2025

Whereas rural communities across British Columbia face significant challenges in retaining and attracting primary care providers, leading to gaps in essential healthcare services andor temporary primary care service closures; And whereas local governments and Indigenous communities in rural areas are often excluded from provincial decision-making processes that directly impact their ability to maintain and improve healthcare services: Therefore be it resolved that UBCM urge the Province of British Columbia to convene a formal table that includes representatives from the UBCM, First Nation

Whereas rural communities in British Columbia face challenges in attracting and retaining skilled workers, particularly in essential sectors such as healthcare; And whereas healthcare students in British Columbia must complete at least 30 hours of work experience or community service as part of the Career-Life Connections program, but this requirement does not sufficiently prepare students for long-term employment in rural areas: Therefore be it resolved that UBCM request the Province of British Columbia to expand or establish a program specifically designed to place healthcare students i

Whereas the oversight of wastewater management in British Columbia is divided between two provincial ministries, resulting in split jurisdiction over two key regulations - the Municipal Wastewater Regulation MWR 2001 and the Sewerage System Regulation SSR 2005; And whereas these regulations have not undergone significant updates since their enactment, despite evolving environmental standards, increasing concerns regarding the professional oversight of these systems, emerging technologies, and increasing community and ecological demands; And whereas the Province has established priorities

Whereas repeat and high-risk offenders are frequently released on bail and continue to commit offences while awaiting trial, undermining public safety and placing additional burden on local law enforcement; And whereas the repeated catch and release of high-risk offenders erodes public confidence in the justice system, strains law enforcement resources, discourages front line officers and leaves communities vulnerable to further harm: Therefore be it resolved that the Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General and the Attorney General work together to direct a more rigorous approach

Whereas invasive zebra and quagga mussels pose a serious threat to watershed ecosystems, drinking water quality, infrastructure, tourism and the broader economy; And whereas the estimated cost of managing infrastructure impacts from an established invasive mussel population in British Columbia exceeds 129 million annually, including damage to pipes, docks, water intakes and watercraft; And whereas British Columbia remains one of the few jurisdictions in North America without an established invasive mussel population, making prevention both critical and cost-effective; And whereas existin

Whereas there are decreasing amounts of dead wood harvest in the province due to the cost of salvage being greater than the market value; And whereas the pricing model for dead wood or fire impacted lands is the same or similar to live stands, and the permitting for fire impacted landscapes requires the same permitting requirements as live stands: Therefore be it resolved that UBCM ask the provincial government to create a new pricing model to encourage more business opportunities that will increase the volume of dead wood being available to the market, thereby reducing wildfire risk; A

Whereas local government decision-making plays a significant role in the lives of First Nations peoples, including enforcement of bylaws that deal directly with homeless encampments, and few local governments in British Columbia have developed strategies for adopting or implementing the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples UNDRIP; And whereas UBCM has endorsed UNDRIP and requested the Province of BC to provide an ongoing funding stream for local governments and Indigenous partners to advance the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act and local reconci

Whereas recognizing housing as a human right fundamentally shifts government motivations by adding critical urgency and responsibility to ensure access to affordable housing meaning housing costs are aligned with income through policies that prevent homelessness, address the escalating housing and homelessness crisis, eliminate discrimination, and prioritize the needs of vulnerable and marginalized populations; And whereas the Government of Canada affirmed the right to housing as a matter of international law and enshrined it domestically through the National Housing Strategy Act 2019, rec

Whereas the Province has committed to implement the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples UNDRIP as the framework for reconciliation, as described in the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act; And whereas the Province and UBCM have signed a memorandum of understanding supporting collaboration to advance reconciliation; And whereas the Province and UBCM acknowledge that local government constitutes an order of government with a unique and special interest in Indigenous partnership development: Therefore be it resolved that UBCM requests that the Prov

Whereas public transit is essential for enabling all community members to participate in society and access important services; rural areas have very few alternative transportation options or providers such as taxis, ride share and accessible transportation services, and depend on reliable regional transit systems; And whereas provincial funding to BC Transit for service expansion is not sufficient for local governments to realize their public transit expansion plans; And whereas BC Transits expansion funding evaluation process emphasizes ridership as a key criterion in allocating expans