Messages from the UBCM President, general advocacy communications, and information about Local Government Week.
Infrastructure is a significant part of local government service delivery but is often underappreciated or overlooked by the public. This year’s theme for Local Government Awareness Week—May 12-18, 2024—invites local governments to tell the infrastructure story of their community or region, and the steps that are being taken to ensure sustainable service delivery.
The Act that incorporates UBCM will be updated to better reflect the diversity of our membership and address out-of-date provisions. The Municipal Affairs Statutes Amendment Act (2024) will replace the word “municipalities” in the preamble to the UBCM Act with “local governments”. UBCM’s name will not be changing.
Since its inception in 2005, the Canada Community-Building Fund has delivered over $4.6 billion in federal funding for local infrastructure in British Columbia. With the current administrative agreement set to expire on March 31, UBCM, the Province and the Government of Canada are continuing discussions on the long-term renewal of this program.
Finance Minister Katrine Conroy tabled the 2024 provincial budget in the legislature earlier today. Notably for local governments, the Budget does not include any new funding commitments for shelter spaces, addiction treatment and recovery, harm reduction and community mental health programs. To dampen housing demand, the Province is moving forward with a flipping tax that closely aligns with a recommendation from UBCM’s 2018 Housing Strategy.
A report prepared by BC Stats shows that British Columbia’s population growth rate has surged over the past three years due to higher national immigration targets. Nearly 150,800 migrants came to the province in 2022, roughly 52,000 of whom were permanent immigrants. In 2023 the population of BC experienced an annual growth rate above 3%, marking the highest annual increase since the 1970s.
The newly released 2024 UBCM Calendar has incorrectly noted the date of Local Government Awareness Week as May 19-25. The correct date is May 12-18, 2024; Asset Management Awareness Day is Wednesday, May 15, 2024.
Please mark the correct date on any physical 2024 UBCM calendars in your office, and use May 12-18 as you begin planning for Local Government Awareness Week in your communities.
UBCM President Trish Mandewo spoke about the need for open collaboration between all levels of government to lead positive change in housing issues.