governor of British Columbia
Politicians expect public scrutiny as a regular part of the job, but personal attacks, especially on social media, have increased noticeably. One workshop at Convention 2024 focused on mental health of elected leaders. UBCM spent five minutes with one panelist, the Honourable Janet Austin, Lieutenant Governor of British Columbia.
UBCM: Do you think the challenge of mental health for elected officials is getting worse?
5 Minutes With: George Stroumboulopoulos
5 Minutes With: George Stroumboulopoulos
As someone who listens for a living, we wanted to talk with the 2024 Convention keynote speaker George Stroumboulopoulos about how to hold helpful public discourse in a divided world.
UBCM: The world is fairly polarized right now, especially when we're talking politics. So how do we have constructive, useful conversations?
Lytton calling on Province for rebuilding support
The Village of Lytton was nearly completely destroyed in the 2021 Lytton Creek Fire, and residents are still struggling to rebuild. The high cost and slow pace of archaeological work required before rebuilding can begin is prohibitive to the village’s recovery. Individual quotes for archaeological work range from $26,000 to $48,000, with at least one as high as $86,000. The costs, not covered by insurance, are causing some to choose not to rebuild.
Lytton has asked the Province for help to streamline the work and cover these costs, but have had no response.
5 Minutes With: a local chief and mayor, Nasu?kin Heidi Gravelle and Mayor Nic Milliagan
On the first day of Convention 2024, a province wide community-to-community forum was hosted by UBCM and the First Nations Leadership Council. To learn about their experience developing a relationship between a First Nation and local government, UBCM spent five minutes with a local mayor and chief Nasu?kin Heidi Gravelle, elected chief of Yaq̓it ʔa·knuqⱡi’it First Nation (Tobacco Plains Indian Band) and Nic Milligan is the mayor of neighbouring City of Fernie. (Nasu?kin is the Ktunaxa word for chief.)
UBCM releases provincial election priorities
Gaps in provincial services, increasing regulatory requirements and emergency management costs are stretching local budgets. The Union of B.C. Municipalities is calling on all parties in the provincial election to consider the growing financial pressures on local governments.
2024 UBCM Annual Report
UBCM's 2024 Annual Report is now available, with highlights of UBCM’s work on behalf of our members over the last fiscal year.
In Memoriam: Linda McPhail
With sadness UBCM marks the passing of former UBCM Executive member and longtime councillor for the City of Richmond, Linda McPhail.
Linda served as a Richmond city councillor from 2011 to 2022, and was a school trustee for nine years before that. She served one term on the UBCM Executive Board from 2018-2019 where she contributed to the Health and Social Development Committee and Convention Committee.