2025

Whereas access to emergency medical services is critical for all British Columbians and hospital emergency department closures severely disrupt critical healthcare access, potentially endangering communities and lives by delaying urgent medical treatment; And whereas reliable communication and immediate notification during hospital emergency department closures is essential to ensure the public is informed of alternate healthcare facilities, preventing unnecessary delays; And whereas a reliable and immediate notification system to alert the public to emergency department closures and alte

Whereas the cost of basic goods and services continues to increase for people living in poverty and other low-income British Columbians; And whereas the provincial government is encouraging local governments and community partners to support the updated targets set to reduce the overall poverty rate, child poverty rate and seniors poverty rate without adequate resources: Therefore be it resolved that UBCM request the provincial government to establish an ongoing funding program in partnership with the UBCM to support communities in implementing local poverty reduction initiatives.

Whereas there is a desire on behalf of the Province for local governments to require private developers to construct affordable inclusionary housing units through the use of Inclusionary Zoning Bylaws; And whereas Housing Agreements between local governments and the property owners are required to ensure that the affordability of inclusionary housing units constructed through Inclusionary Zoning Bylaws are secured over time, and Housing Agreements terms may include specifics on target population for the units and management considerations such as income testing; And whereas operators, o

Whereas the existing restrictions provided through the Health Canada Pest Control Products Act, enforcement through Criminal Code of Canada Sections 901 and 921have proven inadequate to prevent the increasing acquisition and criminal misuse of bear spray in urban areas; And whereas local government bylaws are insufficient to address criminal procurement in other local governments or online: Therefore be it resolved that UBCM ask the Province to develop legislation to control the sale of bear spray in urban areas.

Whereas studies suggest that energy poverty affects up to 1 in 5 Canadian residents which is a risk to health, and energy retrofits would help with both health and affordability, as well as meeting BCs climate goals; And whereas there is not enough of a workforce to connect to and meet the needs of BC residents, especially those most vulnerable, and opportunities are needed to train and scale up works to meet there: Therefore be it resolved that UBCM request the Province of BC expand the Youth Climate Corps program, scale-up retrofits to address energy poverty, while meeting the need to t

Whereas the City of Port Moody advocated for more equitable distribution of gaming revenues, and was subsequently asked by the Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General to provide viable options for the Ministrys review and consideration to remedy significant funding inequities created by revenue sharing agreements with local governments hosting casinos; And whereas more broadly and equitably sharing gaming revenue, excluding revenue allocated to casino host communities, with municipalities will reduce the financial inequity that has been inadvertently created by providing significan

Whereas poverty rates in BC are climbing with the rates of child poverty and seniors in poverty increasing as well as an increasing number of residents who rely on food banks; And whereas poverty reduction grants for local governments have ceased: Therefore be it resolved that UBCM ask the provincial government to include a Basic Income Pilot program in the update of a poverty reduction strategy.

Whereas the Province of British Columbia announced updates to the BC Building Code in 2023, effective March 8, 2024, which requires that all new residential buildings provide at least one living space in each dwelling unit designed to remain at or below 26C; And whereas this measure aims to protect health and comfort in extreme heat conditions, marking a step toward climate-resilient, thermally safe housing for new builds across the province; And whereas in response to rising temperatures and an increase in extreme heat events, a right to cool for residents to access indoor cooling soluti

Whereas in 2021 the Province of BC passed the Municipal Affairs Statutes Amendment Act No. 2, which requires a local government to consider the adoption of a code of conduct for council members, but does not require a local government to adopt such a code of conduct; And whereas many local governments in British Columbia cannot afford or do not have an independent non-partisan ethics commissioner to review and adjudicate allegations of misconduct: Therefore be it resolved that UBCM request that the Province appoint a provincial Municipal Ethics Commissioner who will: 1.

Whereas Bill 35 has been enacted to give local governments stronger enforcement tools for their short-term rental bylaws resulting in the amendment of section 2 of the Community Charter Bylaw Enforcement Ticket Regulation Reg.