Opportunities for members to give feedback, have input, participate in advisory groups, and more.
UBCM and the Ministry of Emergency Management and Climate Readiness (EMCR) have established the Local Government Advisory Committee on EDMA Regulations to inform the development of regulations associated with the new Emergency and Disaster Management Act. Local government elected officials and staff members interested in participating have until May 17, 2024, to apply.
UBCM and the Ministry of Mental Health and Addictions are seeking new members to join the Decriminalization Local Government Working Group from May 2024 to January 2026. Applicants must be senior local government staff, with preference given to candidates from small and medium communities, as well as communities in the North, Kootenays and Island regions.
The Local Government RCMP Contract Management Committee (LGCMC) will be meeting on April 2, 2024. 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 March 15, 2024.
The Ministry of Mental Health and Addictions is evaluating the implementation of the decriminalization policy. Elected officials and senior local government staff who can speak on behalf of their local government are invited to provide feedback by March 15 about the implementation of the decriminalization policy from a local government perspective.
The Ministry of Mental Health and Addictions has contracted external evaluators to conduct an evaluation of the implementation of the decriminalization policy. Elected officials and senior local government staff who can speak on behalf of their local government are invited to provide feedback about the implementation of the decriminalization policy from the local government's perspective.
The Ministry of Housing has contracted external evaluators to conduct an initial evaluation of the Belonging in BC Homelessness Plan introduced in spring 2023. The evaluation seeks to assess progress on coordination, collaboration, and alignment between partners. Elected officials and senior local government staff are invited to provide feedback from the local government's perspective by March 6, 2024.
The provincial government is proposing amendments to the Land Act to enable shared decision making with Indigenous Governing Bodies, in keeping with Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act (DRIPA) agreements. UBCM met with provincial staff last week and requested the Province hold an engagement session for local governments to learn more about these amendments. This is being held February 21, and written feedback can be submitted to the Province until March 31.
UBCM is seeking local government staff to help update the Harm Reduction Community Guide that was originally released by the Ministry of Health in 2005.
UBCM is seeking to appoint local government representatives from RCMP-policed jurisdictions to the Local Government Contract Management Committee (LGCMC). There are four vacancies that are required to be filled by local government elected officials or staff members.
The new Emergency and Disaster Management Act includes many new and enhanced responsibilities for local governments, with further details to be outlined in associated regulations.