2024

Whereas the provincial government establishes the legislative framework under which all local governments derive their operational authority; And whereas the provincial government has recently enacted significant new, or amended, laws, regulations andor policies which have had a profound effect on local governments across the province; And whereas the provincial government has signaled its intent to undertake a significant review of all provincial statutes over the coming years: Therefore be it resolved that UBCM request that the provincial government commit to review its consultation

Whereas the Province of British Columbia has a goal of improving affordability for British Columbians and reducing greenhouse gas emissions GHGs, and has set sectoral targets to reach GHG emissions from transportation by 27 to 32 below 2007 levels by 2023, but is so far still seeing an increase in those emissions; And whereas the 2024 University of British Columbias Research on Active Transportation REACH Lab Study on the Saanich E-Bike Incentive Pilot Program demonstrates that e-bike incentives effectively motivate new bike riders; significantly reduce weekly car travel, GHG emissions and

Whereas Metro Vancouver has identified that by 2035 up to 350,000 existing parking spots in multiunit residential buildings in the region will be retrofitted to be electric vehicle EV charging ready, and 2,200 to 2,900 public direct current fast charging DCFC ports and 32,000 to 47,000 public Level 2 ports will be needed to support anticipated demand for EV charging, requiring significant capital investment in both public charging and multiunit residential buildings retrofits totalling approximately 1.2 billion in Metro Vancouver alone by 2035; And whereas the Government of BC has provided

Whereas TransLink relies on gasoline taxes to fund their services and those revenues can be expected to decline as the provincial and federal government move towards requiring all new passenger vehicles to be electric by 2035; And whereas there is a need for more predictable funding and increased investments in transit services; to address traffic congestion and equitable access to transportation in our rapidly growing and increasingly densifying communities: Therefore be it resolved that UBCM advocates to the Province to devise a new formula for funding transit services, that does not re

Whereas access to reliable, frequent public transit is critical to achieving shared local and provincial objectives of supporting community growth in an equitable, healthy, connected, low-carbon way: And whereas communities serviced by BC Transit havent been able to realize public transit expansion plans due to lack of matching funds from the Province since 2021: Therefore be it resolved that UBCM urge the Province of BC and BC Transit to commit to funding transit service expansions where requested and to move from annual funding agreements to 3-year funding agreements to allow for more c

Whereas communities across British Columbia are struggling with a housing crisis and a labour shortage; And whereas communities in rural British Columbia are poorly served by public transit: Therefore be it resolved that UBCM work with the appropriate British Columbia ministries to enhance transit in and between rural communities to improve citizen mobility and to assist those who may already have housing in and adjacent to rural communities, or who can only afford housing in proximity to rural communities, to access available employment more readily in a sustainable, GHG friendly fashion

Whereas operational costs for the provisions of rural transit services continue to escalate in this inflationary environment; And whereas BC Transit budget projections for existing small rural transit services appear to have a higher percentage cost increase for community partners than the Province: Therefore be it resolved that UBCM urge the provincial government to consider the unique challenges faced by small rural transit services and consider the diverse needs of these communities; And be it further resolved that the provincial government through BC Transit adjust the funding formul

Whereas on June 6, 2023, Highway 4 was closed at Cameron Lake Bluff, near Koen Road, due to a wildfire, and that a detour route from Port Alberni through Lake Cowichan via Bamfield, using forest-service and privately owned industrial roads was established by the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure MOTI on Wednesday, July 7, 2023, and was actively maintained until August 31, 2023; And whereas the highway closure that occurred between June 6, 2023, and August 31, 2023, resulted in significant negative impacts on our residents health, safety, and well-being, and it had devastating

Whereas several communities across the province have single or limited accessegress routes leaving them vulnerable during extreme events such as wildfire, rock slides or flooding; And whereas some communities are required to use resource roads on an ongoing basis to remain connected; And whereas resource roads are built for industrial purposes or access to natural resources in remote areas and the Province, or its contractors, do not maintain these to the same standards as paved public roadways: Therefore be it resolved that UBCM ask the Province to define standards of maintenance and co

Whereas secondary roads in unincorporated areas of BC are typically maintained on a breakfix basis despite deteriorating conditions and increasing traffic; And whereas there is no publicly available plan for the upgrade and replacement of rural roads, culverts, and bridges: Therefore be it resolved that UBCM ask the Province to direct and fund the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure to establish a capital asset management plan for secondary road networks across the province.