Feedback & Input

The Ministry of Housing and Municipal Affairs is seeking local government feedback on possible amendments to closed meeting provisions in the local government legislation. Two webinars in June will provide information about the possible amendments, and an opportunity for local governments to provide feedback. 

The potential amendments would expand the circumstances in which local government board and council meetings can be closed to the public, including some circumstances specifically relevant to local government-First Nation relations. 

The Canadian Standards Association (CSA), supported by the Province of BC, is seeking local government and First Nations representatives to participate on a one-year technical subcommittee (TSC) that will develop modernized Flood Hazard Area Land Use Management Guidelines for BC. Individuals interested in joining the TSC are asked to contact Jeff Menard, Program Manager, Canadian Standards Association, as soon as possible. 

The Local Government RCMP Contract Management Committee (LGCMC) will be meeting on June 10, 2025. Local governments wishing to suggest discussion items related to the agreement under which the RCMP provides local police services in B.C. are asked to submit input to Bhar Sihota, UBCM Senior Policy Analyst, by May 7, 2025.

The Railway Association of Canada (RAC) seeks local and Indigenous government comments on modernizing the Proximity Guidelines for residential or industrial development adjacent to rail lines and operations.

Local governments are invited to provide input on the development of regulations for local authorities under the Emergency and Disaster Management Act (EDMA) at one of three online engagement sessions this April. These webinars, administered by the Ministry of Emergency Management and Climate Readiness (EMCR) and hosted by UBCM, will give local governments an opportunity to review, validate, and add to key issues and questions identified by the Local Government Advisory Committee (LGAC) on EDMA regulations. 

Following last year’s release of the B.C. Flood Strategy, the Ministry of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship (WLRS) is hosting two unique half-day virtual engagement sessions regarding flood policy guidance. Interested First Nations and local governments are asked to register by 5:00 p.m. on March 17th. 

The Province is proposing key amendments to the Wildlife Act in this Spring’s legislative session to address the spread of aquatic invasive species. Once enacted, the proposed amendments will enable the Province to create regulations under the Wildlife Act to: 

The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) is establishing a retail internet subsidy for the Far North. Selected areas of northern BC are within the CRTC’s definition of “Far North”. The CRTC is calling for comments on how to implement this subsidy, with submissions due by Feb 18, 2025.

The Regional Connectivity Knowledge Network’s next meeting is February 4, 1-3 pm PST. Staff from the Ministry of Citizens’ Services will provide updates on provincial connectivity funding programs, and the work underway to extend high-speed internet to every household in BC. Indigenous or local government elected officials and senior staff are welcome to attend. Content is focused on connectivity in rural and remote communities.

Local governments are invited to submit an expression of interest to participate in the Inclusive Climate Action for Tunisian Municipalities (ICATM) program, which runs from March 2024 to February 2029. Implemented by the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) and its Tunisian partner, the International Development Center for Innovative Local Governance (CILG), this initiative focuses on strengthening the climate resilience of Tunisian municipalities while promoting equity and inclusion.