2021

Whereas responsible conduct of elected officials, both individually and collectively as a Council or Board, is essential to sound and effective governance; And whereas local governments are best served by tools and resources that reflect the legislative framework for local government in British Columbia, which is based on foundational concepts of autonomy, empowerment, accountability and collaboration: Therefore, be it resolved that UBCM ask the provincial government to: - Introduce a legislative requirement that all local governments in British Columbia must consider the adoption or upda

Whereas BC local governments have called for changes to forest management to: ensure the sustainability of the resource; protect old growth; provide for greater consultation and engagement on forest policy decisions; improve accountability in tenure management; strengthen compliance and enforcement; ensure that forest policy decisions are bmased on the best technical and scientific information available; and provide transition support for impacted forest workers and communities; And whereas on June 1, 2021, the Province released its Modernizing Forest Policy in BC Intentions Paper recommen

Whereas since 2008 the provincial Climate Action Revenue Incentive Program CARIP has provided local governments across BC with funding critical to achieving their commitments under the Climate Action Charter CAC, allowing them to build staff capacity, develop policy and plans, and leverage capital to advance local climate action plans that support provincial climate action strategies and goals; And whereas the cancellation of CARIP without local government consultation, and without a clearly defined replacement program, undermines the ability of local governments to support local climate a

Whereas the UN Treaty for the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons TPNW is a landmark global agreement which entered into force on January 22, 2021, calling on national governments to abandon nuclear weapons of war; And whereas local governments form a close and active link with their constituents and local social movements and the lives of Canadian residents in local governments may be impacted through any nuclear exchange with potential issues of global climate change, world food production and national or global economic order: Therefore be it resolved that UBCM support the International C

Whereas UBCM is the primary way that all local governments in BC interact with the provincial government as a unified group; And whereas resolutions brought forward from area associations to UBCM have been debated at area association AGMs, as well as reviewed by the UBCM resolutions committee prior to convention: Therefore be it resolved that the UBCM convention focus on allowing enough time for all resolution debate and voting as a priority over plenary sessions and presentations so that ALL resolutions can be debated and voted at convention; And be it further resolved that the UBCM con

Whereas the costs for travel to and attendance at in-person UBCM conventions for very small and remote local governments constitutes a significantly higher percentage of their budgets compared to larger and more urban local governments; And whereas the number of elected officials who can attend from small and remote communities is therefore significantly impacted and often reduced: Therefore be it resolved that UBCM consider creating a fund to support local governments who experience significant challenges allocating funds to send representatives to the UBCM annual convention.

Whereas the importance of open and continuing conversation between local governments and First Nations governments is critical to further reconciliation; And whereas UBCMs Regional Community to Community Forum C2C program is an important resource to assist with these dialogues, it is also important that governments be allowed the flexibility to access this funding when it is most beneficial to the communities: Therefore be it resolved that UBCM allow the Regional Community to Community Forum grants not be subject to specific deadlines but be made available throughout the year; And be it

Whereas the frequency and intensity of wildfire activity is a rapidly increasing hazard posing a threat to the public across the province; And whereas certain changes to the BC Building Code are urgently needed as part of the response to reduce the risk of wildfire threat to the public: Therefore be it resolved that UBCM request the Province of British Columbia to amend the BC Building Code to restrict the use of untreated wood shake roofing to reduce the risk to life and property due to wildfire activity.

Whereas the Residential Tenancy Act is intended to establish and protect the rights of landlords and tenants from unwarranted eviction; And whereas a landlord may seek early termination of a tenancy agreement for cause and the protections contained within the Act enable the occupant to refuse vacating the premises, which have been enhanced due to COVID-19: Therefore be it resolved that UBCM ask the Province of British Columbia to undertake a broad review of landlord protections to increase confidence in entering the rental market to grow the number of rental properties.

Whereas BC Housing develops, manages, and administers a wide range of subsidized housing options across the province.