2025

Whereas communities across British Columbia are facing unprecedented costs and public safety impacts caused by the revolving door of prolific offenders being released into communities; And whereas senior levels of government have not taken adequate steps to protect communities from prolific offenders that have been released or are out on bail: Therefore be it resolved that UBCM advocate to the Attorneys General for Canada and British Columbia to address the severe impacts that local governments across British Columbia are experiencing with prolific offenders being frequently released and

Whereas the lack of Ministry of Transportation and Transit MOTT active transportation infrastructure on rural highways adversely affects provincially declared climate initiatives, and encouragement of active transportation commitment in smaller local governments; And whereas these highways are located in the central key parts of rural communities, often as main streets, and are in dire need of safe, affordable transportation options which can also facilitate local governments to tie their own active transportation plans into to improve community health, economic opportunities and social in

Whereas inland ferries provide historically critical infrastructure to the communities served, equivalent to roads, highways and bridges; And whereas inland ferry services are essential services whose costs are funded by a portion of the taxes on sales of gasoline and diesel: Therefore be it resolved that UBCM advocate to the provincial government that all inland ferries are entitled to the same legal status as roads, highways and bridges, that all remain toll-free, and that the regular schedule of each inland ferry whether on-demand or set schedule be deemed the minimum necessary to prot

Whereas Highway 16 serves as a critical transportation corridor for Northern British Columbia, facilitating the movement of goods, services, and residents across the region; And whereas traffic volumes on Highway 16 have significantly increased due to the expansion of the Port of Prince Rupert, major infrastructure projects such as LNG and transmission line construction, and increased industrial and commercial activities; And whereas the existing highway infrastructure presents safety concerns, particularly in areas of high traffic congestion and adverse weather conditions, leading to inc

Whereas the provincial moose management decisions are guided by the Provincial Moose Management Framework; And whereas moose serve a significant role as a food source and further have cultural importance for Indigenous residents; And whereas provincial moose research has identified the need for intensive landscape-scale management to stem moose population declines; And whereas provincial moose research has identified the need to consider vegetation composition and re-growth during forestry planning and to identify region-specific forestry thresholds for moose: Therefore be it resolved t

Whereas there is an immediate and ongoing concern in rural British Columbia communities regarding abused, abandoned and neglected animals, which also pose significant public health and safety concerns; And whereas the British Columbia Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals BC SPCA is the only animal welfare organization in BC with the authority under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act to investigate complaints of animal abuse or neglect, enforce animal welfare laws and recommend criminal charges to the Crown Council; And whereas the BC SPCA does not receive any provincial

Whereas BC Housings Community Housing Fund CHF provides critical funding to support the development of affordable housing projects across British Columbia, enabling local governments, non-profits, and housing providers to address the urgent need for affordable housing; And whereas the significant upfront costs required to submit an application to BC Housing, such as feasibility studies, architectural designs, and other pre-development expenses create financial barriers for small local governments and non-profit organizations, limiting their ability to deliver housing: Therefore be it reso

Whereas the Province of British Columbia has made significant investments in housing initiatives to address homelessness and housing affordability, including programs such as the Community Housing Fund, Rapid Response to Homelessness, and the Supportive Housing Fund, which aim to provide immediate and long-term housing solutions for vulnerable populations; yet sometimes underfund the cost to deliver the required infrastructure upgrades; And whereas local governments and non-profit organizations face substantial financial barriers when undertaking affordable housing projects, including off-

Whereas local governments face challenges in acquiring land for essential projects such as local housing initiatives, including affordable housing developments, community infrastructure, and vital public services; And whereas the provincial government holds significant amounts of underutilized Crown Land inside or adjacent to local governments that could be leveraged to support these local government initiatives, which would directly benefit residents and enhance local community resilience: Therefore be it resolved that UBCM urge the provincial government to expedite the transfer of under

Whereas public libraries in British Columbia lack adequate, stable, and dedicated capital funding for local government-owned library facilities, hindering their ability to provide essential educational, cultural, and social services that support community well-being; And whereas public libraries face increasing demand for services, technology, and infrastructure improvements, yet many struggle with aging facilities and insufficient resources to meet these growing needs: Therefore be it resolved that UBCM urge the provincial government to establish a dedicated capital funding program to as