Articles related to provincial and federal legislation that affects local governments.
The provincial government has announced $18 million in short-term funding for local governments and First Nations to address new consultation and collaboration responsibilities outlined in the new Emergency and Disaster Management Act.
The Province has issued guidelines, policy manuals, and regulations to implement Bill 35 – Short-Term Rental Accommodations Act, Bill 44 – Housing Statutes (Residential Development) Amendment Act and Bill 47 – Housing Statutes (Transit-Oriented Areas) Amendment Act. Links to these materials are provided here for member reference.
UBCM president Trish Mandewo commented on the process followed by the province in developing these bills in a recent video.
Amidst the Province’s fall sitting—five separate pieces of legislation were introduced that, taken together, will fundamentally shift the way local governments plan for and manage housing—the UBCM Executive Board met for its quarterly meeting on November 16 – 17.
UBCM has received legal counsel that Bill 45, Miscellaneous Statutes Amendment Act, is intended to, and may in fact, limit the ability of local governments to manage homeless encampments. Bill 45 will apply to local governments seeking court injunctions to remove or regulate homeless encampments.
Legislation (Bill 47) has been introduced that will allow the Province to establish minimum allowable height and density for Transit Oriented Development (TOD) areas. Local governments will be required to designate these areas near transit hubs and consider applicable guidelines pertaining to them. The Province expects that approximately 100 TOD areas will be designated in approximately 30 municipalities within the first year of the legislation coming into effect.
On November 6, the Province of BC introduced legislation under Bill 45, Miscellaneous Statutes Amendment Act, that will apply to local governments who seek court injunctions to remove or regulate homeless encampments. These amendments will have significant impacts on local governments and their ability to address encampments in their communities.
The Province has introduced legislation that will substantially change the framework used by local governments to pay for infrastructure and community amenities related to new development. The legislation is largely in alignment with UBCM resolutions and policy, but also creates a funding gap for affordable housing.
The Province has introduced legislation that will bring about sweeping changes to the local planning framework through new requirements to allow increased density in areas currently zoned for single-family or duplex use. The legislation will also change housing needs reporting and public hearing requirements, and require more frequent updating of Official Community Plans together with pre-zoning that accommodates a 20-year housing supply.
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.
The provincial government has introduced amendments to the Police Act (Bill 36) that will impact the policing transition process, and broader municipal authority for providing policing and law enforcement services in communities over 5,000 in population. Additional amendments relate specifically to policing in the City of Surrey.