Updates from the Local Government Contract Management Committee, articles related to policing advocacy, legislation, policy, and relevant news.
On October 23, the federal government introduced the Bail and Sentencing Reform Act, which includes more than 80 proposed amendments to the Criminal Code. Many changes broadly respond to local government concerns, including resolutions and correspondence seeking stricter bail conditions for repeat offenders. A UBCM analysis follows.
The legislation includes the following proposed amendments to the Criminal Code:
Since 2022, local governments have been meeting with the provincial government as part of a Police Act and public safety review through the UBCM-PSSG Local Government Policing Modernization Roundtable.
UBCM is seeking to appoint local government representatives from RCMP policed jurisdictions to the Local Government Contract Management Committee (LGCMC). There are currently two vacancies to be filled by local government elected officials or staff members.
The Committee consists of up to ten representatives from local governments policed by the RCMP. The following categories require local government appointments:
This spring, the Local Government RCMP Contract Management Committee (LGCMC) met with provincial government and BC RCMP representatives to discuss issues related to the Municipal Police Unit Agreements, and policing more broadly in British Columbia. Issues discussed at the meeting are summarized in this article.
The Province has published the final report of the independent Commission of Inquiry into Community Events Safety.
UBCM has provided a submission to the Commission of Inquiry into Community Events Safety in B.C. The submission outlines several issues for the Commission’s consideration as it examines measures respecting public security and safety at community events. The Commission was established on May 7, 2025, following the tragic events that took place during the April 26th Lapu-Lapu Day Festival in Vancouver.
The Province is seeking stakeholder feedback regarding its ‘Liquor to Go’ policy, which allows certain businesses to sell liquor for off-site consumption with the purchase of a meal for takeout or delivery. Local governments are invited to provide their input on this policy by responding to a provincial engagement paper by August 7, 2025.
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.
On December 3rd, the Local Government RCMP Contract Management Committee (LGCMC) met with provincial government and B.C. RCMP representatives to discuss issues related to the Municipal Police Unit Agreements, and policing more broadly in British Columbia. Key issues discussed at the meeting, along with recent changes to the membership of the LGCMC, are summarized in this article.
With a trade war now underway, the BC Government introduced a budget earlier today that continues to invest in provincial services while attempting to shore up the provincial economy. Incremental new spending has been targeted for local government priorities, including homelessness response, addiction treatment, street disorder and affordable housing. Longer-term challenges lay ahead, however, with a growing debt and still unknown impacts from tariffs to the provincial economy and government revenue.