2025

Whereas Ferry Advisory Committees provide route-specific input and advocacy and exist as part of BC Ferries strategic goal to be customer and community centred; And whereas BC Ferries has dissolved the Ferry Advisory Committees; And whereas the BC Governments Coastal Ferry Services Contract, last amended on March 31, 2024, states that it is committed to ongoing engagement in support of provincial reconciliation efforts: Therefore be it resolved that the UBCM advocate to the BC government to amend the Coastal Ferry Services Contract and include a provision for BC Ferries to develop an en

Whereas the Province of BC has developed the British Columbia Active Transportation Design Guide as an initiative of CleanBC to provide consistent, appropriate planning and engineering guidance on the design of active transportation infrastructure, for jurisdictions of all sizes across BC, including urban and rural communities; And whereas the Province of BC is committed to working collaboratively in partnership with local governments to plan for active transportation as part of the BC Active Transportation Strategy, Move.Commute.Connect, that works towards creating community-specific ac

Whereas hundreds of jobs have been lost in the forest industry in BC in 2024 and hundreds more are at risk due to the increasing cost of accessing fibre and multiple other reasons; And whereas the forest industry crisis has the potential for population declines as well as declines in industrial property tax revenues many communities throughout British Columbia: Therefore be it resolved that UBCM call on the provincial government to partner financially in localized efforts to ascertain the fibre type and volume available on a sustainable basis, to secure investment in appropriate technolo

Whereas hundreds of jobs have been lost in the forest industry in BC in 2024, and hundreds more are at risk due to the increasing cost and difficulty of accessing fibre and multiple other reasons; And whereas this forest industry crisis has the potential for declines in population as well as declines in industrial property tax revenues in dozens of communities throughout British Columbia: Therefore be it resolved that UBCM call on the provincial government to accelerate efforts to make more fibre available to mills at risk and work with industry as well as other stakeholders to find wa

Whereas the Province of British Columbia has recognized that the traditional linear economic model of take, make, waste leads to waste, environmental harm, the over-consumption of resources, and diminishing landfill capacity, and has committed to working toward a circular economy through its CleanBC Plan; And whereas despite some initial efforts, including a strategy pre-engagement exercise, work through the Provinces extended producer responsibility programs, and the CleanBC Plastics Action Fund, a comprehensive strategy to address the systemic change necessary to transition BCs economy t

Whereas in July 2024, following extensive consultation with First Nations and stakeholders, the Province of British Columbia released its first ever Coastal Marine Strategy, providing a 20-year vision of a diverse, productive and resilient coastal marine environment that is valued in its own right and that supports the prosperity, health and well-being of coastal communities now and into the future; And whereas the Coastal Marine Strategy details nine important goals diverse marine life; abundant wild Pacific Salmon; a clean coast; climate-ready communities; a sustainable coastal economy;

Whereas the new provincial landfill gas regulations present disproportionate financial challenges for smaller local governments, exacerbating existing disparities in service delivery capacity; And whereas compliance costs, including infrastructure upgrades, specialized training, ongoing monitoring, and maintenance, represent a significant financial strain for communities with limited revenue streams: Therefore be it resolved that UBCM call upon the Province of British Columbia to develop a sustainable funding model that recognizes the diverse financial capacities of local governments and

Whereas regional districts experience lengthy delays in receiving approvals of Solid Waste Management Plans, and those same plans require subsequent program approvals; And whereas once the plans are approved, regional districts must demonstrate the effectiveness of their solid waste management plans within 10 years, but additional provincial approval requirements often shorten this period, limiting time to assess the plans impact before renewal: Therefore be it resolved that UBCM request that once the Minister of Environment and Parks approves a Solid Waste Management Plan, no further app

Whereas unreported waste flowing into andor out of a Regional District undermines that regions ability to understand waste generation and waste material flows, causing incorrect assessments of waste reduction efforts as part of Solid Waste Management Plans; And whereas regional districts lack the authority to require reporting of waste sent to landfills in or out of their region: Therefore be it resolved that UBCM request that the Province establish a province-wide waste hauler licensing system, which includes a mandatory waste reporting system and an economic framework to encourage the m

Whereas the available capacity of landfills in British Columbia is rapidly diminishing, posing a significant challenge to effective waste management and environmental sustainability; And whereas landfill airspace is a critical component in recovery from disaster and emergency events: Therefore be it resolved that UBCM request that the Province develop a long-term waste management strategy that supports a circular economy, prioritizing waste reduction, composting of organics, material reuse, and recycling, while maintaining resilience in the event of emergencies or disasters.