2024

Whereas ensuring the safety and well-being of our communities is of utmost importance, and recent events in the province highlight the urgent need for proactive measures to tackle emerging social and criminal challenges; And whereas the Province of BC previously created and did not enact the Community Safety Act and Community Safety Amendment Act, providing authorities with effective tools to respond to chronic and illegal behaviour from problematic properties; Therefore be it resolved that UBCM actively lobby the provincial government to bring into force the Community Safety Act and Com

Whereas the Province of British Columbia has enacted legislation known as the Emergency and Disaster Management Act EDMA that constitutes a significant download of responsibilities and addition of new legislative and regulatory requirements that will significantly and permanently add to the workload of municipalities and regional districts; And whereas the opportunities for local governments to raise funds required to support these legislative changes are limited, and where the provincial government has provided some proactive capacity funding in specific areas, such as First Nations consu

Whereas the majority of communities, either in whole or in part, within British Columbia are situated on floodplains; And whereas the cost of mitigating flood risk has increased to levels that are no longer affordable by Local Governments, Regional Districts or Improvement Districts: Therefore be it resolved that UBCM request the province and federal governments commit to allocate adequate funds to mitigate the flood threat to British Columbia communities and that the Province consider assuming control of, and responsibility for, flood protection and mitigation infrastructure including d

Whereas the Province of BC faces the worsening effects of climate change, the disasters resulting from which impact more residents and properties with each year; And whereas many residents and properties impacted by wildfire and flooding are located within regional districts; And whereas disasters do not recognize jurisdictional boundaries as was the case with Lytton Creek wildfire: Therefore be it resolved that UBCM ask the Province to commit to ensuring that in the case of disasters such as wildfire and flooding, all of those who are impactedregardless of jurisdictional boundariesrecei

Whereas the Province of British Columbia does not have a robust policy to assist victims of climate related events whose losses are not covered by insurance or Disaster Financial Assistance; And whereas the time of decision making on claims to the Province of British Columbia is a significant and life changing hardship to British Columbians and Indigenous communities: Therefore be it resolved that UBCM ask the provincial government to take urgent steps to develop a policy to assist victims of climate events with their claims in a timely manner, not exceeding 12-months post-disaster.

Whereas the Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General has primary responsibility for the Victim Services Program delivered throughout the Province of British Columbia in close collaboration with policing services; And whereas a variety of agencies and local governments delivermanage the Program in different communities, with varying degrees of expertise and limited connection to services to be able to provide adequate supervision and support of victim service workers: Therefore be it resolved that UBCM ask the Province of British Columbia to develop a standardized approach for poli

Whereas meeting the need for additional power sources in BC with industrial scale wind and solar installations is expensive, potentially damaging to environmentally sensitive land, and insufficient; And whereas private solar installations would reduce these negative economic and environmental impacts; And whereas solar installation is costly and often beyond the financial ability of many property owners: Therefore be it resolved that UBCM request that the Province create a Provincial Solar Power Rebate Program for homeowners.

Whereas the provincial government has passed Bill 46 Housing Statutes Development Financing Amendment Act, 2023 amending Section 559, subsection 2a of the Local Government Act to include fire protection facilities in the collection of Development Cost Charges DCCs, but does not specifically define fire protection facilities; And whereas many smaller local governments have a limited number of brick-and-mortar fire protection buildings, but a large number of other capital expenses related to fire protection, such as vehicles and equipment: Therefore be it resolved that UBCM advocate with th

Whereas British Columbia is in a housing crisis and the Residential Tenancy Act is intended to provide a fair balance between the right of tenants to safe and secure affordable housing and the right of landlords to maintain their property and see a return on their investment; And whereas the current Residential Tenancy Act was enacted in 2004 and the last comprehensive review was completed over 20 years ago 2001-2002, and there is no indication from the Province that a new review will be conducted; And whereas the Province is investing 15 million over three years to hire and train more Re

Whereas the BC government implemented a BC Speculation and Vacancy Tax to turn vacant homes into housing for BC residents; And whereas the BC government continues to expand the BC Speculation and Vacancy Tax program to include new communities: Therefore be it resolved that the UBCM advocate to the provincial government that all BC communities, including electoral areas, be given the option to opt-in to the BC Speculation and Vacancy Tax program.