2024

Whereas the public relies on the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure managed culverts to ensure road safety and mitigate risk; And whereas many failing and clogged culverts present a future flooding risk: Therefore be it resolved that UBCM ask the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure to provide realistic asset management and funding to restore culverts on Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure managed roads.

Whereas the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure lacks the funding, staffing and mandate to plan overall road networks in unincorporated areas and to proactively deal with transportation and development planning issues in the fringe interface areas of municipalities and regional districts; And whereas problems with runoff from roads and development are increasingly severe across the province, and are significantly impacted by the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure decisions around subdivision approvals and road infrastructure; And whereas the Ministry of Transportati

Whereas according to CleanBCs Roadmap to 2030, transportation is our largest single source of greenhouse gas emissions GHG which accounts for approximately 40 of our annual total, and to address this the Province has committed to doubling the proportion of trips using active transportation by 2030; And whereas given the urgency of the climate crises, the fast-approaching 2030 deadline and the fact that safe active transportation infrastructure provides economically accessible transportation for more individuals of all ages and abilities, there is a pressing need for the Ministry of Transpo

Whereas the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure road design standards prioritize the efficient movement of motor vehicles over the safety of vulnerable road users, including pedestrians, transit users, and cyclists; And whereas narrow road rights-of-way and topographic challenges in rural areas often make it impossible for active transportation infrastructure to be built to the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructures Active Transportation Design Guide of separated paths along road corridors; And whereas the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure will not approve,

Whereas volunteer firefighters and search and rescue members perform a critical, lifesaving role in the safety of British Columbians while receiving no pay and are increasingly difficult to recruit and retain; And whereas the Province of BC passed legislation in 2017 that enabled these volunteers to receive a 3,000 non-refundable tax credit: Therefore be it resolved that UBCM ask the Province of BC to increase the tax credit for volunteer firefighters and search and rescue members to 10,000 per annum.

Whereas provincial parks serve a vital recreational, cultural, social and economic role in the lives of many British Columbians; And whereas the Province of BC closes many of its parks to campers in September each year, limiting the ability of British Columbians access to those parks at a time of year when they continue to be functionally usable: Therefore be it resolved that UBCM ask the Province of BC to extend the season for all provincial parks, including campgrounds, by keeping them open until the end of October to enable the access to parks for all visitors to enjoy these recreation

Whereas British Columbia currently has no legislation restricting foreign ownership of agricultural land in the province, resulting in concern among British Columbians that unrestricted foreign ownership of agricultural land in British Columbia may cause speculation in land prices and compromise the security and sustainability of food production in British Columbia; And whereas additional concerns resulting from unrestricted foreign ownership of agricultural land include: pressures on the limited protected agricultural land in BC; unmanaged lands with no local oversight leading to invasive

Whereas if a local government pays all or part of the costs of excess or extended services road, water, sanitary or storm drainage systems it may, under Local Government Act LGA s.

Whereas the 2023 wildfire season was the most destructive in British Columbias recorded history, with more than 2.84 million hectares of forest and land burned, and there is limited time to recover value from fire-impacted standing timber before the wood quality deteriorates, and the forest industry in British Columbia is facing significant timber shortage challenges leading to mill closures across the province; And whereas the fire-impacted standing timber poses a significant threat to public safety through the potential for future wildfires: Therefore be it resolved that UBCM urge the p

Whereas the current forest ecosystem contains significant unnatural old growth forest, excluding Interior Cedar Hemlock and Coastal Rainforest, and experiences damage from devastating wildfires and insect epidemics; And whereas the biodiversity and sustainability of forests in British Columbia is at risk, impacting human and wildlife health, ecosystem health, and the economy of the forest sector: Therefore be it resolved that UBCM request the Province of BC, in conjunction with Indigenous Nations, to modernize forest management policies and regulations, update biodiversity targets, and pr