2025

Whereas the 2022 Extreme Heat Death Review Panel Report to the Chief Coroner of British Columbia found the number of deaths was highest in areas with low greenness compared to the protective effect of treed and naturally cooled areas, especially in socioeconomically deprived neighbourhoods; And whereas Bill 44 will densify approximately 70 of the land base of the 105 municipalities in British Columbia, likely leading to a significant loss of tree canopy and permeable surface area, thereby increasing temperatures due to the urban heat island effect, particularly during extreme heat events:

Whereas housing as a human right is recognized globally, particularly within the framework of international human rights law; And whereas British Columbia has faced a severe housing crisis characterized by skyrocketing housing prices, a lack of affordable rental options, and rising rates of homeless; And whereas marginalized groups, including low-income individuals, Indigenous communities, and persons with disabilities, face disproportionate barriers to accessing adequate housing: Therefore be it resolved the UBCM call for the BC Government to enshrine housing as a human right in legisla

Whereas the current process for implementing BC Assessment Authority valuation changes resulting from appeals or administrative revisions requires local government to retroactively issue tax refunds or supplementary charges within the same taxation year, creating significant and unpredictable financial impacts on local governments; And whereas local governments have no control over the timing or outcomes of assessment appeals or corrections, yet are solely responsible for funding the resulting tax adjustmentsoften requiring the repayment of substantial amounts from local tax revenues, and

Whereas the Province of British Columbia, through the Housing Supply Act, is assigning housing targets to municipalities based primarily on population growth, housing demand, and development metrics, without explicitly considering watershed health, infrastructure capacity, healthcare access, or climate resiliency; And whereas directing new housing to regions with long-term water security and resilience to natural disasters reduces the future costs of emergency response, infrastructure damage, and climate adaptation, and supports safer, more sustainable community growth: Therefore be it re

Whereas reported cases of gender-based violence, intimate partner violence, and human trafficking are increasing across British Columbia; And whereas BCs Action Plan to Combat Human Trafficking has not been updated since its publication in 2013: Therefore be it resolved that UBCM petition the Province to declare gender-based violence, intimate partner violence, and human trafficking an epidemic in British Columbia and update BCs Action Plan to Combat Human Trafficking.

Whereas agreements between BC local governments and BCEHS regarding local government fire services providing pre-hospital care lapsed in 2010; And whereas provincial investment and staffing have not kept pace with the growing demand for emergency medical services and pre-hospital care causing local governments to increasingly become involved through their fire rescue services: Therefore be it resolved that UBCM petition the Province to finalize agreements with BC local governments as soon as possible and include a funding component to compensate local governments providing emergency medic

Whereas the Provinces bilateral agreement with the federal government, the CanadaBritish Columbia Agreement to Work Together to Improve Health Care for Canadians signed October 2023, commits more than 3.8 billion over three years 20232026 to expand access to primary care, improve mental health and addictions services, reduce surgical backlogs, and modernize health data systems, and includes major health system transformationssuch as new staffing models, digital tools and culturally safe serviceswithout consistent local government consultation or engagement; And whereas local governments in

Whereas British Columbia communities are facing rapidly increasing pressures to watershed security, including climate-fueled droughts, landslides, floods and wildfires, the cumulative impacts of industrial development as well as privately owned managed forest land in our watersheds; And whereas increased and sustained funding is required for local governments to provide safe, sustainable drinking water for communities, and to work in active partnership with First Nations to improve watershed governance and management to address the challenges we are facing in our watersheds: Therefore be

Whereas the national housing crisis is being exacerbated by a slowdown in housing starts and delayed construction, due to challenges being experienced by the development industry in the current uncertain economic and trade climate; And whereas in British Columbia, the significant economic uncertainty is contributing to volatility in the provincial housing market and necessitates the need for a certain degree of flexibility to stimulate the delivery of much-needed housing; And whereas the Local Government Act enables local governments to collect Development Cost Charges DCCs at time of sub

Whereas some British Columbia residents struggle with life-threatening allergies that can rapidly cause death if not treated immediately with an epinephrine auto-injector, oradrenaline auto-injector, also known as the EpiPen, amongst other brands; And whereas these adrenaline auto-injectors are expensive 100 plus resulting in lower income andor fixed income residents struggling to afford an adrenaline auto-injector, even with help from the current Pharmacare system; And whereas Naloxone and other drug overdose reversing medications are covered free of charge by the Province: Therefore be