2026

Whereas homes, businesses, and industries in Vancouver Island and coastal communities rely heavily on energy generated outside the region and delivered through longdistance transmission systems, subsea infrastructure, and marine transport, resulting in a high degree of dependence on external energy supply and limited opportunities for local generation; And whereas resource, transportation, and building sectors are seeking to modernize, improve efficiency, and reduce emissions while remaining competitive and affordable, and communities across Vancouver Island and the coast are working to at

Whereas the closure of the Prince Rupert-Alaska Ferry Terminal in 2019 significantly reduced economic activity and cross-border connectivity for the community and region; And whereas reinstatement of the Prince Rupert-Alaska Ferry Terminal has been delayed due to unresolved intergovernmental and administrative processes between Canada and the United States, contributing to the ongoing deterioration of the facility: Therefore be it resolved that UBCM advocate to the Province of BC to collaborate with the Government of Canada to support the reinstatement of the Prince Rupert-Alaska Ferry Te

Whereas safe, reliable transportation routes are essential for emergency response, access to health care, commerce, education, and daily travel; And whereas ongoing concerns continue to be raised regarding the state of Highway 29, including hazardous winding sections at Bear Flat and the unstable stretch at Halfway Hill, which is at significant risk of washout and poses a threat to public safety: Therefore be it resolved that UBCM lobby the provincial government to prioritize the remediation of Highway 29, including slope stability and hazard mitigation at Halfway Hill, as well as install

Whereas Highway 97 is the longest transportation corridor in the Americas running North South, from Alaska, through the Yukon Territory, into British Columbia, the United States of America, Mexico and South America; And whereas although we recognize that there have been significant upgrades to parts of Highway 97, it still requires safety upgrades, better maintenance and repairs, expansion of, and infrastructure development, to facilitate the stated goals of both the provincial and federal governments for transporting goods, like agriculture products, forestry resources, minerals and ot

Whereas the Interior Health highway death rate 15.2 per 100 000 and Northern Health highway death rate 18.1 regions of BC, in combination, make up the largest number of fatalities for vehicle incidents in the province average provincial highway death rate 6.0, being 189 out of 331 deaths in 2023 or 57, while only representing 22 of the provinces population; And whereas the Provinces commitment to upgrade Highway1 between Kamloops and the Alberta border mitigates safety issues on one specific corridor, but does not address safety concerns on the other highway corridors through the interior

Whereas the Interior Health and Northern Health regions of BC in combination make up the largest number of fatalities for vehicle incidents in the province, being 189 out of 331 deaths in 2023 or 57, while only representing 22 of the provinces population; And whereas the Interior Health region has a death rate of 15.2 per 100,000, and the Northern Health region has a death rate of 18.1, both of which are well in excess of the provincial average of 6.0; And whereas the safety of highways in the Interior Health and Northern Health regions impacts all British Columbians due to the centrality

Whereas the Columbia and Western Rail Trail is an important recreation corridor, economic driver, historic asset, alternate escape route for residents of Christina Lake in the event of wildfire, and critical access route for 76 residences along the western side of the Lower Arrow Lake; And whereas when the Province of BC disestablished the Trail as recreation trail in 2019, it assured the public that recreational access would continue, yet it has now designated the Trail a non-status rail grade which means the corridor will not receive funding, maintenance or management: Therefore be it

Whereas the Province of British Columbia halted a poorly conceived plan to transfer highway policing responsibilities from the South Coast Highway Patrol to local RCMP and municipal police detachments for Highway 1; And whereas there was no consultation with affected municipalities in advance of the implementation and there is significant concern the provincial service change will create resource strain, geographic challenges, jurisdictional misalignment, operational impacts, traffic and economic disruption, seasonal pressures, understaffing, and systemic vulnerability for the municipali

Whereas Child Development Centres in Northern British Columbia, including the Child Development Centre of Prince George and District, provide essential services that support the health, development, inclusion, and wellbeing of children and families across the region; And whereas the Child Development Centre of Prince George and District is operating in an aging facility that requires significant renovation, retrofitting, and modernization to remain safe, accessible, and capable of supporting current and future service delivery needs; And whereas growing waitlists are resulting in some chi

Whereas there is an urgent need for publicly funded beds to support youth 0-18 years of age struggling with drug and alcohol addiction in southeastern British Columbia SE BC; And whereas the closest treatment centres serving youth are located in Kamloops for detox and recovery, an eight-hour drive from Cranbrook, and in Kelowna for recovery, a six-hour drive from Cranbrook; And whereas there is no public transportation linking SE BC with Kamloops or Kelowna; And whereas a parent or guardian is required to accompany their child and remain there at their expense while their child participa